Misophonia – literally “hatred of sound”, was proposed in 2000 as a condition in which negative emotions, thoughts, and physical reactions are triggered by specific sounds. It is also called “select sound sensitivity syndrome” and “sound-rage“. The hatred of sounds is not always diagnosed as Misophonia but many people suffer from a mild form of it …
Is Your Teens Room a Disaster Zone?
Bedroom Cleaning for Teens Teaching your teen to keep their room cleaner is easier if you break it down into simple steps Every Morning: Make up the bed (just pulling up the covers is better than nothing) but it truly is easier to start making your bed while you are still in it. Just sit …
Surprising Benefits of Family Meals
When is the last time you sat down to dinner together with your entire family? There are surprising benefits to making Family Meals a priority. I know, last night you had ball practice and tonight is the piano recital, tomorrow is the office meeting after work. You may be thinking, “I’m too busy to prepare …
How To Create a Bedtime Routine
Creating a bedtime routine to improve sleep and maintain superior health is not as hard as you think. This is what has worked for our family with my six children who have all gone to bed without a problem over the past 23 years. Sleep is one of the most important aspects of health. Helping your …
How to Reward Children Without Food
Why do so many parents, teachers and coaches REWARD children with treats and candy? Because it works! Want a kid to behave himself, bribe him with sweets, but what message is this sending our children? First of all, rewards can be overused. This has happened to me with my own six children. You set up a …
Lunch Box Inspiration to Get You Started
In need of lunch box inspiration to get you started packing a healthy lunch for you and your family? I hear you, now you are motivated to pack your child’s lunch but you are wondering, what do I pack in the lunch box? Are your children growing tired of peanut butter and jelly, doritos and a snack cake? Now, …
How to Teach Your Kids to Read Labels
Teach your kids how to read labels so they will make better choices now and in the future. Step Eleven: Reading food labels will make it much easier for children make good food choices by comparing ingredients and finding the foods that have a higher nutritional value. When I first began my research on eating healthier back in …
My 12 Pound Home Birth
The first child-birth I went through, I knew absolutely nothing. Everything was new. I was young; I wasn’t aware I had choices (the internet wasn’t in every home!) By the time my 4th child was born, my births happened quickly and easily (less than 1 hour from the first contraction.) Because of the ease of which …
How to make your kid a nicer version of herself
Developing character in your children is a job that lasts a lifetime! Identifying and defining the preferable traits is the first step to actually learning and implementing the best character qualities in our children (and ourselves!) Of all the parenting tasks I have taken on, by far the best thing I feel I have ever …
Top 13 Chemicals to Avoid in Your Home
Did you know that seventy-seven percent of poison exposure is unintentional? In other words, children being exposed to chemicals the parents thought were put safely away, or did not realize they needed to be. Poisoning is the second leading cause of home injury death. Sadly, poisoning leads to nearly 5,000 fatalities each year. When …
6 Steps to Superior Health
Because I want to be in the best shape possible when I go to China, I have set up a protocol for myself and my daughter to follow this year. Our trip is in October, so we will be doing everything we can to be in the best shape possible when we hike the Great …
Packing Lunch 103
Packing Lunch is Easier than you think Set yourself up for success by thinking of the foods you and your children like to eat regularly. Lunchtime is not a good time to introduce new foods if you are not eating with your kids. When sending a lunch to school, try to make sure that you …
Living in a Candy Culture
You can’t deny it. We live in a candy culture. Just think of all the places a well meaning adult hands your kid candy: Banks Doctor’s office (yes, they do! We even had one pediatrician do a “patient appreciation picnic” where she served hot dogs, pop corn, cotton candy and ice cream! Now if that …
Packing a Healthy Lunch 102
Packing a healthy lunch your child will enjoy is easier than you think! Let’s get started:I get a lot of questions from moms about what to pack in their children’s lunches. Hence, my first post on packing a lunch your child will eat. I also get a lot of requests for menu plans. I have …
What’s On My Phone?
Top 5 Most Used Apps in order (I use these apps every day, more than once per day) Cozi YNAB, this is a budgeting software, and the software MUST be on your computer before you can use it on your phone. See my review HERE MyFitnessPal Audible, audible.com is basically an audio book membership. The …
NuttZo Frosted Muffins
Try making NuttZo Frosted Muffins with your kids; when children take part in food preparation they are learning valuable life skills. Not only do they learn how to prepare healthy foods they are more likely to get in the habit of eating healthy snacks on a regular basis. Healthy After School Snack Kids are usually hungry …
10 Reasons Why I Don’t Eat Peanut Butter
I know I’m going to get some resistance from the fitness community for saying this, but there are better substances to consume than peanut butter. I cringe when I see fitness trainers and nutritionists adding copious amounts of peanut butter to a diet plan for someone with the goal of being fit and healthy. Below I …
Routines make life easier
It can be pretty chaotic after school with so many kids in the house, but I have followed routines for as long as I can remember. There is something quite comforting about knowing what’s coming next. Flexibility is something I have had to work on. I try to keep my routines flexible by making “blocks” …