BACK TO SCHOOL WITH OSHKOSH B'GOSH

This post is sponsored by Everywhere Agency on behalf of OshKosh B’gosh; however, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This week coming will be hard on my momma heart. I can't even begin to explain all the feelings I am experiencing right now as I am saying goodbye to my little girl as she starts Pre-K soon. I am a nervous wreck here as I wonder if she'll be scared or cry the moment she gets on the bus. She has been with me since day one, my little "girlfriend/bestie" as I like to call her. Never before have I let her go away for so many hours with anyone but family. I have been selfish in my own ways for not letting go any sooner. I admit I didn't even enroll her in a mom's day out program or any daycare throughout these years. However she is a social butterfly and so outgoing when it comes to meeting new people and making friends anywhere she goes. And at the same time I know she is in need of grasping and exploring more from this world and building her learning skills. Learning to socialize and interact with other children her age is not something I can give her here at home. So I am ready to let go and prepare myself and her for our first week of school. My 4 year old going on 5 soon is growing up so fast!

And not just Elyse, but also Ryan as he heads Back to School and starts 2nd grade. You would think by now I would be a pro at this Back to School thing and not let myself get over emotional but sometimes we as moms can't help it. As Ryan starts a new school year he has been more easier to transition back to a set routine. This summer he sure took advantage of staying up way too late for a child his age since he was away with his grandparents. The lack of rules and discipline he received as he was spoiled by his grandma made it hard at first for us to get him back on track to a more smooth routine. 

So I am sharing with you 5 easy tips to get your children excited and ready for Back to School. For us moms we need as much help to make our lives less stressful. And I am all for that to prepare for the school year.

• START A BEDTIME ROUTINE: The weeks and the days leading to the first day of school can be crucial but a strict structured bedtime is much needed for the parent and the child. Children need to feel well rested and energized for the next day ahead, after all they are spending more than 8 hours at school. Give them something to look forward to for bedtime, like story time. Reading is so important for your children and as a requirement for my son we apply his 20 minutes of reading everyday before he goes to sleep. I find it to calm him and sets the relaxing tone that it is time for bed.

• BE POSITIVE: Remember to point out the great things about going back to school. For my son it was reminding him about his old friends who he has not seen all summer and for my daughter it was the thought of meeting new classmates and making new friends her age. She is home with two boy brothers and lately she is been asking for a sister. Knowing she'll have classmates who are girls her age gets her super excited. 

• VISIT THE SCHOOL AND ATTEND MEET THE TEACHER: This is the best way to get your child familiar with their new surroundings. I am so glad we attended meet the teacher so my daughter could get more familiar with the school, the hallways, where her classroom will be located, and who her teacher will be. We were completely surprised to find out she'll be with Ryan's formal Pre-K teacher. So yessss for a familiar face and to someone she is already comfortable with. 

• PRACTICE: Best thing to do is go over what their first day of school will be like. Talk to your child and ask them what they think their day will be like, how do they picture it to be. Explain how school routines work, how you have rules to follow. Ask your child if they'll prefer a home lunch or a school lunch, or do they want to ride the bus or prefer for you to take them. Make sure to compromise on what can work best for you ALL. 

• MAKE IT EXCITING: I have learned there are different ways to get your children excited for school and so far my best tip is doing back to school shopping together. My son gets so excited about shopping for his backpack every year and my daughter was no exception to this. They had so much fun picking out their own backpacks. Even if I didn't like the colors or pattern I decided to let them choose what they liked most. It brings in a sense of independence and boost their self esteem into believing they are ready to start the school year. Not to mention letting them pick out their own shoes and clothes. It is a good distraction and it helped my daughter feel less scared. We went back to school shopping at our local OshKosh B'gosh. With so many options of mix and match leggings for girls and casual tees for boys and girls. Giving them many options to express themselves and their style while still being comfortable in what they wear. With all deals OshKosh has I got them covered for the entire month. I even shopped for my toddler with their new line of graphic tees, so he would join in on the fun with his older siblings. 

Find your nearest OshKosh B'gosh by using their local store locator and stock up on their latest apparel by taking advantage of their in-store deals like their DAILY DEAL or DOORBUSTER they offer regularly. When checking out do not forget to use the following coupon to earn even more savings. 

Use Coupon Code ONLINE: OKBG3352 and RETAIL CODE: 036992 to SAVE an extra 20% off your $40+  PURCHASE. 
Let me know what you find as you back to school shop in the comments below, as always I love to read what you guys think. I know packing their backpacks on their first day will be bittersweet for sure but it feels good sending them in style!

THEY SAY LIFE WITHOUT KIDS IS BETTER

Last night was hard. These past weeks alone have been stressful and trying to be both a stay at home and a working mom at the same time have gotten the best of me. I started to feel I was not doing my best at home with my kids when they needed me. And I certainly haven't been given my all to my job either, as I now realized they want more of me too. I can't dedicate my ALL to one thing. After working early these past few days I was starting to feel defeated. I was lacking "me time" and I had become overwhelmed. I was tired. I was sleep-deprived. I wanted a clean home. I wanted to not have any chores. I wanted zero mom responsibilities.
I began screaming at my kids because their rooms were not clean. It was late already. There was a pile of laundry in my daughter's room that needed to be folded and put away. My downstairs was a mess as they left all the toys scattered from the living room to the dining room. My oldest was complaining he couldn't sleep because the youngest was throwing the biggest tantrum and crying his eyes out. He was screaming at the top of his lungs because he wanted to watch Moana and not go to bed yet. They were testing my limits for sure. I asked my husband for help because I was feeling weak and just over it which he quickly ignored. And that was my breaking point...

I just wanted to be alone. I started to think life without kids is better.
If you asked me 10 years ago if I wanted to be a mother I would instantly tell you yes. Last night I would scream out to you NO.

I had a coworker asked me how are all my kids doing and how do I handle life with all three. My reply was, "It gets crazy, but I'm surviving."  She is single and enjoying her youth by traveling and meeting new people as she goes. What possible struggles could she have going on at home.. none I thought. And a part of me envied her a little. 

Because I thought life without kids is better.

So last night I walked away from it all and closed my door and locked myself in the bathroom. I cried it all out. Yes I let it all out. Alone. It all got to me and I didn't know how to handle it but to simply just cry. 

So much went through my mind and I started thinking why life without kids is better. 
The luxury of going where I please at any time without having children to worry about. The thought of waking up when I want to and go to bed early because there is no one I need to attend to. Being able to finish school without worrying about childcare and the ridiculous cost while I am gone all day, pursue my career full time, or simply travel like the rest of the people my age have. I missed my spontaneous date nights with my husband. I missed when we didn't argue or I didn't yell at him about absurd dumb things like why he didn't throw away the dirty diaper lying on the floor or whose turn it is to bathe the kids. I just wanted that laid-back quality time we once had alone. 
Overall the FREEDOM.

So much went through my head. I was reminded that parenting is not black and white. That every mother with children at some point has felt like this at their most fragile state. I have realized having children is a choice, not something that inevitably happen to me without my consent. 

I don't have all the answers. I am not perfect. My patience sometimes isn't the best as I wish it could be. And I often find myself crying like I did last night. As I am still learning everyday as I go. I am imperfect in my own ways with my own desires and disappointments.

And after being alone for some time I began to feel better. I wiped my tears and open the door. I went to my son's room and found my daughter sleeping in her brother's bed. Next to her on the other side of the room Luke was sleeping in his crib tucked in. He looked so peaceful and I immediately felt a gush of guilt through my body. How could I want a life without him. I heard a small whisper that said, "I Love you Mommy", it was my oldest Ryan who was still awake. I went on to hug him and told him how I was sorry for yelling at him earlier. It was just me and him awake and the house was quiet and that was exactly what I wanted all along... except it now felt empty.
That is the opposite of what I expected to feel. So I squeezed him tightly and hugged my son one more time as I kissed him goodnight. 
And I was more certain than ever that my life with my children is so much better. They give me a daily purpose everyday. Their warm smiles lighten up my day.

I have a place where I belong, a place I call home, tiny little humans that I created who love and need me, I have experienced the meaning of true love. I have found a new perspective on the small things in life that I took for granted once. In many ways children make you grow up and want more in life. I now know what matters and that is building my family. 
It's a beautiful thing to have and definitely what many spend years trying to find.  So today I choose to look at all the positive and focus on all the happiness motherhood has brought me. It has changed my life for the better regardless of what I have sacrificed over the years.

life with my children is so much better.

Someday my kids won't need me anymore. There won't be a constant chatter in the background, there won't be little people calling out "mama" every five minutes, there won't be that undying never ending affection that comes along when they wake you up first thing in the morning. But I want to have their comfort and trust forever. I want to look back at their childhood and I want to remember the good moments. I don't want to regret anything I did or said. I am grateful for the good and the bad.

I have my highs and lows, imaging does not make me a bad mother.

I am human after all. 

FAVORITE SMOOTHIE FOR ALL KIDS

I'm very excited to partner with Danimals for this campaign as we are BIG Danimals yogurt lovers for more than 6 years now. Since Ryan was a year old I been purchasing this product and can attest to this delicious smoothie. They are dairy products that contain a good source of calcium and Vitamin D. I have mentioned before he is picky, he isn't big on milk either but loves all Danimals. There are lots of flavors and varieties to pick from and best of all you don't need a spoon for your toddler and if you are on the go just pack it and keep it cool for your outing you have planned that day.

We are weeks away from school starting and are trying to get back to a more strict routine which includes waking up early and trying our best to go to bed early too. I know first thing in the morning the kids are already asking for breakfast and let me tell you they can be very impatient. So while I get things started in the kitchen I always turn on the Disney Channel and hand them a Danimals yogurt smoothie. They all love it and it keeps them entertained for a little while with enough time to get done in the kitchen with no interruptions. 

A little trick I used to do when all kids were little is stick a straw on top and let them sip from it. With Luke, who is still little it works out great. Zero mess, just a squeeze making it a easy way to drink from a straw. A little MOM HACK for sure!

They will be my go to choice when I am rushing to get them ready in the morning and a healthy snack is always the best way to go. For this reason Danimals will continue to be stocked up in our refrigerator. Be sure to visit your local Walmart today to purchase these. I know for sure your kids will love them. If I had to pick a favorite flavor it would be Strawberry or Strawberry Banana. Can't go wrong with those two picks.

Fun Educational Activities For Kids

I been doing a lot of things lately to prepare my daughter for school this coming August. She's never attended Daycare or a Mother's Day Out program to start her off which has turned into a challenge for us both. I think that as parents one of the toughest jobs is making sure we are helping our kids learn and grow in their education. Building a strong foundation at home to prepare your child exceed in school is important. These skills are vital to their success in school. I have learned that if I keep it entertaining and fun my kids are more eager to learn. Lately we been working on it while munching on Goldfish Crackers as we practice letters and number sentences. 

As a working mom I value the time I get during the week at home to spend time with my kids and be able to take advantage of this one on one moments with all three. My kids are always on top of it when its time to do "school work", they get their snacks ready and Goldfish is our favorite top pick because not only do we get to eat them at the end but we use them for our learning activities. My oldest tends to seek for help when homework time comes around. Now that he is in 1st grade he's expected to be at a certain level in reading and we have been striving to get him there before the end of the school year. I believe working with him on his sight words has helped him tremendously. One of the main reasons is the fact that learning sight words is just a jump away from reading fluently. Just the simple simplicity of recognizing them by sight has given him a better chance to expand his word count when it comes to reading new books. 

I have created a list of all the top words needed (which are quite a lot) to become a fluent reader. The fact that my son easily remembers them by sight makes it so much easier on him. An easy fun way to practice sight words is by

• Making colorful flashcards- cut the cards out and focus on repetition until the word is memorized
• Word of the Day- focus on one word only. It could be one word a day or one a week
• Play Sight Word Bingo- use a Goldfish every time a sight word is called and see who wins first
• Sight Word Match- match the words together

These fun educational activities with Goldfish Crackers are an entertaining way to get them involved and eager to learn. They been mom - approved for me since Ryan was old enough to snack on food. And I love Goldfish because not only do they taste good, they are air baked, made with real cheese. There are no preservatives or fillers added, plus the colors are plant sourced. 

With my daughter our primary focus right now is getting all her alphabet letters down, right now the letter of the week is "O" and so far she has mastered writing her name (I'm so glad Elyse is short and easy to write down) she only struggled with her "s" until I reminded her it is sort of like a snake and that stuck to her ever since. 

Also if you to the Goldfish Pinterest and click on their boards you can find so many easy activities that are easy, crafty and countless of productive and helpful learning activities. I found this one for Elyse as she is learning to count and practicing her addition.

For more fun ideas go to the Goldfish Pinterest page right here

or watch on YouTube right here

SUMMER LATELY PART 1

Just like that July is almost coming to an end. And I'm sorta feeling like where did this summer go? I don't want it to end without at least doing one road trip with the kids. I mean even if it's a simple short trip to Austin or San Antonio. I hesitated in planning a summer vacation with all 3 kids. I am carrying that mom guilt, I know! But let me just say.. I really struggle admitting it to myself and more so with others because part of me knows I should just go for it but I am not ready.. or at least Luke isn't yet. These terrible twos are hitting me hard and fast. 
I would like to know as mothers what are the signs that are there for you that made you confident you could survive a long trip with all kids? 
But until then here's a little of what we have done so far this past month.  For one this month is a big deal since my best friend is getting married and I feel honored to be her Matron of Honor. We did a Bridal shower for her along with family and friends and it was small but perfect because that's exactly what we wanted. Sweet Paris at the City-Centre location is a great spot for a small sprinkle showers. Her little sister did an amazing job hosting this event.

We have also done a lot of eating out as well this summer. You know summer is all about eating good, forget that summer bod! (I know I did) I'm talking about eating out multiple times out of the week here. This picture here is from Father's Day at Texas Roadhouse. We got to spend it with my parents and celebrated my husband and dad together. My dad is always working, he has been the best provider all my life. Growing up I felt that we had it all thanks to his hard work and perseverance to get far as a young dad. Unfortunately the downside was we didn't get to spend much time with him and that is one thing I wish could had been different during my childhood. Sundays are his only days off so it was so nice to have him for the day and spend it all together, even if it was for a short couple of hours. 

We had more crepes this summer then I'll like to admit. It was perfect excuse to celebrate my mom's birthday. So it was a total acceptable reason to satisfy our sweet cravings. We had a night out in town to treat her out the way she deserves.

4th of July was not the usual as we didn't have Ryan since he spend it with my parents. We normally do some BBQ at our place and my parents come. Living in Cypress everyone always goes over the top crazy with fireworks. So that is all we heard all night long. But I guess nothing beats being with the ones you love.

FINDING THE RIGHT FOOD POUCHES FOR YOUR BABY

Going back on one of my last post to what are the best choices to feed your children I am happy to partner with Happy Baby Brands for this post. So I know I have mentioned before already how hard it is to get my boys to eat everything we give them. The boys have really always given me a hard time since they were young. I mean I literally have to beg them to eat their veggies. Although I have learned a few tricks here and there on how to sneak them in their food it can still become a headache. For me, as a parent, making sure they are getting the proper nutrition will always be one of my main concerns. Which is why I am so big on picking natural, real, organic transparent food. We obviously will continue our weekly runs to our nearest Chick Fil A of course (okay I am not perfect) but I am always cautious of their food choices. 

One of the brands I been trusting for a while and Elyse will take from her brother ( I have to add she's the good one here who loves her fruits and veggies) are the Happy Baby Clearly Crafted™ Organic Pouches. As a first time mom there were many things I was not aware of. For example thinking of all the factors that come to play when purchasing baby food- what brand can I trust? What brand offers real fruits and vegetables? What brand is organic and delicious? As a mom I know when caring for our babies how much transparency matters. Which is why Happy Baby Clearly Crafted™ Organic Pouches are the perfect fit for us. The fact that they are clear and you can see everything that is inside them makes it so much better and brings in the feeling that you can trust in a brand like Happy Family. 

Yes making your own at home is always best but let's be real with multiple kids at home this can be unrealistic at times for some mothers who have their hands full already with cleaning, laundry, work, and preparing meals all this can wear you out. This is why I find it necessary to have a brand you can trust and support like Happy Family. What convince me into purchasing Happy Baby Clearly Crafted™ Organic Pouches was their honest REAL high quality value with recipes labeled that included all organic ingredients. And as a mom what makes me feel more safe and less skeptical is that they now also come in clear transparent pouches. So you can see yourself what goes in your child's mouth. I think that is one common mom mistake, not taking the proper time in reading baby food labels. But with these pouches you can turn it around and read the delicious recipe with all the ingredients that are included. Their recipes are quite impressive as it features wholesome organic fruit, vegetable puree and many more like gluten free and no added sugars. All trustworthy ingredients.

Be sure to visit your nearest Walmart where you can purchase all 20 different flavors. Click here to learn more about Happy Baby’s Clearly Crafted™ organic and their brand of trustworthy ingredients and their commitment to transparency.


 Also here is an exclusive $1 off coupon for 3 Clearly Crafted™ pouches at Walmart. 

I'll love to know what you think and what flavor your child loves best!