Halloween is still two months away, and stores are telling us it's time to make decisions about costumes and decorations.
I always think this time of year that I should make a costume. Now is the time to start so you aren't left rushed. And then I don't. Sometimes it's because I found a crazy cheap costume the year before and HAVE to use it. But mostly I fear I'm not talented enough to make something that looks fit for public display.
Besides the potential for a totally awesome, original costume, a huge benefit of sewing is we can better control how our kids look at Halloween parties and while trick-or-treating. Maybe next year...
I don't worry about my son's choices. He never picks anything too violent. But with my daughter, now that's she's becoming a young woman, I worry about sexy.
This year she plans to dress like a rock diva. Got the basic rocker costume last year on sale. It isn't sexy compared with all the other costumes out there. The only question I have is will her belly show too much this year? If it does, I'm getting out the glue gun and adding some fringe and possibly making her wear a tank underneath. She still listens. But I wonder if things will change in junior high and high school. Remember those days of changing the clothes you left the house in?
As they get older, their size factors into the costumes available. Some tall and more full-figured 10 to 14 year olds, find themselves shopping for clothes in the junior department. Halloween is no different. And teen costumes aren't exactly modest. Maybe they offer more coverage compared to the sexy adult lines, but exposed bellies and short skirts are common.
Last year, I spoke with Debbie Easley of Easley's Fun Shop in central Phoenix. She pointed out how they make sure to carry teen options with longer skirts and less skin. She's a mom and knows the battle well. So it's no surprise that Easley and her staff also suggest to add leggings or tanks if too much skin still shows. The problem is many girls, once they no longer fit kid sizes, want to wear the adult costumes. And moms do give in. Click the link to read the story I wrote.
Tweens and teens look for costumes that make them look edgy and cute. And we start worrying about just who will see our little girls dressed this way and what will this look convey? Hopefully not sexy!
So what do you do? Some things I've done:
-Talk to your kids about personal safety in a loving, age-appropriate way. You don't want instant conflict. Sometimes understanding where your concern comes from helps them make the right choice. You want them to keep the costume they left with and not changing into something sexier later, right?
-Set an expectation and limits from the start. For example, you can pick any costume that isn't scary and doesn't bare your belly.
-If the costume is too skimpy but you both agree it's cute, consider leggings, bike shorts or tank top to limit exposure.
Here's hoping you don't have too huge a costume battle. Cheers!
Monday, August 22, 2011
Friday, August 5, 2011
Getting my kids to eat a healthy breakfast
I'm tackling our eating habits. All of us are in our "normal" weight range, and I want to keep us there. But weight doesn't equal healthy, so I'm really focusing on better food choices: more veggies, more fiber, antioxidants, omega fatty acids, whole grains and healthy fats.
My first goal is improving breakfast. I want to have my kids ready for learning, but mornings can be rough. Rushed, we sometimes chose to pour a bowl of sugary cereal or grab some toaster pastry. Yes, we had left over spaghetti the other day. And I've done pizza, sandwiches and trail mix.
I often feel guilty about these "bad" breakfast days, some worse nutritionally than others. With a little planning, though, I know breakfast can be fast and healthy.
My time-saving tip is a no-brainer. Just add more healthy foods to the grocery list and less of the sugary "quick" foods. I can't tell you how many times I've thought, if only we had some yogurt, bananas, whole-grain bread or eggs. Really! Those should have been on the list. Instead, our bags are willed with "convenience" foods. Those breakfast pockets/sandwiches may seem like a good quick idea until you read the nutrition label.
Today I had time to scrambled up some eggs so they'd be filled up on protein for Friday quizzes. But for rushed days, I'm looking forward to serving up yogurt and berries, a nutrient-rich spinach-banana-berry-nutty smoothie (courtesy of my brother in law), hard boiled eggs (ready to go in the fridge) with fruit or waffles with natural peanut butter and sliced bananas.
For days when I have a bit more time, I can whip up pancakes with ground flax seeds for a fiber boost. Ham, cheese and broccoli omelets are big hits, too, so long there aren't any stems. I'm looking at recipes for French toast using whole grain, fiber-fortified bread, and breakfast pizzas — some fruity and some packed with veggies.
What are some of your favorite quick & healthy breakfasts?
Sharing a clip from the Today Show that offers some great ideas for feeding your kids at all times of the day. I do turkey roll-ups all the time in my daughter's lunch, but without the tortilla:
Cheers!
My first goal is improving breakfast. I want to have my kids ready for learning, but mornings can be rough. Rushed, we sometimes chose to pour a bowl of sugary cereal or grab some toaster pastry. Yes, we had left over spaghetti the other day. And I've done pizza, sandwiches and trail mix.
I often feel guilty about these "bad" breakfast days, some worse nutritionally than others. With a little planning, though, I know breakfast can be fast and healthy.
My time-saving tip is a no-brainer. Just add more healthy foods to the grocery list and less of the sugary "quick" foods. I can't tell you how many times I've thought, if only we had some yogurt, bananas, whole-grain bread or eggs. Really! Those should have been on the list. Instead, our bags are willed with "convenience" foods. Those breakfast pockets/sandwiches may seem like a good quick idea until you read the nutrition label.
Today I had time to scrambled up some eggs so they'd be filled up on protein for Friday quizzes. But for rushed days, I'm looking forward to serving up yogurt and berries, a nutrient-rich spinach-banana-berry-nutty smoothie (courtesy of my brother in law), hard boiled eggs (ready to go in the fridge) with fruit or waffles with natural peanut butter and sliced bananas.
For days when I have a bit more time, I can whip up pancakes with ground flax seeds for a fiber boost. Ham, cheese and broccoli omelets are big hits, too, so long there aren't any stems. I'm looking at recipes for French toast using whole grain, fiber-fortified bread, and breakfast pizzas — some fruity and some packed with veggies.
What are some of your favorite quick & healthy breakfasts?
Sharing a clip from the Today Show that offers some great ideas for feeding your kids at all times of the day. I do turkey roll-ups all the time in my daughter's lunch, but without the tortilla:
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Cheers!
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Katy Perry California Dreams excitement
As soon as my daughter got home yesterday, she knew she needed to tackle homework. And of all nights, she had the biggest bunch to do.
No way she'd get through it all before going to the Katy Perry concert. Her distracted mind would keep her from completing it all. Yet, I didn't mind. It's not like we go to concerts all the time. It's early in the school year. Most importantly, she's a good student so a night off every now and then isn't going to be detrimental.
I think we would have been on our way to the 7:30 p.m. show at 4 p.m. if she had her way. She didn't want to miss a moment.
When Katy Perry finally took the stage at 9:13 p.m., my daughter understood why I wasn't in a rush. She also realized she wouldn't be home until midnight — much later than the kiddie-centric concerts we've gone to in the past. That's the only time I felt a bit of regret bringing her. I don't want a grumpy sleepy girl annoying teachers at school. I'm already asking for leniency on the half-finished homework.
Surprisingly, she's full of energy this morning. She's still on the concert high, and I hope she doesn't crash midday. She sang at the top of her lungs to all the popular songs, as well as lesser know songs. One of our favorites is "Pearl" because the end message is you don't define yourself by how others make you feel. Be strong and be yourself. Guess that's why we also love "Firework."
The concert wasn't as naughty as it could have been, so I really didn't have to explain much. It was sugary fun and a little sexy, but not so shocking that I'd blush since I have sixth grader to my side.
Still, I didn't get why so many moms brought their really little ones. Sure the sexy innuendo and explicit words goes over their head, but it's loud and hard to see when you are that small. Maybe they had ear plugs and moms had strong arms to carry them. My personal feeling is the show is best for 10 and older.
All the songs were so much candy-coated fun. We also loved her Katy-oke part of the show, where she sings other songs, including Rebecca Black's "Friday," Rihanna's "Only Girl," and Willow Smith's "Whip My Hair." She was silly and at the same time showed she can sing. She's not all music marketing. When she went "church," she showed how soulful and strong a voice she has.
We danced in our seats and had a great time. The only downer was at the end when suddenly my daughter wanted a T-shirt to remember the show. Ummm, no. The only
one we liked was $50 and since I don't know when my next paying gig will come up, I figure the pictures and video are good enough.
Looking forward to our next girls night out.
Cheers!
No way she'd get through it all before going to the Katy Perry concert. Her distracted mind would keep her from completing it all. Yet, I didn't mind. It's not like we go to concerts all the time. It's early in the school year. Most importantly, she's a good student so a night off every now and then isn't going to be detrimental.
I think we would have been on our way to the 7:30 p.m. show at 4 p.m. if she had her way. She didn't want to miss a moment.
When Katy Perry finally took the stage at 9:13 p.m., my daughter understood why I wasn't in a rush. She also realized she wouldn't be home until midnight — much later than the kiddie-centric concerts we've gone to in the past. That's the only time I felt a bit of regret bringing her. I don't want a grumpy sleepy girl annoying teachers at school. I'm already asking for leniency on the half-finished homework.
Surprisingly, she's full of energy this morning. She's still on the concert high, and I hope she doesn't crash midday. She sang at the top of her lungs to all the popular songs, as well as lesser know songs. One of our favorites is "Pearl" because the end message is you don't define yourself by how others make you feel. Be strong and be yourself. Guess that's why we also love "Firework."
The concert wasn't as naughty as it could have been, so I really didn't have to explain much. It was sugary fun and a little sexy, but not so shocking that I'd blush since I have sixth grader to my side.
Still, I didn't get why so many moms brought their really little ones. Sure the sexy innuendo and explicit words goes over their head, but it's loud and hard to see when you are that small. Maybe they had ear plugs and moms had strong arms to carry them. My personal feeling is the show is best for 10 and older.
All the songs were so much candy-coated fun. We also loved her Katy-oke part of the show, where she sings other songs, including Rebecca Black's "Friday," Rihanna's "Only Girl," and Willow Smith's "Whip My Hair." She was silly and at the same time showed she can sing. She's not all music marketing. When she went "church," she showed how soulful and strong a voice she has.
We danced in our seats and had a great time. The only downer was at the end when suddenly my daughter wanted a T-shirt to remember the show. Ummm, no. The only
Looking forward to our next girls night out.
Cheers!
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
A big concert first: Katy Perry, my daughter and me
My daughter is a concert pro already and only in sixth grade.
Her first kid friendly show was the Cheetah Girls with a BFF. I joined her at Hannah Montana/Jonas Brothers/Miley Cyrus, which was followed by Selena Gomez, Miley Cyrus again, Jonas Brothers again and finally Justin Bieber. She even saw a bit of Kelly Clarkson at the state fair.
Now she graduates to a truly "big girl" show. I debated whether she should be my partner in crime going to Katy Perry's concert. When I went to P!nk, I didn't even consider bringing her. We both love P!nk, but I just felt like she was too young (9 1/2 at the time) and it wasn't the right time. And I think P!nk really offers very empowering songs for girls of all ages. Can't wait to take her next time.
But this time around, totally knowing that the Katy Perry concert will be adult focused, I said yes and bought tickets. Why? I want her to experience a concert put on by a musician whom she loves in MY presence.
I expect Katy Perry's show to push innuendo and be a bit naughty but sugary sweet based on the California Dreams tour reviews and what I've seen on YouTube. I also expect we'll have a great time dancing and singing TOGETHER.
I'm looking forward to talking about what happens on stage after. I love that my daughter still comes to me, openly asks questions, and I get to share my beliefs. I only have a small window to get my message out to her.
Honestly, my biggest concern is not being embarrassed by a dropped bad word or sexuality. We talk about these things ALL the time. I worry about my daughter's view being blocked since she's so petite. Praying that all the tall people are behind us.
Now, wonder if I should have my daughter wear her pink wig?
Cheers!
Her first kid friendly show was the Cheetah Girls with a BFF. I joined her at Hannah Montana/Jonas Brothers/Miley Cyrus, which was followed by Selena Gomez, Miley Cyrus again, Jonas Brothers again and finally Justin Bieber. She even saw a bit of Kelly Clarkson at the state fair.
Now she graduates to a truly "big girl" show. I debated whether she should be my partner in crime going to Katy Perry's concert. When I went to P!nk, I didn't even consider bringing her. We both love P!nk, but I just felt like she was too young (9 1/2 at the time) and it wasn't the right time. And I think P!nk really offers very empowering songs for girls of all ages. Can't wait to take her next time.
But this time around, totally knowing that the Katy Perry concert will be adult focused, I said yes and bought tickets. Why? I want her to experience a concert put on by a musician whom she loves in MY presence.
I expect Katy Perry's show to push innuendo and be a bit naughty but sugary sweet based on the California Dreams tour reviews and what I've seen on YouTube. I also expect we'll have a great time dancing and singing TOGETHER.
I'm looking forward to talking about what happens on stage after. I love that my daughter still comes to me, openly asks questions, and I get to share my beliefs. I only have a small window to get my message out to her.
Honestly, my biggest concern is not being embarrassed by a dropped bad word or sexuality. We talk about these things ALL the time. I worry about my daughter's view being blocked since she's so petite. Praying that all the tall people are behind us.
Now, wonder if I should have my daughter wear her pink wig?
Cheers!
Monday, August 1, 2011
Morning rush equals spaghetti breakfast
As I picked up school snacks and lunch box ingredients at Trader Joe's yesterday, I stopped only briefly in front of the milk. I thought of buying some, but didn't. And it created a bit of a dilemma at breakfast this morning.
The plan had been to stop by another nearby store for milk, produce and other sale items later. Breakfast was supposed to be ham and creamy scrambled eggs with apple juice. But then a storm came in, and well...
It didn't hit me until I pulled out the eggs this morning. No milk. Can't make them creamy like the kids love them. The standby vitamin-fortified cereal doesn't work without milk, too. Ugh!
So I punted. I pulled out the left over spaghetti with ground sirloin from the night before. Not a traditional breakfast, but it has protein. We put a bit of cheese on top and poured a glass of apple juice. Happens that breakfast had all four food groups, so I felt a little less mom guilt.
It's not the first this has happened, hence the GUILT. I've done pizza, chicken and grilled ham and cheese for breakfast, too. At least they're eating protein vs. sugar, right? I know I can't be alone.
While I feel bad about not serving up a traditional breakfast, my kids don't seem to mind. They love dinner at breakfast and breakfast at dinner. It's fuel all the same. Maybe I'll make some cashew and chocolate chip pancakes (fortified with ground flaxseed) with a side of ham tonight.
One thing is certain, I must buy milk at the grocery store today.
Cheers!
The plan had been to stop by another nearby store for milk, produce and other sale items later. Breakfast was supposed to be ham and creamy scrambled eggs with apple juice. But then a storm came in, and well...
It didn't hit me until I pulled out the eggs this morning. No milk. Can't make them creamy like the kids love them. The standby vitamin-fortified cereal doesn't work without milk, too. Ugh!
So I punted. I pulled out the left over spaghetti with ground sirloin from the night before. Not a traditional breakfast, but it has protein. We put a bit of cheese on top and poured a glass of apple juice. Happens that breakfast had all four food groups, so I felt a little less mom guilt.
It's not the first this has happened, hence the GUILT. I've done pizza, chicken and grilled ham and cheese for breakfast, too. At least they're eating protein vs. sugar, right? I know I can't be alone.
While I feel bad about not serving up a traditional breakfast, my kids don't seem to mind. They love dinner at breakfast and breakfast at dinner. It's fuel all the same. Maybe I'll make some cashew and chocolate chip pancakes (fortified with ground flaxseed) with a side of ham tonight.
One thing is certain, I must buy milk at the grocery store today.
Cheers!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)