Our Fall Bucket List

Can you believe it's the first day of Fall?  As much as I love summer, there is just something about Fall for me.  It's the vibrant colors, the warm sunshine, and all the fun outdoor activities that we can do before it gets too cold.

MOM LIFE :: Our Summer Bucket List

It's officially our first week of summer vacation so I figured it would be fun to share our summer bucket list.  We are keeping our fingers crossed for lots of good weather so that we can enjoy the outdoors!

MOM LIFE :: Kid-Friendly Gluten-Free Breakfast Options From Trader Joe's

Let's face it Mamas, breakfast can make you or brake you in the morning with Littles.  These are some kid-friendly options that always do the trick for us on those mornings we all have.  They are all from Trader Joe's!

MOM LIFE :: Raising Kids Gluten Free

Raising kids gluten free has its set of challenges.  We started our journey when my daughter was only nine months old.  She literally had just started trying solids.  Part of me felt sad because she was so young and part of me felt relieved that we finally had an explanation for her symptoms.  Our diagnosis resulted in huge changes in our household.  The journey has not been easy.  We had a steep learning curve at the beginning but it's gotten better.  Once our Little Guy came along, we were pros.  Wherever you are in your journey, know that it will get easier.  You will also grow a lot stronger along the way.  

LIFE LATELY :: My 2019 Goals

Happy 2019!  Every New Year, I like to put together a new set of goals.  I usually just write them but this year I am taking a different approach.  I purchased this wall organizer at Target to hang reminders of my different goals.  As I look at the board by my desk, I will be reminded of my goals and hopefully inspired to continue to pursue them.

Looking back at my goals from 2018 I think I did pretty good overall.  I am better at going to bed earlier and I do notice the difference in my energy levels when I stay up too late.  I have managed to work out fairly regularly in our basement mini-gym but I still have those crazy weeks when I just don't manage to find the time.  I have made solid progress with my skin.  I stopped purchasing those make-up remover wipes and make a point every night to follow my skin care routine and remove all of my make-up.  Now as far as wrapping presents go, I do kind of know how to tie a ribbon now but we still don't have that gift-wrapping station set up in the basement (#goals).  I did not attempt to learn how use a sewing machine.  As much as I want to learn, I realize this goal might remain in suspended animation for a while.

So where do things stand for 2019?  Here's my list of personal goals:

a)  SLEEP MORE  ::  I already know that I can make it into bed earlier.  Now I want to aim for 8 hrs a night.  I know it's probably a reach with two young kids and a full-time job but I want to try.  I wake up so early to be at school by 7:15 am that I feel 8 hrs of sleep (I now get 7) would make a difference.

b)  PLAN MY WORKOUTS ::  I have improved the consistency of my workouts.  However, I find that it would be helpful if I could organize them better.  I always start with cardio and then do weights.  I want to organize my weight workouts so that I am targeting all areas equally.  Then there's my abs.  I have diastasis rectii from both pregnancies.  It has improved but I find that as soon as I stop being consistent with the frequency of the exercises the separation comes back and you feel the change in your abdomen.  I have found a couple of bloggers who regularly post ab routines and I plan to incorporate them in my workouts.

c)  BLOG PLATFORM :: I have many ideas to grow the blog in 2019.  I want to make the postings more predictable.  It does get really hard some weeks, specially if I have not managed to take pictures.  It's just me running the show here and some weeks it's tough to make the magic happen.  I do find that I could benefit from a little bit more planning to help things run more smoothly.  I have added a LIFE LATELY section to update you on things going on in my life.  This summer I will likely change the blog platform to WordPress (more on that later).

d)  RECIPES ::  This year I started adding vegan recipes to the blog.  I enjoy vegan recipes myself so I've been having fun experimenting to make my baking recipes work. I also started posting lunch recipes and, seeing how popular they have been, I plan to continue that series.  I plan to add my smoothie recipes to the blog (they are now only on Instagram) too so that you can find them easily.

e)  PHOTOGRAPHY :: This year, I experimented with new backgrounds to make my pictures more interesting and added more props to my collection.  I plan to continue to work on both of these.

f)  BEAUTYCOUNTER ::  I started this venture right at the end of last year.  This year, I plan to grow my client list and continue to work on Beautycounter's mission to bring safe beauty products into the hands of everyone.  I strive to bring awareness to the hidden dangers in cosmetic products through articles that I post on Facebook, Instagram stories on ingredients and beauty reviews on my blog.  I hope that this information will inspire you to take a good look at your beauty routine and make some changes.

So there you go!  What are your goals for 2019?

Thank you for reading!

LIFE LATELY :: Looking Back at 2018

Happy New Year's Eve!  Wow, I can't believe the year is drawing to a close pretty soon.  I wanted to put together the top nine recipes of 2018 into a collage.  Some of these recipes got 50+ reads which just blows me away.  My scope widened as the year progressed and I branched into cookies, donuts, donut holes and even plantains.  I tried my own healthy version of traditional favorites and even incorporated matcha into my recipes.  It is so fun to look back at these top nine!  I am so thankful for your support and your kind words along the way.  You inspire me on a daily basis! 

I will always remember 2018 because it was the year I landed my first job in public school.  This was my long term goal when I transitioned from academic research into education after my daughter was born.  I also became an American citizen at the end of December.  I haven't shared with you that I am a natural of Spain.  I came to the States for college and kind of never went back.  I went on for my PhD after I graduated, met my husband and the rest is history.  My two kiddos have dual citizenship and now I am officially an American citizen too.  We were in town with them today checking out the ice sculptures they make every year, and, when I saw the flag hanging from the Boston Harbor hotel at Rowe's Wharf, I felt so proud.  Having been here for so many years, it feels very special to be finally official.  Last but not least, 2018 was also the year I took the plunge and joined Beautycounter.  I had been dabbling with the idea for a while and I finally decided it was time to try and see what happens.  I so very much identify with their mission to bring safe cosmetics into the hands of everybody.  I hope to inspire you to take a good look at what you are putting on your skin and think about switching to safer.  The switch can feel overwhelming but it doesn't have to be.  If you make it gradual it will be more attainable.

Here's to a New Year filled with new dreams and goals to accomplish!  I look forward to continue to grow and watch you grow, too!

Happy 2019!

MOM LIFE :: Our Favorite Kid's Gluten-Free Store Snacks

As a Mom of two young kiddos, I always keep a good stock of snacks in the house.  Being on a gluten-free diet makes it hard to find healthy snacks for them when we are running around so I like to have a selection that can be enjoyed on-the-go without too much mess.  This is our current line-up:

1.   Fruit Roll-Ups: 

My daughter was really into these growing up and then she grew out of them.  I recently started buying them again for my son.  He feels like he's having candy but it's actually good for him!

2.  Fruit Pouches:

My youngest loves these!  It's hilarious-  as soon as I pick him up from school he asks for his pouch and his Pirate's Booty.  I try to vary the selection on these.  So far, he only seems to dislike the strawberry ones but he'll eat raw strawberries (go figure!). 

3.  Green Pea Crunchies:

These are one of my faves too.  I keep a bag too for their lunches as a side for sandwiches.  I think they are delicious!  They pack protein and they are a veggie serving that they don't know they are having!  I usually portion these out in snack zip lock bags so that I can just grab one on-the-go.  We all know how tough it is to get kiddos out the door so I try not to waste time in little things like this.

4.  LaraBars:

These were a lifesaver with my daughter during her picky phase and now they are super helpful with my son too.  He loves them.  My daughter's still obsessed with them too.  I like to use these as snacks with my son on the days when he did not do great during a meal.  I feel like they help balance things out. 

5. Pirate's Booty:

This one is a must-have in my house.  My kiddos love it!  I'm not a big fan of it but it's something they will eat that actually has some protein in it.  I tried the veggie versions on them and they were epic fails so I'm sticking to the aged white cheddar version. 

So there you go!  These are my go-to gluten-free snacks.  Which ones do you enjoy?  Let me know in the comments below.

This post is not sponsored and contains my own personal opinions.

Thank you for reading!

MOM LIFE :: Holiday Crafts- DIY Gingerbread House (Gluten-Free, Vegan)

Gingerbread houses are a holiday favorite at my house.  My kids love any excuse to be close to candy.  They are both home bodies like me so putting one together is always a good activity we can do together at home and have fun with. 

LIFE LATELY :: Why I Joined Beautycounter

Happy Friday!  I have some exciting news to share.  I have joined Beautycounter as a consultant!  I am thrilled to start on this journey and see where it takes me.  I wanted to share with you how I arrived at this decision and what you can expect to see in the blog moving forward.

MOM LIFE :: Toddler Bedtime Struggles- An Update

The struggle is real with my 2-year-old right now at bedtime.  He's a master at the art of the delay tactic.  He tries to push back his tubby as much as he can.  When he's finally clean and in his pj's for the night, it's a struggle to make it up the stairs.  Then we have the requests, the crazy antics...The list goes on.

After the really long days, it can be defeating some nights to be honest.  You are tired from the day, you still have a pile of stuff to do to prepare for tomorrow and you just want a quiet house so you can get yourself to bed too.  You feel like you just can't get it right when you should.  It's our job, no?  We have tried so many things but haven't hit the magic formula yet that works consistently and gets him to mellow out after his tubby and go to sleep. 

I have noticed some progress in his sleep though as he rarely wakes up at 4 am any more, thank goodness.  On the rare nights he does wake up at an odd hour he's able to put himself down or sometimes he'll climb into bed with us and actually fall asleep.  A lot of nights it feels like we are  reenacting that book we read a lot at bedtime-  The Bunnies Are Not In Their Beds.  Have you read it?  I can so relate to the story line up to the point where the parents fall asleep and the kids are still awake.  We haven't gotten to that point. 

I find myself though trying to find joy in this stage as crazy as it sounds.  Sometimes his antics at bedtime are just so out there it's hard to keep a straight face when you go back in his room to get him back in bed.  I find it hilarious how his big sister joins in on the fun at night too.   

So Mamas of toddlers, if bedtime is rough for you too, I feel you!  Have you hit the magic formula?  If so, please share!  If you haven't, hang in there.  I know the seasons will change and one day we'll think back to the crazy days and laugh about them.

MOM LIFE :: The Pieces You Leave Behind

We have been enjoying some really great beach days up in Maine.  My daughter's big time into boogie boarding at the beach.  She asked for a boogie board a few years ago at the end of the summer.  It was bigger than her at the time but she's really grown into it.

I was watching her this year as she was looking a lot more comfortable with the waves.  It got me thinking how I used to be all about swimming in the sea and now I stand by the water's edge.  Don't get me wrong, the cold water was always tough to handle but once my body got used to it I loved catching the waves and swimming in the open water.  I slowly but surely stopped doing so as the years went by.  This year it hit me like a ton of bricks.  The water was crystal blue.  It was frigid but clean and the prettiest shade of blue and my daughter was having a blast riding the waves.  I couldn't stand at the edge any longer.  I had to dive in and not just to swim.  I was going to ride the waves too.

I don't remember the last time I actually went for a dip in the ocean.  Somewhere along the way, I let that go.  The frigid water was ice cold for a second but then I felt so alive.  My daughter let me borrow her board and I caught a couple of waves.  I was hooked so I got my own boogie board.  We've gone boogie boarding together these past couple of days.  It's so much fun.  My kids are both amused by me but my daughter definitely likes to ride the waves together.

If you think back, have you left pieces of you behind too?  Did you use to be into something you no longer practice?

As September approaches with its essence of new beginnings, I encourage you to think back and pick up one those things you used to enjoy and no longer practice because life got in the way.  I plan to keep boogie boarding in the summers.  I also plan to try to make yoga classes again this year.  They always made feel amazing at the end of class, and yet I stopped going.

MOM LIFE :: The End of Summer-ing

The end of our summer vacation is fast-approaching as we head onto Labor Day weekend.  This year we happen to be on vacation on the last week of summer which is a bit unusual for us but has worked out great.

The end of summer-ing as we like to call it brings in a mixed bag of emotions for me.  On one hand, I'm excited for the prospect of a fresh start with the new school year.  I have a whole new set of students to get to know and work with.  On the other hand, it means going back to routines and not hanging with my kiddos all day.  What gets me most about the school year is the pre-established routine.  I always feel constrained by time.  My to-do lists are never ending, my grading piles keep growing on me and my energy waxes and wanes.  The drop in light hours doesn't help either.

At the core of the matter I feel is the fact that I'm a homebody at heart.  My daughter's the same way.  Right around this time every year, I feel her mood changing.  I try to help her by switching the focus to all the positives of a new school year as I acknowledge that summer ending is a bit of a bummer too.  This year we are also stocking up on pencils that say Maine on them.  Maine makes her happy so I think that these pencils will be the perfect companion at school as she gets settled.

As we wrap up vacation, I will be ordering our favorite pics from the summer so that we can put together our annual mini-album.  It's a really cute end-of-summer tradition of ours.  My daughter's all into it and we love looking at the pictures all  year long.

If you are not back-to-school yet, how are you wrapping up your summer days?  Do you have any end-of-summer traditions?

MOM LIFE :: Grocery Shopping With A Toddler

Shopping with a toddler can be both intimidating and humbling.  They have short attention spans and they get bored easily.  They also don't know how to self-regulate which means that a happy toddler can easily break down into a tantrum in the blink of an eye if, for example, you happen to forget their sippy cup or favorite toy in the car.  Sound familiar?

MOM LIFE :: When Toddlers Outgrow Naps

I believe we are in the midst of a transition this week.  I think that we might be ready to drop nap time.  It's been 4 days.  The signs are all there.  For starters, he's not tired after lunch.  When we try to go down for a nap, he resolves to walk around his room instead.  I think transitioning him to a toddler bed got us on this path.  He knows he can easily get out of bed now so, unless he's very tired, he chooses to walk around his room instead.  It's a game for him.  It doesn't matter whether I stay in the room or leave.  He's very strong-willed so if he decides he's not tired, nap time's off the list.

I realize he's getting close to that stage when he'll be developmentally ready to drop naps anyways.  But, given the fact that he's never been a great sleeper per se, I figured we had more time.  I guess it's not happening.  He seems okay in the afternoons, but by dinner time he's falling asleep at the table.  Literally.  I know I have to work on moving dinner time up so that he can get to bed earlier since they toddlers his age need 12- 14 hr of sleep per night.

Dropping naps means I have to rethink my afternoons.  I used to get work done around the house or for school when he was napping.  I realize I can just pop in a movie for them now after lunch but it's not something I want to do every day.  So I'm working on self-play with him after lunch.  I'm lining up the usual suspects (puzzles, coloring sheets, building blocks and Lego's) and starting a rotation to keep him engaged after lunch until we are ready to go out in the afternoon.  So far, he seems to be into playing.

I wonder if this new routine will stick or if it's just a phase.  If it sticks, I wonder what he'll do when he goes back to daycare in September as I go back to teaching.

How did you handle the transition away from naps with your toddler?  Did you miss nap time?  Let me know in the comments below!  I find that each kid is different so even if you've gone through this before you find yourself needing new tricks.

MOM LIFE :: An Afternoon at the Nursery

Last weekend we visited a local nursery we like before dinner.  We were looking for some flowers for the terra cotta pots we like to have on the front steps in the summer months.  Trips like these always have an element of chaos to them with young kids but just watching them be can be so much fun.  

As soon as my toddler saw their little wagons he was game.  He grabbed the handle of one and would not let go.  That left little finger was always sticking up! :-)

MOM LIFE :: My Father's Day Picks

It's hard to believe that we are almost half way through June and that Father's Day is actually this coming weekend!  Are you ready?  I wanted to share some of my top picks this year.  I hope that you will find these helpful:

MOM LIFE :: On Me Days

Every once in a blue moon something very unusual happens-  I get to have a day all to myself.  This is a day when I'm home because my school will have a day off but my kid's school won't.

These days throw me in for a loop.  Finding myself at home with no kids is strange.  Quietly strange.  There is no running, no stomping, no laughter...It's simply quiet and it feels great for like ten minutes before it turns unnatural.  My type A self wants to multi-task on these days.  I want to organize badly.  Just organizing my daughter's sock drawer can feel so cathartic even though I know it will last one hot second after she gets home.  There's always folding to do and what better time to take care of it than when you are alone?  I want to clean something-  why am I always cleaning or picking up?  And then there's the errands. Somehow, I find myself wanting to take care of whatever is on my list because I can move so much faster without having to buckle kids in and out of the car or chasing my Little Guy around the store.

MOM LIFE :: Our Summer Bucket List!

As we wrap up the school year, I am getting more and more excited about the summer vacation days ahead!  The balancing act of managing the schedules of two working parents and the needs of two young kids gets exhausting so I feel very lucky to be able to have some time off with them.  It always seems like they grow up so much during the summer and I really enjoy being able to spend all of my time with them.

MOM LIFE :: Backyard Summer Fun for Toddlers

As the weather turns nice(r), we are enjoying the outdoors more.  My kids love to be outside playing and it's so good for them to get outdoors.  Not only do they get some exercise, their bodies will also make some much needed vitamin D in sunny days.

Today I wanted to round up our current toy selection to keep our Little Guy busy and away from things he shouldn't play with like the hose.  I have noticed a big change from last year in the sense that he seems to be more into the toys which is fun to watch.  This winter we brought the yard toys inside since we had some extra space by the mudroom.  It was a life saver, specially on the snow days when we were house bound.

1.  Little Tikes Basketball Set:  My son likes this set a lot more this year.  I think he understands now that he is supposed to get the ball through the hoop.  It's cute watching him grab the bigger basketball and try to use it in this set!

2.  Little Tikes T-Ball Set :  My two kids love to play with this.  My son is starting to get the dynamics of this game.  A lot of times, he just gets distracted though with something else after he hits the ball!

3. Little Tikes First Slide:  Probably my kids' favorite toy.  They have enjoyed it in their pjs this winter.  My son will come up with creative versions of sliding.  It has definitely helped build his coordination and motor skills.

4.  Little Tikes Gas N' Go Mower:  This mower gets a lot of mileage.  If my husband is mowing the lawn, he tries to imitate him using his mower.  His favorite thing is to walk down the street pushing the lawn mower because it makes a lot of noise.

5.  Radio Flier Rider Trike:  His first set of wheels!  This trike is a good buy because he will be able to use it for a number of years.  Right now he does not get the pedaling motion but he will push himself with his legs so we know it's helping him build his leg muscles.  He likes to place his favorite digger in the basket on the back and will check on it regularly just to make sure it's still there.  Super cute!

So there you go!  This is our current selection for outside play.  We do bubbles regularly too and also like the colored chalk.  What are your favorite toys for outside play?  Let me know in the comments below.

*This post is not sponsored and reflects my own personal opinions.  Affiliate links used.*

MOM LIFE :: On screen time

Screen time is a hot topic in my house as of late.  My daughter's Amazon Kindle Fire started the debate.  Its original purpose was to get her to read more and to improve her fluency as she started first grade in the fall.  It worked.  For a while.  She still reads books on her kindle but prefers the actual chapter books from the library.

She soon discovered that she could also watch cartoons on her tablet and my youngest picked up on it really fast.  What turned into an occasional cartoon is now a cartoon in the morning during breakfast for both and more screen time for my daughter after dinner.  Having the screen at breakfast has been a life saver with my youngest to be honest.  Just knowing that his favorite cartoon is on downstairs will do wonders with his mood and encourage him to get dressed.  He is also less likely to reject his breakfast.  The mornings can be so hectic with two working parents and young kids that keeping everybody in good spirits is key.

As I watch them in the morning I can't help but realize how much our screen time philosophy has changed.  It's hard to believe that we used to be against TV for kids actually.  It's interesting to see how much kids change you.  I would definitely prefer not to have a screen on during breakfast but this routine just works better, for now.

We have started to set a timer on her Kindle Fire and she has a total of 60 minutes screen time per day.  This triggers disappointment a lot of times when she realizes her time is up but we are hoping to get to that stage when she has a sense of how much time screen time she has left.  It will be a big step in her development and ability to self-regulate and I know we'll get there with time.

Regulating TV time is a lot easier right now.  I can usually distract them with games, snacks or crafts.  But again, it's also tricky in the evening when I am trying to get things ready for the next day and cook dinner.  Sometimes a quick cartoon happens to be the life line that you need.  Friday movies are a standing tradition though.  We get into our pjs after dinner and watch a kid's movie with popcorn.  It's a nice way to unwind as a family after the week.  My eldest is in charge of picking the movie for the week which makes her feel special.

So Mamas of Littles, do you struggle with regulating screen time?  What are your tried and true approaches?  Have you found yourself rethinking your parenting philosophies post-kids too?  Let me know in the comments below!