How To Pack For Your Next Road Trip
Summer is officially here and it means vacation season!I love vacation season. It's my family's chance to travel around and see family members that live a ways from us. This summer we have plans to go to Chicago, Cincinnati, Orlando, and hopefully Vancouver!As our kids have gotten older, planes trips have become more expensive. Our youngest is now old enough for us to buy him his own seat. In reality it's a double edged sword. Part of it is nice because it means I don't have to hold him the whole time. On the other hand it now means we have to buy 5 tickets when we travel as a family.Expensive.Hundreds of dollars just on the tickets.This summer we're saving by road tripping instead of flying. This means more money in our pockets, more crazy car ride adventures, and some amazing memories.
Road Trip Essentials
Before you set off on your own road trips, make sure you pack well. I've made the mistake of packing way too much, not enough, and about every other packing faux pa!This time I'm learning my lesson and taking advice from all of you! Here is a list of travel essentials needed on every road trip.
First Aid Kit
Make sure your first aid kit has all the medical essentials you need. You never know when someone can get hurt and it's better to have it all with you if it does happen. You can even add in your allergy and car sickness medicine.
Cooler With Snacks
Pack a medium sized cooler with some of your family's favorite snacks. Don't pack things you wish they would eat, but do things you know they eat daily.
Small Blanket
Find a light weight blanket that is perfect for your kids. Then you don't have to worry about them fighting over how cold the AC is.
Spill Proof Cup
Spills and messes are going to happen, but don't let it be a sticky juice mess! Find spill proof cups for the kids and make it a bit easier.
External Battery
Electronics won't stay charged forever. This is why it's important to pack an external battery pack to help in your time of need.
Accessable Change Of Clothes
Take out a change of clothes that you can grab during the ride if the kids have an accident.
Notebook and Crayons
Switch things up a bit and have another activity for your kids. We like to grab a small notebook and crayons.
Headphones
Pick up some headphones so you can have a bit of peace on your drive. You kids can plug them into their electronics and then mom and dad don't have to hear the games the whole drive.
Favorite Toy
Don't. Forget. The. Toy. Find your child's favorite toy and be sure to pack it!
Mess Free Snacks
Pick up some mess free snacks for your kids to snack on during the drive!
What are your road trip essentials?
Summer Safety: How Big Families Can Stay Safe At The Pool
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #JumpIntoSummer #CollectiveBias
Life with three boys under 6 years old can be pretty hectic. Everything just gets a little more complicated. When I had two kids, I had just enough extremities to keep up with them. I could hold them both at the same time... I could hold one hand and hold the other...Then I had my third son and I quickly realized things had changed. I thought it would just be little things, but it was so much more. I had to think strategically about everything. If I went grocery shopping, I had to go to the place with the extra large carts to fit all my kids. If I went to the park, I had to wear one on my back while I held the other kid's hands. I had to make a plan everywhere I went. Some places became a simple no. I knew it would be too complicated to bring the kids while I was by myself and I'd have to wait for my husband. Then the summer hit. We recently moved to North Carolina and found a house with a pool. I was just as excited as the kids to spend the entire summer in the water. Then the nerves set in. How would I be able to keep three kids safe at the pool? I knew I couldn't physically hold all three of them and they aren't good enough swimmers to go on their own. Right as I was about to give up, a friend recommended Stearns® Puddle Jumper® 3D Life Jackets to me. She swore that they were amazing and helped parents feel more secure at the pool.
I tried it for my five-year-old and they changed my life! Stearns® Puddle Jumper 3D Life Jackets help parents keep their kids more safe while swimming! Parents have enough to worry about and these vests help take the fear at the pool away. They're designed to wrap around your child's chest and arms. Not to mention, they're designed so they can't hike up to their neck. It doesn't matter whether your child is a confident swimmer or a beginner swimmer. They help keep their head above water while still letting them learn the basics of swimming.
When I was younger, I used to help at my church youth group to teach kids to swim. One of the biggest things I learned was that the first step to learning how to swim is to feel confident in the water. They had to be able to trust themselves while swimming. Stearns® Puddle Jumper® 3D Life Jackets help give kids the confidence they need.Now that my two younger kids are ready to get in the water, we went to Target to find their Puddle Jumper® Life Vests. They were so excited to find that they have 3D characters on them! I was excited to see that they were adjustable. All three of my kids have such different builds and it's usually hard to find one thing that works for them all. The adjustable straps help to make sure they fit them all comfortably.
Keep these pool safety tips in mind if you're going to the pool with a big family like mine.
- Get your children comfortable in the water.
- Make swimming fun!
- Always make sure an adult is present.
- Make sure your beginner swimmers have on a life vest while swimming.
- Walk around the pool.
- Don't swim when tired.
- Take breaks.
- Make sure you always see your kids.
- Stick to one spot of the pool while they're getting comfortable.
- Get swim lessons.
Are you ready to brave the summer? If so, head over to your local Target and pick up your own Stearns® Puddle Jumper® 3D Life Jackets! Whether your have PAW Patrol® or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle® fans, they’re in luck! Let them pick out their own vests and get excited about swimming this summer!
Enjoy your summer with Stearns® Puddle Jumper® 3D Life Jackets!
How To Get My Family More Comfortable With Our Family's Mixed Culture
Sometimes the idea of getting the whole family together can get a little stressful, especially if it means the in laws come along too. It's one thing when you spend time with everyone on their own terms, but it's another thing entirely when they're out of their comfort zones.After my husband and I had our boys, it all seemed easier. Most of our family events were focused on our kids and it helped our families to have something in common. They all loved our boys to pieces and it made them more comfortable in that environment.We did learn a few things through our first few get togethers. Most of what we learned was through trial and error, but at the end of the day these three things helped a lot!Include Your Family's Traditions At Special EventsFind opportunities to include your family in traditions during your parties. Every family has their own traditions for special events and they're the perfect way to include everyone.We found a fun way to include both of our families traditions during our kid's birthday parties.Growing up my family used to do smash cakes. They would make a cake for the guests and then a little cake for the birthday kid. The best part of the smash cake is watching the little ones dig into it! Some of our kids were more aggressive with it than their siblings, but it was always fun.In my husband's family, they hand feed each other during special events. It's a special moment for family members to love on the child.My husband and I decided to combine the two traditions. We made a smash cake for our birthday boy, but had our family members feed him a bit of the cake before they could dig in.
Let Your Family Know What To ExpectOne of the biggest things that leads to fear is the unknown. We fear things because we don't understand them. This is why it's so important for us to talk to our families about what they can expect as we blend cultures.During the week of my wedding mine and my husband's family got together. I don't know who was more nervous... me or them.My family had so many things to learn that week. Their were new traditions, new customs, new languages, and new people.At the end of the day, the thing that helped the most was talking. They needed a safe place to ask questions. The more we all talked, the more comfortable they all became.
Encourage Your Kids To Teach Them About Their CultureMy kids love teaching people about their traditions and what better way to learn about something new than from a bunch of cute kids.When we eat Indian food in front of my family, my kids teach my family how to use their hands. They show them the correct technique and how they like to do it. They've even started to teach my family little Telugu words they know! It gives them a sense of pride to be able to share something that means so much to them.How have you helped your family to be comfortable with a new culture?
Teaching Our Young Boys To Dream Big
This post is sponsored by Melanites™
As a mother, I love watching my kids dream big. All three of my boys have huge imaginations. They're always thinking up new adventures in our backyard. Whether they're in a spaceship on the way to the moon or driving an ice cream truck, their imaginations take them all over the world.I want them to know the sky is the limit to what they can dream up. We read stories and watch movies about characters that are brave enough to go scour the world. As my kids get older, we've started to talk about the stories and movies more often. This was when my four year old realized something wasn't quite right...My four year is extremely proud of his brown skin. He's always telling everyone his daddy is black and he's "brown all mixed up" because he's a little bit of mommy and daddy.I love hearing him talk about it. It makes so proud to hear how he boldly proclaims this to everyone he sees. He wants the world to know that he's Indian like daddy and American like mommy.
He was the first one of my kids to ask me why there weren't more brown kids in his movies.I knew the conversation was bound to happen. I've done my best over the years to collect multicultural books and find books with main characters that look like all three of my kids.However, the reality is there aren't that many. Most of the books we found have a brown boy as the best friend or a side character.My question is what is that teaching our kids?What will our kids start thinking when they realize they're always the side character in the adventure?Will they start to modify their dreams to fit what the world is showing them?This is why it's so important that we as parents teach our kids that the sky is the limit. We need to come in and break down the limits that society has put in place for our kids.
One of the ways we can do this is to make sure they're represented in the toys they have at home, their books, and in their daily lives.
Today, I'm proud to be partnering with Melanites™ to bring diversity into our very own homes. They recently launched their new action pal! His name is Jaylen and he is your kid's new best friend.
I loved seeing the look on my kid's faces when they pulled him out the box! They were so excited to start playing with him and go on adventures with him!
Jaylen isn't just a fun toy for my kids.He is helping break down this idea that they can't do something based on their biracial identity and he's empowering them to dream big!
How Can You Teach Your Biracial Child To Be Proud Of Who They Are
Teaching Your Biracial Child To Be Comfortable In Their Own Skin
Being a child is hard. We always tease our kids about their "difficult" lives when they're throwing a tantrum over too much jelly on their sandwich, but hey. While the jelly dilemma is full of toddler drama, kids really do face some difficult challenges.
As a child, they don't know who they are and there is an inevitable realization for them. One day, they're going to wake up and realize they're different from their friends. As a biracial child or a child in an intercultural family, they're going to realize they don't like their friends or don't sound like them.
My husband went through his inevitable realization after he moved to the US from India...
While my mother in law was finishing nursing school, my husband lived with his relatives in India. After a few years and a nursing degree, he moved home to his parents. At the time, Telugu was his first language. He understood English, but he was more comfortable with Telugu as that was what he had been speaking for the last few years.
He was both excited and terrified to start school. He knew right away that he was different from his friends, but the idea of making new friends was all he could think about.
On my husband's first day of school, he was asked to tell the class about himself. He started to tell everyone about his kukka (dog) when they erupted into laughter. They started teasing him and asking why he talked funny.
In that moment my husband made a choice. He didn't want to be different than his friends and stopped speaking in Telugu in front of anyone, but his family. He even lost his accent as soon as he could.
He was only four or five years old when this happened. As a little boy he knew that there was something different about himself and was embarrassed. As an adult, he still regrets that. He still speaks Telugu, but no where near what he could have if he had made a different decision and continued speaking it fluently.
As the parents of biracial children, it's our responsibility to teach them how valuable their differences are. Those differences are what make up our beautiful children and we need to find a way to teach this to them. Here are 3 ways to encourage children to love themselves as the unique and biracial children that they are.
Surround Your Child With Diversity
Your child needs to be surrounded with diversity. They need to understand that they live in a diverse world and not feel like the only biracial child around.[tweetthis display_mode="box"]The more diversity your children are exposed to, the more comfortable they are with themselves. #aiwtribe #mkbkids [/tweetthis]You can do this by showing diversity in their books, food, friend groups, school, movies, and more. This doesn't just mean their own culture. They need to be exposed to multiple cultures because it creates an environment of acceptance rather than intolerance.Plus, it's exciting! It's always fun to learn about new cultures and the more they learn, the more they're going to want to teach their friends!
Reject Negative Messages About Biracial Kids
It's easy for kids to start believing the messages that society tells them. Society tells them they aren't good enough. As their parents, it's your job to tell them they're amazing as they are every day. Build their confidence now so they can face negative racial messages later.The more comfortable your children are with themselves, the more likely they are to educate ignorant people rather than respond in anger. People are going to say mean and negative things. As much as you would love to prevent your child from dealing with it, there's nothing you can do. What you can do is teach them how to respond.Their confidence will help them to challenge the ignorant statement rather than let it make them feel bad about themselves.
Encourage Your Child To Share Their Culture With Their Friends
Parents need to bridge the gap between encouraging their children to be comfortable in their own skin to becoming proud of what makes them unique. This can happen by showing them how fun it is to share their culture with their friends.You can have a special night where you have your kids invite their friends over for a special feast that includes traditional meals, invite them to a local cultural event, or watch a family friends foreign film together.When a child is proud of something, they want to shout it from the roof tops! They can't wait to tell special people in their lives about it. Culture should be the same way. If you're child is still uncomfortable with the fact their different from their friends, you may have to be the one encouraging them.Start by taking your entire family to a fun event that shows off your culture. Ask them if they want to bring someone. If they don't it's ok. Give them time. The more common it becomes for your family to do these things, the more comfortable they'll become and the more likely they'll want to show it off to their friends.
How are you teaching your kids to be proud of what makes them unique?
A Year Of Tiny Living
Hi! My name is Sara Miedema and I blog over at Tiny Home Dream. A little over a year ago, my husband decided to return to school after over a year of unemployment. In an effort to save money and stretch our resources, my husband, 2 children (ages 2 and 4) and I moved into a 300 sq foot RV.
We spent a month ripping it apart and renovating it before our big move and it’s been such a great home for us! I thought I’d share a little bit about what tiny living with a family is like by reviewing our first year.
Summer
We moved in right at the beginning of summer and it was SO lovely! The space that our RV is parked on is totally fenced in, so our kids were able to enjoy lots of freedom in our backyard, something we missed in our old house! The first summer felt a lot like camping, in the best way possible. We spent most of our time outdoors. Lots of campfires and hot dog roasts!
Our tiny home was easy to keep clean and tidy and since we were hardly ever inside, it was hardly a chore to clean it. Our kids learned so much about playing together, pretend and outdoor play. My husband and I enjoyed the relief from financial stress and the time we were able to spend together.
Adjusting to our tiny space was surprisingly easy, we transitioned our kids to sharing the same room and once they were used to the idea, the rest of it was easy. We got used to cooking and baking in a small kitchen and got comfortable using a compost toilet. We spent more time at home than at parks and beaches, because we love our outdoor space so much!
Fall
Thankfully, we enjoyed a mild fall and it gave us time to get used to the idea of spending more time indoors. We invested in good rain gear for the kids and pulled out some hidden boxes of toys as we moved indoors more and more. Unless it was absolutely pouring, the kids continued to play outside for several hours a day. We also began to attend programs in our county to help us get out of the house more often. Storytime, drop-in preschool, dance class, Bible study and toddler time kept us busy almost every day.
We rarely felt cooped up, and relished a quiet day at home! As the days grew colder and it rained more and more (PNW, don’t forget!) I started implementing daily quiet time with our kids. Our 2 year old gave up naps right around this time and I needed a few quiet moments to myself every day! The kids spent a lot of time listening to audiobooks and playing quietly with their toys. As the rain poured, we found several leaks in the roof and did our best to repair them. It was discouraging and frustrating, one of the downfalls of living in a 25 year old rig….
Winter
Our biggest challenge was definitely surviving the winter! The previous winter was mild and we only have a tiny dusting of snow and very few days below freezing. Of course, this winter was brutal! I’ve heard it was the coldest one we’ve had in 30 years! On one of our first cold days, our pipes froze and we were not only without water, but facing the reality that we had a whole season of freezing weather ahead of us!
We brainstormed and budgeted and researched and in the end, came to the conclusion that there wasn’t much we could do without spending a fortune. Instead, we turned off the water and drained our pipes each time the weather dipped. This meant many days, and weeks, of no running water. We lugged water in in 5 gallon jugs, did laundry elsewhere and showered anytime we were visiting friends or family. Our friends got used to us tossing in a load of laundry and bathing our kids each week at Bible study and our neighbors graciously helped us out when they could!
It’s also worth mentioning that we found out we were pregnant at the beginning of the winter. So along with these challenges, I also struggled with nausea and exhaustion. We celebrated a simple, cozy Christmas in our tiny home and loved it!
In January, an ice storm presented us with another challenge when our power was knocked out. Several large branches broke and landed on our roof and the strong wind rocked us back and forth so it felt like we were on a boat. We ended up making the trek to my parents’ house to wait out the storm.
Surprisingly, staying warm was never an issue. 4 bodies and a couple space heaters in our tiny space kept us nice and toasty all winter! I found myself growing discouraged and burnt out on tiny living, especially when the weather forced us to stay home for days on end. The first stretch of days above freezing were such a relief!
Spring
I can’t describe the joy we felt when the weather began to get warmer! Running water felt like such a luxury and doing laundry in our own space was a treat! The kids began spending more and more time outdoors again, usually ending up filthy and muddy, but I didn’t mind!
We were able to pack up our space heaters and dehumidifier, which made our small space feel larger. The kids and I were able to go for walks and play outside and visit parks and beaches again. At this time, we were also able to make the last payment on our student loans and that gave us another big reminder as to why we made the choice to live tiny! We realized that we had been able to save almost a thousand dollars a month in living expenses and that gave us renewed motivation and determination!
As we approach summer again, we’re loving our home and space! We just passed the one year mark and we wouldn’t change a thing. Our next big challenge is coming this month, as we’ll be adding a newborn to the mix! We’re preparing our home for a new baby and trying to envision what the next year of tiny living will be like!
Follow Sara Along On Her Journey!
Father's Day Is Our Chance To Tell Him How We Feel
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CelebrateAllSummer #CollectiveBias
Father's Day is right around the corner and my boys are getting excited! They've been planning out the perfect day to let their daddy know how much they love him.I've loved seeing the relationship my boys have with their daddy. In the beginning, they were complete momma's boys. I could tell my husband was nervous that they'd always be that way.Then I saw it happen before my eyes. I'd find them searching through the house looking for dada and the look on my husband's face was always priceless. His heart was completely full in those moments.Over the years, I've seen him do everything he can to be the best dad for his boys. He works harder than so many people I know, he always makes time to throw the ball around the yard with them, and he's showing them what it means to be an amazing man.
Father's Day is our chance to let him know how much we love him.As life get's busy we don't always take the time to tell each other how we feel. We assume they just know what we think and how much we appreciate them.American Greetings is there to help us find the words we want to say. Father's Day is the perfect time to let it all out. These dads work hard all year to be an example to their kids and much like every other parent, they don't always think they're doing great. This is our time to let them know how much we appreciate everything they do.My kids had a blast choosing out their cards. My four-year-old found a card with a "superhero daddy" and my other boys found cards that fit their personalities perfectly.
This year for Father's Day, my kids are going to spoil their daddy with cards that tell him exactly how they feel and a delicious brunch. We even decided to mix together two of my husband's favorite things... Indian food and pizza.We've decided to whip up a delicious batch of Curry Spiced Waffle Pizza. If he could survive on Indian food and pizza, I know he would. I let his taste buds be the inspiration for our tasty Father's Day brunch menu.
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Whether you want to find the perfect words to tell dad you love him or you just want to celebrate your best friend, American Greetings is there for you. Sometimes it's hard to find the words to describe how we feel about the close people in our lives, but these cards are perfect.We went to Walmart looking for Father's Day cards and ended up leaving with cards for Hug Your Kids Day and Finally Summer! I had to cut my kids off in the end because they wanted to leave with them all!
I love American Greetings because they don't just have cards! We were able to get everything we needed for Father's Day in one simple trip! We picked up our favorite cards, a gift bag, and even tissue paper! They have it all!
Pick up your American Greeting cards today, but don't forget to use this coupon!Are you an Ibotta fan like me? You should be! They have a ton of great savings! You could head over to Walmart today and purchase any American Greetings® Card at Walmart and Earn $1 on Ibotta ! They've even sweetened the deal by offering another deal! You can purchase any American Greetings® Card at Walmart and Earn $1 on Ibotta !
Multicultural Corner #2 Traveling To Thailand!
This post is brought to you by Saffron Road
The kids and I just completed our first year of homeschool! I was really worried it was going to be hard with all three kids, but it turned out really well.We quickly found a stride that worked for us and did most of our stuff outside. All three of my kids are hands-on learners, so we learned what we could at parks or in our backyard. Not to mention, the ability to wear them out while they learned was a huge plus!One of my favorite parts of teaching the kids from home has been our little multicultural corner. About once a month, we choose a new area of the world to learn about. We do it through fun books, games, crafts, and our very favorite... food!Indian culture has shown me how food can bring cultures together. It doesn't matter what your differences are. All you need to do is whip up a delicious meal and enjoy together. I also think it's a great way to teach kids about the world around them. They not only get to hear about a new culture, they get to explore it with their taste buds.
Where Are Our Taste Buds Taking Us To Today?
Even though the school year is over, my kids are dying to see the new culture we're going to explore! Today, our taste buds are taking us all the way to Thailand!I won't lie, I've been counting down the days until we could learn about Thailand! During our first year together, my husband and I spent most of our date nights at Thai restaurants.We both became completely obsessed with the food and loved the stories we would hear from the owners of the little restaurant. It ended up being a great fit for us because my husband could get his dishes Thai hot (burn your mouth off spicy) and I could get mine mild (white girl spicy)! It was perfect.I love being able to introduce my boys to Thai food because it brings back so many memories for my husband and I.Today, we whipped up some Pad Thai! Our house is filled with such a delicious smell. I had to fight my kids off just to be able to take a few pictures before they devoured their bowls!
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Today's multicultural corner is brought to you by Saffron Road!
I have fallen in love with their company because they have so many kinds of simple dishes!They have Indian freezer meals and their simmer sauces are to die for! This month we've already made their Mango Chicken and Pad Thai.I'm usually in a rush when it comes to dinner time so these quick dishes are just what we need! We can quickly whip up an international feast and my family is beyond happy!
Share Your Own Multicultural Corner Resources, Activities, and Recipes!
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Does It Make My Son Racist To Notice Different Skin Colors?
"Mom, look! He's black like daddy!"
This was what my 4 year old decided to yell as we walked through Target. The funny thing was that the man he was referring to looked at him and smiled, but a lady walking behind us was the one that gave Levi a double take. She wasn't mad necessarily, but you could tell it made her uncomfortable.My son is very visual, like most kids his age. When he retells me some of his adventures from the day, he tends to refer to children and adults by skin color. It's the descriptive words that his brain instantly recognizes."Can you get the black boys phone number so he can come and play?"In his mind, he's just describing his new friend like he would with any other adjectives.I've struggled over this one a bit. Everyone has such different opinions on what's acceptable, but at the end of the day, I had to make a decision for my kids.When my son was talking to me about his friend from the park, I responded by modeling different descriptors."Oh yeah, the kid with the orange shirt? He was really nice!"I don't correct him for using skin color as his descriptor, but I provide him with others as well. As a biracial child, I think it's important for him to realize we are who we are because of so many things. Our skin color doesn't define who we are, but it's one of many pieces of our identity.
Should We Raise Our Kids To Be Colorblind?
Another approach to this would be to raise our kids with a color blind mentality. It basically means you teach your kids not to see skin color.As a multiracial family, I can't see how that's healthy. My kids are being raised in two different cultures. Those cultures have influenced so many things about our family's identity and our daily decisions. If we were to teach our kids to stop seeing color, I feel like we'd be telling them to stop letting their Indian/American culture influence who they are.I've had people tell me I focus too much on my kid's culture rather than teaching them to simply be kids. I do it because I want my kids to be raised with a global mindset. If we're only teaching them about one culture we're ignoring all of the other amazing lessons they can learn from different cultures around the world.We currently attend a multiracial church and our pastor is always talking about being color blessed instead of color blind. I love it because it encourages us to embrace what makes us unique rather than ignore it.I want my kids to see the differences we all have so they also understand the unique part we all have to play in our diverse world.
The Real Problem
At the end of the day, the problem isn't kids using colors to describe people around them. The problem is when we make negative and hurtful statements about people based on the color of their skin.We are raising our children in a society that still struggles with racism and prejudice. As far as we've come from the days of Martin Luther Kind Jr. and the Lovings, we still have a ways to go.It's because of this that race becomes an uncomfortable conversation. People would rather be colorblind than talk about something that makes them feel awkward. In reality, I think a lot of parents are scared of saying the wrong thing.I've been there too! It's one thing to talk about race in the comfort of your own home, but it's a different story when it happens in public. You don't want to offend anyone, but you don't want them that talking about different races makes you feel weird.I've just started to break the uncomfortable barrier by asking questions. If I'm not sure what to say, I'll ask friends around me. By asking the question, they know you want to be respectful and you'll even learn a few things!I want my kids to do the same thing. I encourage them to learn more about people and to feel comfortable noticing what makes us all unique.
Embrace The Mess This Summer With These Fun Activities!
The Bigger The Mess, The Bigger The Adventure
As a mother, most of my day is spent cleaning up messes that get made quicker than I ever thought imaginable. I'm constantly trying to keep boogers in noses, pee in the toilet, and dirty fingers off my couch.Summer time can get a little crazy for parents. While it's supposed to be a two month long vacation, it turns into chaos rather quickly. When kids don't have school work they happily find other things to keep them busy.I'll let you in on a little secret... it involves a big mess.The more I've been thinking about this summer, I've realized messes aren't the end of the world. I tend to be a control freak when it comes to my parenting. I want things to stay the way I envision them which means as little mess as possible.In the end it only ends up with me near a nervous breakdown while my kids get dirty anyways.Then I had an earth shattering moment... I realized summer time is the absolute best time for messes. All you have to do is let the kids go outside, get as messy as they can, and then turn the sprinklers on!It's a win-win situation!
Your kids instantly think you're the best mom in town because you're letting them get as messy as their hearts desire and you can get them clean before they even step foot in your house.This is exactly why our summer motto is "The Bigger The Mess, The Bigger The Adventure."My kids are only going to be little kids once. I love watching them go outside and turn our backyard into a jungle filled with giant creatures they have to run from. I love seeing rain turn magical powers that gives my kids the ability to fly.While I may see these crazy, mud-covered children as something else I have clean up, they see it as a huge adventure.
20 Messy Summer Adventures
- Digging in the dirt for treasure
- Finger Paint In The Bathtub
- Chalk Bombs (Crushed up chalk and a bit of water in a water balloon)
- Squirt Gun Painting
- Mud Painting
- Puffy Paint (Shaving Cream and Glue)
- Sensory Bin Filled With Cooked Spaghetti
- Make Bright Colored Slime
- Use Your Own Body As A Stamp Outside
- Giant Bubbles
- Spray Chalk
- Muddy Trucks In The Play Pool
- Exploding Mentos (Mentos in Clear Pop)
- Messy Twister (Adding colored shaving cream to each spot)
- Paint Slip And Slide
- Bubble Wrap Painting
- Foam Sand (Sand and shaving cream)
- Fairy Soup (Water and whatever they can find in the yard)
- Ice Cube Painting (Water and food coloring)
- Shaving Cream Blocks (Use shaving cream as the "glue" to keep it together)
Kleenex Is Here To Help Moms Embrace The Mess
At the end of the day all you need is a sprinter and a Kleenex On The Go Package. Kids are going to get messy and summer is the best time to embrace it.It doesn't matter if you're at home, at the park, or on your way to vacation, embrace the mess this summer. Just have fun and if you're brave enough... join in!The best part is there is no mess that the Kleenex On The Go Pack can't handle! I always have one in the car and one in my purse. We've used them for anything from muddy hands to paint covered faces. It makes cleaning up the mess a breeze.
Head over to your local Walmart today and pick up your own Kleenex On The Go Pack and embrace the mess this summer!
What Loving Day Means To My Multiracial Family
What Is Loving Day?
In 1967, the Supreme Court decided they would no longer prevent couples from marrying based on the color of their skin. This wasn't an easy decision in the 60's. Mildred and Richard Loving fought against a law they knew was wrong. After they were married, they were sentenced with one year in prison. They were madly in love and the state of Virginia didn't care. It only saw the color of their skin.The Lovings fought for their love and it's because of their perseverance and strength that multiracial families can proudly walk the streets together today.Every year on June 12th, we celebrate Loving Day to remember the Lovings and celebrate their victory, our victory. It's because of them that all couples can marry, regardless of their race.
Who Should Celebrate Loving Day?
Whether you are in an interracial marriage, have a multiracial family or not, Loving Day is for you too. It's not only for a select group of people. Loving Day stands for something bigger. It stands for racial justice and our right to marry the person we love.Without the Loving's fight, my husband and I would not be married. Our marriage would be illegal because of the color of our skin. Our children wouldn't be able to marry girls of a different race or ethnic background. The Lovings changed my life, my children's lives, and the world.Everyone should celebrate Loving Day because it affects all of us.
How Can You Celebrate Loving Day?
Find a Loving Day celebration.
There are Loving Day celebrations all over the US during this time of year. You can even go to the Loving Day website and look for your city. If you don't have one around you, start your own! Get your town into it and celebrate!
Celebrate at home.
Make a special dinner for your family and talk about the Lovings. Share their story with your spouse and/or children. Talk about the fight they had for us to marry who we love. You can even watch a movie all about it!
Spread awareness.
While the Lovings changed the world for our family, not everyone knows just how important they are. You can spread the word and share Loving Day with your friends.
What Loving Day Means For My MultiracialFamily.
While the Lovings stood against a law forbidding white and black citizens from marrying, it made a difference for my family too. My husband is East Indian and I'm white. The Lovings not only fought for their family, but for us.The Lovings fought so my husband and I could raise our kids in a world where love isn't defined by skin color.My children are young, but they know that Loving Day is important. It's because of this special day in history that my children don't know a world where mommy and daddy can't get married because of the color of their skin.
How Can You Spread Awareness For Loving Day Today?
Head over to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to share your story. Post a picture of your family, introduce yourself, and tell us what Loving Day means for your family.
Head over to the Multiracial Motherhood Facebook Group and see how other multiracial families are celebrating!
*This post contains affiliate links.*
My Gut Reaction To Hand Feeding
My Gut Reaction To Hand Feeding
When I first met my husband's family, I was so nervous that I didn't think about questions I should be asking him to prepare myself. I was just focused on not making a complete fool of myself!Luckily, his family is full of amazing people that made me feel comfortable right away. They even shared some cultural differences I may notice throughout our first week together. One of the first things they mentioned was that they ate Indian food with their hands.They showed the technique behind how to do it and I even ended up trying it out myself. I'll be honest, it took me a little bit to feel comfortable doing it in front of them consistently, but I learned. It became something I could do to show my husband (fiancé at the time) that I was eager to learn more about his culture and to embrace it.Over the years we've been together, it's become second nature to me. In fact, I can't remember the last time I ate Indian food with a utensil. The joke in Indian families is that food doesn't taste as good when using a utensil and I'm starting to agree!A meal isn't just about the food in Indian culture. It's about family and the love you have for each other.When my husband and I were engaged, we had a ceremony. During the evening, some of the older aunty's and uncles (older friends of the family) hand fed us sweets.At first, I was surprised and kept offering to do it myself. Then my husband gently nudged me and let me know it was part of the ceremony itself.This one took me longer to be comfortable with. The last time someone hand fed me, I was a little kid. In my mind, hand feeding was something parents did for their children who needed help. I had never seen it done in any other way.Fast forward a few years and I ran into an interesting situation with my 5-year-old, Liam. He is my child that wants to be big, now! He's not about this whole growing up business. He wants everyone to know he's mature for his age and doesn't need help. He's s spitting image of myself as a child.During one of our trips to visit my husband's family, one of Liam's Uthamas started to try and hand feed him. His instant reaction was to take it from her hand and do it himself. She offered a few more times and then stopped. My husband and I tried to explain it to him, but he wasn't having it.I'm not a baby, momma.This was the first moment I realized hand feeding was something bigger than I thought it was. It wasn't about an adult treating someone like a kid. It was about the special moment between two people who cared about each other.Uthama was hand feeding Liam because she loved him. It was just like snuggling on the couch for her. They were having a special bonding moment.
Over the years, my kids have responded to this differently. My two younger kids live for it. If they could be hand fed for every meal, they would! Liam is still a different story. He's becoming more comfortable with it, but in the back of his mind, he still pushes back.One thing we've done to try and help explain it to him is having him feed his uncle. My sister in law got married a little over a year ago. Her husband asked Liam to feed him some fruit on one of our trips. Liam started to laugh thinking he was being silly.Then he did it and it was such a special moment. He loves his uncle so much so for him I think it finally clicked in his mind. Obviously he could have fed himself, but he asked Liam to do it.Ever since then, he's been much more willing to have people hand feed him. He would still prefer to feed himself, but I don't notice him turning people down as much anymore. Now he just asks to feed them after!
A Special Bond Between Brothers
How Do You Do It?
When people find out I have three boys under 6 years old, they immediately ask me, "How do you do it!" To be honest, most days are crazy. There are always little kids climbing on couches, fighting over toys, talking about bodily functions, and it gets messy.Real messy. Like Cheerios everywhere you can imagine kind of messy.However, there is one person that helps keep me sane every day, my five year old Liam. He is a rock star. He's definitely coming into a sassy I know everything phase, but he is always helping me. In our family, he is the Unna, which means the big brother.An Unna is a very special role in Indian families. They have the responsibility of looking out for their siblings and truly coming in as a little parent. For those of you that are the oldest in your family, you know what this looks like. Indian families take it a step further though. It's not just that they look out for their siblings, they truly have a place of authority in their siblings lives.I was introduced to this when I met my brother and sister in law for the first time. It was Thanksgiving and I was still getting to know my husband's family. We had been dating for a while at this point and knew it was serious. I was anxious to see what type of relationship my husband had with his siblings.I was the oldest of all my brothers so I had an idea what it looked like to have the responsibility on your shoulders. The more I watched them interact, the more I noticed something different. His siblings truly respected him and actually listened.I tell my brothers what to do all the time and usually they do what they want in the end. I'm sure I'd be the same way if the tables were turned.My brother and sister in law had a completely different relationship with their big brother. They valued what he said and went to him like they would to their own parents.
Passing Down Traditions To Our Boys
This was always something I wanted to pass on to my kids. I loved the idea behind it. It meant my kids would always be looking after each other and what mom doesn't want that.All three of my kids know and understands what it means to be an Unna. All three of them listen to their older brother and know it's their responsibility to take care of each other. Now, I'm not saying I let them parent each other while I lounge on the couch... As much as I'd love that!The relationship they have with each other is special. They rely on each other, love each other, and they're little partner's in crime everywhere they go.Out of all of the traditions we've passed down to the boys, this special bond is one of my favorites. I love the closeness it has brought all three of them.The funny thing is now they think all families are like ours. They assume they're unnas to everyone who is younger than this. This gets fun when we have play dates because they start bossing all the little kids around! Sometimes being an Unna is an excuse to be the boss.As they get older, they're going to learn more about what the role of an Unna means and I can't wait to watch them figure it out.
Living With Your In-Laws: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly
Have you ever wondered what it would look like to live with your in-laws? Maybe you already live in a joint family and need some advice. Today, we get to have a little peak into what it actually looks like from Amanda! Amanda is the blogger behind the website MarocMama, a fearless guide to food and travel. She lives in Marrakech, Morocco with her extended family and loves to share culinary experiences and unique destinations around the world with her readers.
Living with Your In-laws: The Good, The Bad and the Ugly
Would you live with your in-laws? For many people who haven’t grown up in a culture where this practice is common it sounds like an absolute nightmare – and sometimes it is. Thirteen years ago I met and married my Moroccan husband. We lived in the US for many years until returning to Morocco four years ago. When we returned we moved into the family home.There are a lot of reasons extended families live in a single home and in Moroccan culture it’s as much to do with keeping the family together as it is practicality. When family members age they need to be cared for and this is done by their children. The reasons are also financial. In countries like Morocco it’s not always possible for a young couple to afford their own apartment or home.When we moved to Morocco, our first intention was to stay for only a year and to save money and make the move easier we opted to move into the family home. I had a few reservations but decided I could do just about anything for a year. While in some situations each family would have just their own room or two with shared common spaces, we had our own floor of the house with a private living room, bathroom, and kitchen. However, the house is laid out like a traditional Moroccan home – with an open center courtyard. All of the rooms on each floor face outward to this open middle space. So, while technically we had a private space it in actuality is semi-private.
What is it like to live with your in-laws?
Hard. But, not every situation is the same. For me, someone that had lived alone since I was 18 years old it was incredibly strange to get used to having to contend with others around me. There were two major issues that were difficult to get used to. First, when there would be a noise disturbance in the US from a neighbor I could call the police, that doesn’t work here. Moroccans, and especially my in-laws, tend to be night people. They stay up until very late at night, every night with little regard for the amount of noise they are making. This was an issue was I am a big fan of routines and bedtimes for our kids who were six and eight when we moved. Four years later this remains an issue but it is better than it was in the beginning.The second issue was the lack of privacy. Thankfully our floor of the house is private but in the beginning family members would walk in without knocking at any time. It was also very common that they would take, and in some cases ask, for different things that we had. It could be a brush, a broom, or something from the kitchen. I’ve heard from others that their clothing or shoes would “go missing,” and end up being worn by a sister in law or niece that day.Communal living can be a huge mental drain. I am someone that really needs solitude and time away from people. I’m not anti-social but I need to “recharge.” It was hard for my mother in law to understand that just because I wasn’t sitting in the living room with them didn’t mean I didn’t like them, it just meant I valued my space. I also work from home and it took a VERY long time to explain what this was. Again, I wasn’t being anti-social but I was working.When you are a foreign spouse in a traditional family there is a desire to want to do what they expect you to do. I felt this in the beginning but my advice to anyone who is living with their in-laws or considering it is not to fall into this trap. You will lose your own identity and in the end regret it, especially when you realize you’ll never be able to meet their expectations. If I were a typical Moroccan daughter-in-law, I would have been expected to cook and clean around the entire house, not just my floor. In the beginning this was mentioned but I immediately pushed back. I would help but I didn’t move here to become the live in help. It is critical that you have a firm sense of who you are, what your values are, and what your goals are so that you can compromise accordingly.
Are there any benefits to living with your in-laws?
I realize this all sounds very negative, but there are some benefits to living this way. One of the biggest advantages is that it can save a lot of money. If you’re on a tight budget or planning to relocate for a short period of time it can be ideal. Discuss with the family how your family will contribute; will you buy groceries, pay the electric bill, or something else? Living this way means shared responsibility in the household upkeep.The other advantage for us is that I travel a lot for work. My kids are able to always stay in their home without having to be uprooted from their house to go to grandma’s or their aunties house when mom and dad are gone or at work. There is always another adult around if they need something. No babysitters needed!Finally, even though it can be a huge strain living this way does bring a family closer together (it also drives you crazy but hey, that’s family!). My mother-in-law can come up and have lunch with us if she wants. We all can help each other when something is wrong and my kids always have playmates thanks to their cousins being right downstairs.I don’t think this style of living is for everyone and I do think it’s helpful to put a time limit on it. It can be very stressful for people who come from a culture where they are not used to living in such a way. If you do make this choice, put up your boundaries right away and stick to them, it will make life much easier for everyone. Be true to who you are and what your desires are because they will be challenged regularly. Finally, learn to accept the good with the bad and do whatever you can to make the bad a little more tolerable!
Follow Amanda's Journey
I Refuse To Lose Myself To My Kids
I Refuse To Lose Myself To My Kids
As a mother, my time is balanced between making dinner, wiping little kid's tushies, and doing the never ending dishes. I could sit here and complain about the list of things I do every day, but I love my job.I've dreamed about being a mom since I was a little girl. I love tucking my little boys in after an adventurous day. I love that they love me so much, they can't imagine a moment without me.I often choose a night at home with my kids rather than a girl's night. As exhausting as it is, I wouldn't want it any other way.I didn't realize it would be possible to love these three little boys as much as I do. It's a consuming love. It consumes my time, energy, my love, and if I'm not careful my identity.As moms, we're willing to sacrifice everything for our kids. We think we're doing it for them, but sometimes we give too much. We stop keeping anything for ourselves and we start to lose who we are.If moms give absolutely everything to their kids and family, what do they have left? We need to take care of ourselves so we can be the moms we want to be for our children.
4 Ways Mothers Can Take Care Of Themselves
Pamper Ourselves: Make the time to go out and have some time to pamper yourself. Whether it's getting your hair done, getting a pedicure, or a massage.Sometimes we feel guilty to go out and do things for ourselves because it means taking time away from our kids. We have to find a way to break that mindset. Taking time for yourself doesn't make you a bad mom, it actually shows your kids how important it is to take care of yourself. It gives you the energy you need to pour into your kids each day.Go Out Alone: Get a babysitter or make the hubby stay home with the kids. Take Schedule time for yourself each week. You can go out for a night with the girls or even head to Starbucks and read for a few hours.It's hard to find time for ourselves. Do whatever you can to make it happen each week.Find A Hobby: Find something that's just for you. This is how I discovered blogging. I was looking for something that could be mine, something I could do that made me happy.If mothers only do things for other people, they start to lose themselves. Is there something you enjoy doing? Something you've always wanted to try? Do it! Go and take a class or take time throughout the week to spend time doing something you love.Learn To Love Yourselves: One of the most important things we can do as mothers is to teach our kids to love themselves. We do that by loving ourselves. When we love ourselves, we start to understand how important it is to take care of ourselves, put ourselves first sometimes, and to know our own limits.You can love your kids with all of our heart and still love yourselves. How do you take care of yourself throughout the week.
The Realities of Being A Boy Mom
There's something special about being a mom to little boys. You're not just their parent, you're everything to them. They look to you for it all and you know just how much they need you. While some people may think they're rough and tumble, you know just how sensitive they are.
10 Things Boy Moms Understand
1. You Get Used To The Boy Smell. There is a distinct smell that follows your boys everywhere they go. It starts much sooner than you thought possible, but it's there. Boys are just stinky and it only gets worse. This is why daily baths are a must. 2. You're The Most Important Person In Their Life. There is a special love between a little boy and their momma. It's something that would take the jaws of life to get in-between. You're the first woman they've ever loved and they look to you for everything.3. You're Constantly Flushing Toilets. Little boys are notorious for forgetting to flush the toilet. You even find yourself apologizing for what guests could find in the bathroom just in case...4. Early Park Days Are Necessary. Boys are non-stop energy. The only way to get them to stop jumping off of the furniture is to let them jump and climb their little hearts out. This is why parks were invented.5. You Find Yourself Saying Things You Never Imagined. You'll surprise yourself daily on the things you end up saying to your little boys. Don't pee on your brother. Don't lick the garbage!6. We're Used To Things Being Broken. The days of owning nice, pretty things are long gone. Now is the time of broken lamps, cracked tv's (after playing fetch with the dog), and stained clothes. Boys like to play.7. Bodily Functions Are Hilarious. It doesn't matter how many times you tell your boys not to, they're going to talk about poop, farts, and butts all the time. The funny part is you'll end up laughing too. How can you not when you see your kids rolling on the floor, laughing!?8. Everything Turns Into A Wrestling Match. It doesn't matter how it starts, it's always going to end in wrestling. Your kids will spend most of their days wrestling on the furniture, trampoline, and ground. The only thing to figure out is whether they're laughing or mad.9. Your Grocery Bill Is Insane. Boys can eat. Add a few of them together and your grocery bill is going to get crazy. Just imagine how it's going to be when they get into high school!10. You Befriend Other Boy Moms. You'll find yourself drifting to other boy moms because they understand exactly what your day looks like.
Multiracial Motherhood: Embracing Who You Are
Today, a very special momma is joining us to share about her multiracial motherhood journey. Meghan is the voice behind www.meghanjoyyancy.com where she shares about her multiracial family and talks about how you can find joy in living for today!
Photo Credit: Melissa LeeAnn
Meet Momma Meghan
Welcome to the life of our family of 7! My husband and I met years ago as he played college basketball with my big brother. So, he was the one dating his teammates sister. We dated for 4 short months before getting engaged and we had an 8 month engagement. Our wedding day was almost exactly 1 year from the day we started dating. We got pregnant with our honeymoon baby and about 10 months later, our first daughter was born. This summer we will be celebrating 9 years of marriage and we managed to pop out 5 kids under that age of 8 in those years. It’s been a whirlwind of a glorious adventure!My husbands’ entire family is from Liberia and although he was born in New York, his family is very traditional with their culture and lifestyle. My families heritage comes from Germany and Sweden so my kids love learning about all their of their lineage traditions. Being enriched in the culture of their own blood.
What is something you’ve learned through blending cultures in your family?
To grasp and experience everything we can with respect and gratitude. Beyond what countries our families hail from, but even in the way we operate, communicate and just do life. To be able to have understanding and grace in all aspects of blending family life is so important to healthy relationships. It’s not always easy to do, but it is something to strive for.I tend to be a VERY picky eater. I sometimes even have trouble eating some of the meat I cook myself. And because of this, I believe I have actually hurt my mother-in-loves feelings when she has cooked traditional Liberian meals. It’s not because of her food, but my own ridiculous eating habits that make for some fairly high-maintenance eating habits. At least I can admit that.But I have tried to make an effort over the years to at least TRY the traditional Liberian food. And if anything, I welcome with open arms her wonderful cooking for my husband to enjoy because it is comfort food for him. He grew up with it and so it feels like home for him. And I’m not intimidated or resentful of that. And I also want my kids to be mindful of the different foods and always be willing to try new things.
What is one struggle you’ve encountered?
The stereotypes.The stigma of a black man with a white woman.I will let you mind go where it goes in this. There are so many assumptions.Half-siblings.Gold-digging.Welfare.Foster Care.Control issues.Abusive.“He only likes white women”“She only likes black guys.”Whatever sterotypes you have heard or maybe even witnessed yourself, believe me, we have felt the affects of them. And not like we had anything to prove, but we definitely strive for greatness in all we do, despite the thoughts/words/actions that naturally come our way.
What advice would you share with other multicultural families?
Embrace exactly who you are. Every beautiful woven piece of unity you bring to the table, relish it. LOVE is born in exactly what you have and don’t let the world dull your shine.
Follow Meghan Along On Her Journey
What Can I Do If They Won't Speak My Language?
Early on in an interracial relationship, one of the most uncomfortable moments is sitting in a room where everyone is talking in a different language around you. So many things start to go through your mind...Are they doing it because they don't like you?Are they talking about you?You start questioning their motive and whether or not they're welcoming you into the family. A few years, later you realize it's just a part of the game. Honestly, at some point they have talked about you, but most of the time they're just talking.It's different in every family. In my experience, my in laws speak in Telugu because it's comfortable and a part of who they are. It was the first language they learned so why wouldn't they speak it when they're together with their family?They don't do it the whole time I'm there, but I couldn't imagine asking them to speak in English when I'm around. That's just me and may be completely different for you.You may be married into a family where they do it out of spite... Maybe they truly aren't welcoming you in, don't speak in English at all, or they're just learning to be aware of the language when you walk into a room.Whatever they reason, most of us have been there. So, what do you do? What is your response in that moment?Instead of getting upset, I'm here to help you find a few different ways you can respond and maybe even get you to smile in that moment!
6 Responses When You Have No Idea What's Being Said Around You
At the end of the day, you can't control what people do. The only thing you can do is choose how you respond to the situation. Here are a few ways you can respond and bring a smily to your face in the moment!
Smile and Nod
While they're talking in front of you, just smile and nod. Unless they're in a heated conversation then put on your best angry face! This is the "Let's hope it stops soon" situation. Most likely they'll start speaking in English soon so you just wait it out.
Laugh When Appropriate
Pretend like you're completely in the conversation. If everyone's laughing, start laughing with them! You'll nighter get their attention and they'll laugh with you or they'll stare at you wondering what you're laughing about. Then you let them wonder what you're thinking.
Secretly Learn The Language
This is my favorite. Secretly learn the language. Then you can sit there in those conversations, knowing exactly what they're saying. Wait for the best moment to finally catch them talking about you! Aha! I knew it! Then you can pull the most epic moment ever and respond to them in the same language!
Go Take A Nap
While they're talking, sneak away for a little r and r. Maybe they won't even notice, but at least you get a nap out of the situation. This was my go to response when I was pregnant with my kids.
Gentle Hints
Oh, what was that? I couldn't hear you. What did you say?After enough "gentle" hints they'll get the message and hopefully start including you in the conversation.
Have Your Husband Interpret
Let your husband be your covert spy. Have him interpret the conversation for you. Although let me warn you right now the jokes they make are never funny after being interpreted. They loose all humor in translation and you may regret having him interpret everything for you.
What is your go to response?
21 Signs You Have A Toddler
Sometimes I ask myself how it's possible for so many things to happen in one day. Then I remember I have three kids 5 years old and younger. Today, I found my son pouring rice crisps all over the floor, peeing in the bathtub, making syrup and ketchup toast, and using all my clean clothes to build a tower.My kids are always up to something. If they're quiet, I know it's bad and I run!The best part about being a mom to a toddler is finding another toddler mom! They understand exactly how you feel. They know why you go to a park with the kids at 8am, they know how it feels to have your kid throw a huge tantrum in the middle of Target, and they just get it.If you have a toddler, you'll be able to relate to a few of these too!
21 Signs You Have A Toddler
Waking up at 8 feels like you slept in all morning.Your purse has turned into a Marry Poppins bag that carries more than you ever thought possible.A grocery trip without the kids feels as good as a day at the spa.You avoid having your kids pray in public because it turns into an expose of your family's secrets.The bottom half of your walls are covered in grimy fingerprints.You haven't seen the floor of your car in months because it's covered in goldfish and Cheerios.You have no shame in bribing your kids to listen in public.You've found yourself sitting on a pee covered toilet in the middle of the night because your kids failed to pee inside.You constantly find foreign substances on your clothes.You realize you have no cute family pictures because someone always have their finger up their nose or refuses to look at the camera.You lick your child's pacifier after it falls on the ground.Somedays, merely giving your child a bath feels like the biggest accomplishment!You'd rather eat cereal for dinner than to put your kids in the car and get groceries.You have to mediate fights over the empty cereal box which is now apparently the best thing in the house.You're constantly taking remotes out of the toilet.You find yourself yelling, "Why are you always naked," multiple times a day.You realize all of the nice things in your house has been broken once.Then you realize you no longer have nice things.You find your keys in a shoe after hours of looking.You willingly let your child rip something up just so you can get a few seconds of piece and quiet.You realize you haven't slept in months.
Zesty Mango Chicken Bowl With Mango Salsa
This post is sponsored by Saffron Road. As always all opinions are my own.
Our Family's Obsessed!
Over the years, our family has started to realize how much we love mangos. Okay, we're completely obsessed!As soon as we enter into mango season, we know the first thing we'll smell when we walk into the Indian grocery store is mango. You can buy them by the dozen and trust me... we do!We love mango everything. You'll find us drinking mango lassis, eating mango chia seed pudding, and of course mangos on their own. They're delicious and always mean the start of summer in our house.
Today, we're making a new mango dish just for you! Are you ready for it?Zesty mango chicken.As your mouth is watering let me also tell you we topped it with fresh mango salsa!It's like summer in a bowl and you have to convince yourself to stop eating when you're full!I love the addition of the mango salsa! You can serve it over your chicken and you can even use Saffron Road's Lentil Chips to scoop it up and enjoy as a summer treat!
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Spice Up Your Summer With Saffron Road
The best part is you can make it so many ways!You can even fry up some chicken, pour in your Saffron Road Thai Mango Simmer Sauce, and let it simmer for 30 minutes. Then all you need to do is pour your delicious mango chicken and sauce over rice.Their new sauces are the Thai Mango and Pad Thai Simmer Sauces. Let me tell you... They're delicious! They're so easy to make and perfect for a weeknight meal!Saffron Road has made it so simple. You can follow their recipe on the back like I mentioned or you can take it up a notch and make your own zesty mango chicken bowl!They don't stop at simmer sauces. They have Indian frozen meals, Indian simmer sauces, chips, roasted chickpeas, tandoori chicken nuggets, broths, and more!Head over to their website and be sure to pick up your of Saffron Road products today!
Giveaway
Do you want to win a Saffron Road product to try out on your own? All you have to do is comment with your favorite Saffron Road product (they're listed here) and share this post.The winner will be chosen at the end of the week.