The summer has flown by and it is already back-to-school season. Kids experience numerous emotions as they get ready to head back into the classroom—excitement, anxiety, enthusiasm, unease, etc. This emotional roller coaster may be especially intense this year given that last year was so unusual and this year is cloaked in uncertainty because … [Read more...] about 15 Bible Verses to Encourage Kids as They Go Back to School
Slow Cooker Meatball Tortellini
I have a love-hate relationship with slow cooker recipes. They are so convenient to prepare but I find that many taste somewhat bland and contain certain components that are mushy (it’s hard to cook veggies and meats well when they are all in one pot at one temperature). Nevertheless, I’ve been using my slow cooker at least once per week in … [Read more...] about Slow Cooker Meatball Tortellini
How to Help Kids Willingly Get Rid of Old Toys
Regardless of how many toys my kids have or how much they mature and no longer need toys designed for babies and young toddlers, they almost always resist the idea of getting rid of their old toys. However, they can’t hang on to all of their toys forever! When it’s time to get rid of some toys, there are a couple of approaches I can take. One … [Read more...] about How to Help Kids Willingly Get Rid of Old Toys
August 2021 Dinner Menu
Summer is still very much underway, but I’d be lying if I denied that I’m looking ahead to the fall! Though this won’t happen for a bit, I’m ready to wear a sweater, eat soup for dinner, and put my fall wreath on the door. I’ll be patient, though, because I know fall will arrive in due time. In the meanwhile, here are the tasty dinners … [Read more...] about August 2021 Dinner Menu
What Makes a Healthy Breakfast?
While I was perusing the grocery ads this past week, I noticed that many of the items featured were related to the upcoming back-to-school season. Most of these items were foods that go well in lunch boxes, but there were also a number of breakfast foods, namely convenience items such as frozen breakfast sandwiches and cold cereals. While … [Read more...] about What Makes a Healthy Breakfast?
Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta
I tried a new recipe earlier this month. Like the Creamy Chicken Caesar Pasta I prepared for the first time last month, this recipe is one that my husband came across and thought sounded good. I’m so glad we gave it a try because it was delicious! It’s a one-skillet meal, so preparation and cleanup are super easy. If you like pasta … [Read more...] about Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta
3 Tips for Helping Kids Finish the Projects They’ve Started
I cleaned out the cabinet where my kids store their art supplies a couple of weeks ago. In addition to things like broken crayons and “treasures” (the rocks, leaves, twigs, etc. that they find on our walks), I found dozens of half-finished coloring and activity sheets. This reminded me of the numerous times they have completed half of a jigsaw … [Read more...] about 3 Tips for Helping Kids Finish the Projects They’ve Started
Air Fryer Steak Bites
I tried a couple of new recipes during the month of June. Our favorite was this one. I’ve made steak bites before, but I had not previously prepared them in the air fryer. It turns out that this is a wonderful way to prepare them! In fact, it will be my default means of preparing them from now on. Check out these tasty, easy-to-prepare … [Read more...] about Air Fryer Steak Bites
