November is a month during which psychology experts and laypeople alike laud the benefits of gratitude. They say that gratitude benefits our mental and physical health (improved sleep, decreased pain, fewer illnesses, etc.). Numerous researchers have identified these benefits in the studies they’ve conducted on gratitude. I’m super … [Read more...] about How Gratitude Improves Our Lives
Promoting Healthful Living
The Microfiber Cleaning Cloth Conundrum
One of the most popular posts on my blog over the last six years has been a post about microfiber cloths. I believe readers continue visiting and commenting on that post because microfiber cleaning cloths remain a popular cleaning tool, but they have become increasingly controversial. Some experts laud these cloths as a green cleaning … [Read more...] about The Microfiber Cleaning Cloth Conundrum
What to Do When Your Spouse is a Picky Eater
I love experimenting with recipes and trying new foods, but my husband doesn’t. He likes a few foods, and he’d be content eating these same foods over and over again. For example, as far as veggies are concerned, he likes corn. He’ll tolerate green beans. That’s it. He doesn’t like carrots or peas. He won’t touch cauliflower or sweet potato. … [Read more...] about What to Do When Your Spouse is a Picky Eater
Dare to Prepare: Flood Preparedness and Safety
I recently watched as many families in my area got trapped on roadways and/or saw water rush into their homes due to heavy rains from a tropical system. Like in other coastal areas, this is a somewhat frequent occurrence around here because we live in a flood-prone area. Those of us in these areas need to be proactive about preparing … [Read more...] about Dare to Prepare: Flood Preparedness and Safety
The Dirty Truth About How Often Kids (and Adults) Need to Bathe
I know many families that include baths as part of their nightly bedtime routines. I always figured this would be the case in my household, but once I became a mom I realized that I didn’t have time to bathe my baby each day. Additionally, her pediatrician recommended that we bathe her no more than twice a week because she had … [Read more...] about The Dirty Truth About How Often Kids (and Adults) Need to Bathe
Alternatives to Facial Tissues
I feel like my family usually gets a break from runny noses during the summer months, but this hasn’t happened this year. One or more of my kids has had a runny nose since December. Some of these runny noses have been from colds, but many have been from allergies. Regardless of the cause, we’ve been going through ridiculous quantities of … [Read more...] about Alternatives to Facial Tissues
How Parental Screen Time Impacts Kids
We’ve been talking about screen time over the last few weeks. We began by looking at the research on how screen time impacts the cognitive and language development of young kids. Then, keeping this information in mind, we discussed realistic screen time guidelines for kids. Amid all the research and recommendations regarding kids’ … [Read more...] about How Parental Screen Time Impacts Kids
Should We Be Concerned About Young Kids’ Screen Time?
Whether on the news or in conversations with your friends, you’ve likely heard references to screen time. Screen time is time spent in front of electronic screens (televisions, tablets, smartphones, etc.). There is a lot of discussion regarding screen time in general and kids’ screen time in particular because of concerns regarding how it … [Read more...] about Should We Be Concerned About Young Kids’ Screen Time?
