Monthly Archives

April 2020

Fun & Games

Games to Keep Everyone Busy

Was anyone else’s week a little like mine?  My youngest dumped pee from her little potty all over our carpet; my oldest told me she didn’t want to do online school anymore and instead it was my job to teach her everything; and, meds that I chose to have shipped from a local pharmacy ended up in Sioux Falls.  Yahoo!

But, during all of this adventure, I tried to get creative (not easy for a non-creative, right brain creature like me) and come up with some fun games to keep us all busy.  Also, we tried to do a “no technology Saturday” as recommended by her school.  We made it half a day, but during that half day we had so much fun – played with toys we hadn’t played with in a long time, did a ton of arts and crafts and got outside.

Here are some of the games we played that everyone seemed to enjoy:

  • Indoor scavenger hunt – for my oldest I drew out a map of where she could find hidden items in the basement.  After that, both girls got little buckets and I told them things like “find something red,” and “find something small and soft,” etc.   It was very interesting to see what things each of them picked out, and it got them using their creative minds a bit
  • Keepy Uppy – my oldest learned this at a summer camp last year.  Pretty simple – blow up a balloon and hit it around and don’t let it touch the floor.  Sounds basic, but it provides a ton of entertainment for longer than you think
  • Page Printouts – there are a lot of free coloring pages, mazes, connect the dots, etc. online.  I printed out at least half a dozen for each child
  • “Cooking” – if you don’t mind parting with a few pieces of produce, this seems to get younger kids really excited.  Each child gets a banana / apple / stalk of celery, etc. and an age appropriate tool to cut it up.  That in itself is fun for them.  Then, they can choose what to make with it.  My oldest decided to make a salad by cutting up lettuce leaves, cabbage, green onions and celery and putting it in a ziplock for me to eat later.  My youngest just cut up a banana with a spoon and ate it.

And believe it or not, both kids sat still yesterday for a half hour of story time.  I read a chapter book to both kids outside on our swingset.  They brought their water bottles and a snack.

Hope everyone is finding fun and creative things to do with your kids during these times.  I’d love to year what your ideas are!

The Almost Green Mom

Food / Drink

Snack and Meal Ideas

Ok, so another week is almost over, I guess.  I don’t even know what day it is anymore, but I feel like we’ve been in this shelter in place since 1999.

#MomFailOfThe Week:  so I couldn’t find boxed pasta anywhere.  I was so excited to have finally found it on Walmart.com, but I had to buy a case of 10 boxes.  I figured I’d just give extras to some neighbors.  When it arrived, it wasn’t 10 separate boxes, it was 2, 10 POUND BAGS of pasta.  So, if you’re in the Denver area and want some (or 10 pounds) or pasta, let me know.

SNACKS

I don’t feel like meals have been as hard as snacks.  I don’t know if it’s because everyone is hoarding and/or stress eating, but snacks are elusive on Amazon and other sites.  There’s a reason certain snacks are available – because they’re the gross ones no one wants.  Also, we’re at the whim of Amazon Fresh and our local grocery wrt fresh produce, so that’s also a crapshoot.  Here are some things we’ve done to get creative with what we have on hand:

  • Banana Bites:  Put one rectangular graham cracker in a ziplock, seal it and let your kid whack the heck out of hit with a spoon until it’s basically powder.  Put a sliced banana in the bag and shake it (like old school shake n bake).  Voila!
  • Decorated Grahams.  Can you tell we have graham crackers?  I set out a line of things like peanut butter, raisins, mini marshmallows, jam, sprinkles, etc.  If you are lucky enough to have Nutella, add that to the line-up.  Spread whatever on the bottom and load it up with toppings.
  • Pre Packed Snacks.  When things start going sideways, I literally launch snack packs at my kids.  I really wish I had one of those t-shirt launcher guns at the college and NBA basketball games.

 

MEALS

Breakfast is typically fast.  Lunch and dinner are a little more planned out (if possible) and for these 2 meals I try to include fruit and veggies on each plate along with the main.

  • Breakfast.  My oldest child has virtual school during the week, so breakfasts need to happen before then.  We rely on staples like frozen waffles, pancakes, cinnamon raisin toast, yogurt drinks, smoothies (almond milk, whatever fresh fruit is getting too ripe, frozen fruit), etc.  The simpler the better.  On the weekends we sometimes go crazy and make homemade pancakes (watch out).
  • Lunch.  Again, it mainly depends on what we have on hand.  Of course, with the bulk pasta we have that’s always an option (butter & salt, pasta sauce & parmesan, add on a meatball, etc.); grilled cheese sandwiches, PB&J, “fried rice” (pre-made brown rice added into a scrambled egg, frozen veggies (whatever is on hand), low sodium soy sauce and teriyaki sauce); bean quesadillas in the toaster, turkey sandwiches, etc.
  • Dinner.  I’m a huge fan of not always making a huge “to do” about dinner – it could be a “breakfast for dinner” night (i.e., French toast, omelet, chicken apple sausage & scrambled eggs).  But, when I do feel like making something, I go to some of our fail safe go to’s:
    • BBQ chicken – drumsticks or breasts in an ovenproof glass container, smothered with your favorite BBQ sauce at about 375 for 40ish minutes (until at least 160 degrees with a meat thermometer)
    • Pasta – surprised?; we will also sometimes make lentil pasta, but brands really vary in terms of taste and texture so that can be a risk with my kids
    • Burgers on the grill – veggie / ham burgers (I’m vegan, my youngest isn’t a huge meat eater and my oldest would probably eat a live cow if she could)
    • Veggies on the grill – simple coating of olive oil and salt / pepper.  I was also told about these Urban Accents Veggie Roaster spice mixes recently which are really good (thank you, Amy P).  I got mine off Amazon (there are 3 envelopes in each pack, and each pack is for 1 pound of veggies)

    • Garbanzo Wraps.  This is a pretty close copy of the wraps you can buy at the Mediterranean chain, Garbanzo’s.  We use a whole wheat tortilla, smear hummus on top, and then pile on cucumber & tomato salad (diced cucumber, diced tomato mixed with a Greek dill dip / dressing – we us Oladipity but there are others), cut up chicken breast and kalamata olives
    • Homemade Mini Pizzas.  I get the unrefrigerated, small pizza crusts from Target (once open, refrigerate them), top it with pre-made pizza sauce (we like Classico) and then whatever toppings you want – we are fans of mushrooms, olives, tomato slices and whatever veggies we have on hand (great way to use up veggies that are getting ripe).  I get the mini crusts so each child can put on her own toppings – also so I can put them in the toaster oven instead of the gigantic regular oven.  Again, you can just line up the toppings and let the kids go to town.  10 minutes in the oven, and it’s done.
    • Select Recipes.  As a single mom of two young kids, I don’t have a ton of time to follow recipes (one of my best friends, who is almost my Aunt, told  me  she receives recipes in her inbox that are supposed to be quick and easy with things you have on hand, but some of them require cardamom seeds and gorgonzola?!  Umm, not really what I have stock these days.  Hilarious).  Another one of my best friends, Michelle, turned me on to an amazing cookbook that is simple and fast.  And I’m probably the last person to get it as it is a #1 NY Times Bestseller:  Skinnytaste Fast and Slow.  We made the chicken pizza roll-ups the other night and both of my kids loved it.

 

I hope this simple blog today is helpful.  I’m off as my kids have yet again dumped boxes of things all over the living room so I need to dart off.

For those of you celebrating Easter, have a wonderful holiday.  In Denver, we are supposed to get snow on Sunday, so the Easter Bunny better be able to get inside and hide eggs in our basement.

 

The Almost Green Mom

 

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Personal Care / Child, Personal Care / Mom, Personal Care / Parent

Some Ideas to Stay Sane With Kids During “Lockdown”

I MAY GO CRAZY.  LIKE NEED TO BE ADMITTED TO A FACILITY CRAZY.

Anyone else feel this way right now?  I know I do!  Let’s start off with the fact that these are times most of us have never experienced before (only other I can think of is the Great Depression).  I always try to tell myself to focus on the things in my control and not worry too much about things I can’t control.  So, stop with CNN and Facebook for a bit, center yourselves and try to focus on your and your family’s health and sanity.  I’m also a huge believer of people around you feeding off your energy (especially children), so let’s all try to take deep breaths and send out whatever positive vibes we can.

Given the times we’re in right now, I’m changing the focus of the blog to how to survive these times with humility, humor and honesty.  These upcoming blogs will provide insight for parents, kids and caregivers on how to help us all cope and get through these times, hopefully even with some humor and laughter.  The blogs will focus on a variety of things including activities, exercise / movement and mental health.  I’d love feedback on what you all are doing as well!

So, let’s start off with some insight into how I’m keeping my 6 and 2 year old busy and having fun:

Arts & Crafts

Godsend.  If you can’t find the one remaining off of Amazon (so annoying they’re out of almost EVERYTHING), think about seeing if a local toy store can deliver (and support local business), or you can even make your own!

  • Bath Bombs.  Make your own bath bombs (baking soda, epsom salt and a few other ingredients).  Here’s a good make at home kids’ bath bomb recipe – you can even make it a little more fun by hiding a little toy inside (age appropriate), AND you can get your kids in the bath (#winning).  Remember that essential oils can be dangerous for kids, so make sure you’re using a recipe specifically for children.  Here is good one I found on amazon as well – Bath Bombs for Kids

  • Spirograph.  This one has stood the test of time.  For some reason, my kids actually fight over who gets to use it.  I found a good Spirograph Junior version on Amazon that is very kid friendly and a little easier to use vs. the old school one.

  • Garden Seed Starter Kits.  This is also one you can do at home or get a premade kit.  While we can’t go to the stores right now to buy plants, you can get a head start on that summer garden by planting the actual seeds and growing them inside.  By the time it’s planting time, your plants will be just as good (if not better) than the kind you can buy in stores.  Use whatever seeds you have on hand, or get seeds shipped to you from your local nursery.  Make sure to follow the planting instructions to ensure maximum potential for the plants to thrive.  I found these fun kits on Amazon – this one is for a Tomato Garden Seed Starter Kit.  The company has a few other options as well.

We’ll start with this for now – I will continue to post every few days or so with new ideas.

Remember:  stay inside, make the most of the situation and try to laugh and smile as much as possible.

The Almost Green Mom

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