Volunteering with Kids

Students and Mentors
Working as a Team

This past weekend high school students from the Long Beach area committed themselves for what is known as a Day of Service. These young people came into the homes of individuals living with M.S. (multiple sclerosis) to clean, repair and revitalize. This effort was incredibly beneficial for disabled residents who needed countless services (fence repair, heavy cleaning and gardening). But it was even more touching to see how impactful volunteering was for the students of this community.

The gratitude of these residents 

    meant the world to amazing young 

     students and their mentors.

 Youth Ages 14-17

Volunteering with kids can be fun and easy. It doesn't have to be too labor intensive.  This particular day of service involved everything from sorting and organizing a non-ambulatory senior citizen's linen closet to completely rejuvenating a resident's backyard garden. A great way to organize your own Day of Service is to partner with local non-profits or churches. 

Other simple & great ways to give back and have fun regardless of your children's ages includes monthly donation sorting of toys and clothes to take to a local thrift shop. Another fun volunteer excursion I came across recently includes picking fresh fruit as part of a non-profit initiative to combat urban hunger (check age restrictions). 

Entire families can also volunteer at food banks, clean up national parks and beaches, or spend a few hours bonding with residents of senior resident facilities. Whatever the event, serving in any capacity is great for kids! The fulfillment that comes with giving to needy individuals or a cause makes our hearts fuller and our world better. And this lesson us one that all kids should learn firsthand while volunteering with mom and dad.

                                                  Have you volunteered with your children?

Teacher Appreciation Gift Ideas

We all know how much our children's teachers sacrifice for our kids - hours spent on lesson plans and grading papers. Thanks to budget cuts many teachers are using their own money to fund many class projects. They  teach and more importantly care about our kids. The end of the school year is a great way to show your child's teacher (counselor/principal) just how much you appreciate all the hard work they have put in over the school year. 

Check out these ideas to kick-start your creativity:

1. Coffee House Gift Cards: Might seem standard, but I have noticed so many adorably decorated gift cards. The most common was of course from Starbucks and came with cute little cards that read: "Thanks a LATTE Teach!" So get created with this one. Have your child decorate a coffee mug with glitter, paint, or stickers then stuff it with your favorite coffee house gift card and top it with a cute note.

2. Plant in Decorated Pot: Teachers surely appreciate flowers but I've heard a few mention how overwhelming all these dying bouquets all over a classroom become. So instead pick a lovely small plant.  A teacher can easily take a plant home to transplant into their home garden.  And there's so many adorable notes to go with this gift:"I've grown so much because of you!" "You're the reason I've bloomed!" etc. etc. Colorful 3-D stickers go a long way on a plain old plant container so go to town on this one. Kids will enjoy getting to decorate this neat gift idea.

3. Summer Fun Kit: Teachers have the best schedule with summers off. I don't know if they get to bask in the sun much, but I sure do hope so. Here's your chance to stalk up on summer supplies and give a great teachers a new beach towel, hat and bag (to name a few). I'm sure anything is much appreciated. So even a nice sports bottle and sunscreen will do. But definitely encourage your child's teacher to take time out of their busy summer to relax!

4: Etc. Etc.: Edible creations (cookies, muffins, etc), Movie Tickets (with popcorn and candy), Personalized Desk Supplies (Post-Its, Pens, Mini Desk Organizer). These ideas can be as simple or as elaborate as you wish and are very budget-friendly!

After looking at this list, did you come up with some of your own? 

Share those! We'd especially like TEACHERS to chime in. 

Seriously, these gifts are for you, so what do you really want from a class of 20-something kids 

all clambering to send you off with a sweet good-bye and THANK YOU gift!

Tips for An Enjoyable Vacation With Your Children- Guest Post by Kendra Thornton

Today we have Kendra Thornton as a guest contributor giving us some tips for traveling with kids. Kendra is the former Orbitz director of communications. In this position she was able to travel to 28 countries on 6 different continents.  This experience makes her a great resource for travel tips. Take it away Kendra.....

 

Having kids doesn't mean they have to turn 18 before you ever travel anywhere again.  The joys of having children include the memories you make as a family while on vacation.  However, some travel woes won't be forgotten if you don't prepare for your children's travel needs.  Before you plan your next family vacation, you may want to consider some of the following travel tips.    

1. Nutrition

Save money on food by taking advantage of the continental breakfasts offered at the hotel.  Choose hotels that offer free breakfast.  A wholesome nutritious breakfast will make everyone's day better, and you won't spend as much money feeding your children unhealthy food at your favorite theme parks.  

2. Fast Food Traps

Sugary snacks are a Mom's worst nightmare!  Your kids will go from off the wall to irritable and tired in a matter of a few hours.  Try packing nutritious snacks for those long hours on the road.  Snacks loaded with protein will keep the hunger away longer. If you have to get an on the go meal/treat you can still make healthy decisions when getting fast food!

3. Traveling

Plan your travel times around your child's sleep pattern.  Alert and awake children are more enjoyable to travel with than tired and irritable children that have trouble sleeping.  Also bring some of your children's favorite sleeping items from home so they feel more comfortable and safe.  Remember - when choosing a location there are certain destinations that offer quiet hours to make sure families get a solids nights sleep in most Orlando hotels in Walt Disney World!

4. Games/Activities

Bring toys for your children that will engage them for long periods of time.  Fewer, longer engaging games or toys are better than too many things that will get played with for only a few minutes.  Kids don't mind repeated things over and over again, so avoid things that are noisy, as it will soon get on your nerves and that of other travelers too.      

5. Fun In The Sun: 

One sunburn can ruin an entire trip. Summer fun needs to include plenty of sunscreen for your children's outdoor adventures.  This is of utmost importance, because you may forget sunscreen once, but a screaming child with a bad sunburn will make sure you never forget it again.  

Traveling with your children doesn't have to be a chore when you plan ahead of time and prepare accordingly.  It's even easier to travel again the next time once you know what you're doing.  Your children will one day remember the time you spent with them on vacation, and you will remember how easy it was to take them.

Kendra Thornton: Travel advocate, TV spokesperson, PR businesswoman, proud wife and mama of 3. I am a long time travel expert who has been packing my bags and traveling the world since I was 3 months old! I've found my utmost desire in life is right here in my own home. I have mixed my excitement for travel by bringing the taste of authentic cuisine to my own home with some of my unique recipes and sharing some of my personal traveling tips. Enjoy!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KendraThornton Website: http://www.thorntonpr.com/ 

In the Delivery Room

It is something that many pregnant women think about. It might even be something that they put in their birth plan.

Who will be in the delivery room with you? 

Back in the 50's only the mother, doctors and nurses were allowed in the room. Even the Daddy was left out in the waiting room, pacing and waiting for news.

Now a days women have options when it comes to visitors. Some women have a come-one-come-all policy. Since active labor can take many hours, having friends and family there helps pass the time. Others are uncomfortable with how the may react to the pain of childbrith and choose to wait for vistors until after the baby is born.

When it comes to the actual delivery of your child some hospitals will allow you to have a few people with you. Some women have the Daddy as well as a best friend, sister, mom or even photographer in the room for the big moment.

Towards the end of my first pregnancy I knew that I wanted my mom to be in the room with me for the actual delivery. After talking with my husband I called my mother and asked her if she would be in the room with us. She was honored and said yes. When I was in active labor I had an open door policy. I had a ton of friends and family coming in and out. My labor lasted over 19 hours and it was nice to have the company and the distraction. It was also nice to be able to give my husband a break or send someone out for cheeseburgers! When the time came to delivery my daughter everyone was sent to the waiting room except my Mom and my husband. My Mom was my rock. I was so scared and I knew that if my Mom was there nothing bad was going to happen. With my second daughter my husband and I felt like experts and decided that we wanted to experience this labor and delivery alone. A moment for just us to share.

Was your delivery room a party? Or was it just 2 of you?

Who was in the delivery room with you? or Who would you want in the delivery room with you?

Can siblings EVER get along?

My brother and I were bitter rivals growing up. We couldn't be in the same room. He hated playing with me and we even got into fist fights. The rivalry ran rampant. I wondered if my children would have this same tumultuous relationship? And honestly the jury is still out on that one. Then again, fist fights will never, ever, ever be tolerated.

As much as my children show love and tenderness they also nag, argue and struggle when sharing the spotlight and their precious toys. I'm always doing my best to play fair with the kiddos and teach them kindness. Still these little suckers battle.

The battle could be over who first laid their grubby little fingers on the last lollipop or who gets to push the grocery cart at the supermarket. At 2, 3 and 7 yrs. old there's battles. I couldn't believe a two and three year old would be at each others necks and then my kids came into this stage. I'm hoping to avoid major sibling rivalry as the years go on and truly praying (and working) to raise considerate, supportive and loving brothers and sisters!

What's the big secret to dealing with sibling rivalry? Mommas everywhere want to be let in on this secret. Share your tips below...

Going from Co-Worker to Boss

I just moved into my new corner office. I've had my own office in the past, but at this agency this wasn't just an office change. This new office came with a new title of boss. Getting to this management role didn't come without its issues. One of the biggest challenges was as my boss puts it "going from bud to boss!"

Here's what helped and what didn't...

Helpful: Remind your co-workers YOU haven't changed, but your job responsibilities HAVE! The job duties clearly change but that doesn't mean you will change too. You are the same person in a new role.

Not helpful:  To expect relationships to stay exactly the same. Relationship will change and that is normal. A co-worker relationship is different than that of boss & employee. Your employees report to you, so any buddy-buddy peer stuff goes out the window i.e. don't expect to gossip about the boss because now that chitter-chater (good or bad) is about YOU!  

Helpful: Be honest about not having all the answers while everyone is adjusting to the transition. You don't have to suddenly be a know-it-all because your title is different. There will be plenty to learn and it's okay to admit to not having all the answers.

Not helpful: The power-trip. Now that's easier said than done but what helps me is to ask myself what is best for everyone. Sure I may be the boss, but I don't have to have things go my way 100% of the time simply because of a title. 

Helpful: Learn all you can! Read the books, attend the trainings and find a mentor. Again, you don't have all the answers, but there's so many places to find them. My boss has been a wonderful mentor to me. I've continued to read about leadership and sought out training opportunities to improve as a leader. 

Not helpful: To be tentative. Make sure to follow up and follow through. As the new boss what will be watched most is not what you say, but what you do. It's your "butt up the flagpole." So get after it and set the example through your personal efforts and hard work.

I had some bumpy moments going from co-worker to boss and frankly I am still adjusting, but I'm doing my best to stick to what's helpful, stay humble and keep my heart in my work as much as possible!

What are your workplace tricks of the trade?
Seriously, everyone's tips HELP so share yours in the comment section...

The WEIGHT is falling OFF: Month of May Fitness Challenge UPDATE!

UPDATE: It's DAY 15 and HerMamas.com's Month of May Fitness Challenge has over 30 challengers who combined have lost 30+ pounds! Using Skinnyo.com three different teams are completing & logging daily workouts, eating clean, and tracking their weight loss. Challengers get to chime in to offer and ask for inspiration, share workouts and even healthy recipes. And the best part, participants are feeling better than ever. 

Here's what challengers are saying about the HerMamas.com Month of May Fitness Challenge:

Brenda M.
It's no secret that I've been "trying" to lose weight for sometime now, but like most I always give in to food. Thanks to HerMamas things are different this time! I've lost weight and it's become more of a lifestyle change than a diet. I believe that it's thanks to the support of everyone on the challenge. It's been a great tool to have all these people that are after the same thing post about their daily workouts and just everything that comes with weight loss.

Crystal B.
I've loved the challenge so far because it helps keep me accountable to complete my Crossfit Mamas workouts. As soon as I'm done with a workout I post on skinnyo.com right away! I've definitely noticed it has helped me over my weight plateau and have seen changes in my body already.

Danielle B.
My favorite part of the challenge is doing it with other people. I also love creating the habit of being active. I feel great, and I can see the results. I look forward to the numbers on the scale dropping more!

Way to go challengers! Your hard work and determination continues to pay off and you've all been a wonderful inspiration to each other. But don't stop here. Catch ya on Skinnyo.com. Let's finish the month of May STRONG!

And to anyone else looking to start/join a team click here. There's still time to join the HerMamas.com challenge, and who knows, you might end up #1 on the leader board!

Before you go, tell us, what keeps you motivated for better health and overall fitness?