Simply Happy Mama

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Valentine’s Day Free Printables!

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With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, I thought I should get our plans together for classmate Valentine treats! And, who doesn’t love Valentine’s Day Free Printables?

This year I am focusing on making things simple in our lives. As a family of 6, things can get overwhelming fast. So, with that in mind, I created a simple printable that my daughter will cut herself and attach to a treat bag. Like these.

Valentine' s Day Free Printables

I included a place for my daughter to write her name on each card. (Great practice for the small ones!)

And, I kept the shape easy for my 6 year old to cut herself!

She next will cut each one out and use a hole punch and ribbon to attach to a small bag of treats for her friends.

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    If you are looking for more free printables for Valentine’s Day, last year I created treat bag toppers and printable coupons!

    • Valentine's Day Treat Bag Toppers
    • Free Printable Valentines Day Coupons

    I hope your Valentine’s Day is GREAT, Mama!

    Lunch Packing Supplies- Kids Bento Box

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    Kids Bento Box

     

     

     

     

    I love to shop for Lunch Packing Supplies! It’s my thing!

    I enjoy packing a healthy and attractive lunch for my children.

     

    A Kids Bento box is the best thing for making my picky eaters eat healthily!

     

    So, first let’s start with..

    Are you a lunch packing mama?

    I enjoy packing “pretty” lunches for my kids with healthy foods. One of the main purposes that I do is because I can control what they eat (so I know they are eating fruits and veggies!)

    This is why I chose a kids bento box for my little ones! It is easy to open and everything is ready to be eaten as soon as it is opened.

    But, it can be time-consuming to pack a kids bento box lunch.

    I have found some great lunch packing supplies over the years that make it so much faster and effortless!

    Now that I have been lunch packing for a few years, I can make a pretty lunch in no time! You can too!

    What is a Kids Bento Box?

     

    It is a multi-compartment box for a home packed lunch. It makes it easy to just open and start eating without having to open a lot of bags or containers. I like to think it helps children eat healthier because it is usually packed to be visually delicious.

    I thought I would share with you some great lunch packing supplies I use and love.

     

    •   This is the box we use and love! It is a Yumbox and it’s leakproof! We are on year 3 with ours and still going strong! I put it in the dishwasher on the top rack each night no issues at all. We put it in our lunch bag with an ice pack each day.

     

    • This is the snack box we use and it is also a Yumbox. I wash it in the top rack of dishwasher too. It is a small box but great for my 6-year-olds snack each day.

     

    •  Want to pack a hot and cold lunch together? No problem! The Omie lunch box is great for that! It has an easy to open, made in compartment that keeps things warm and then the outer compartments keep items cool. It is also leakproof! We love ours!
    •   This is a PlanetBox ROVER Stainless Steel Lunch Box. We do not have this one yet because I feel like it is a little too big for what we need right now but It will probably be the lunch box we get when we out grow the one we have now.

     

    •  This box is great for a DIY lunchable. We do crackers, ham, cheese, and a treat.

     

    • I love to use these veggie, fruit, and cheese cutters just to make lunch a little more fun!

     

    •  These come in handy when I want to separate things in each compartment. Also, it makes it easier to clean the lunch box when I put things like peanut butter in this and then in her lunch box.

     

    •  Sandwich cutters are always fun and functional for kids who do not like the crust of the bread. (MINE!)

     

    •  I use cutters like these for everything really. Sandwiches, veggies, fruit, cheese, and jello.

     

    •  I love to use food picks because it makes it easy for kids to pick up and fun looking to make them WANT to eat their broccoli!

     

    •  When you want to pack a hot lunch like chicken nuggets, grilled cheese, or hot pasta the Thermos is the way to go. It keeps food warm for a long period of time. It is great for cold winter days!

     

     

     

    I love to shop on Amazon. It is the easiest way for a Mama of 4, to get what she needs in 2 days, delivered to her front door. AND Free Shipping!

    If you need this in your life, check out becoming a Prime Member here ->

    Try Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial

     

     

     

    What are some tips you have for packing lunches?

     

     

     

     

     

    Extended Breastfeeding- 3 Reasons I Chose to Continue Breastfeeding After 1 Year

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    Extended Breastfeeding- 3 reasons I chose to continue breastfeeding after 1 year

    Are you an extended breastfeeding mom?

    When I went to the doctor for my yearly check-up, after I had my daughter I wasnʼt feeling all that great, tired and just run down. I was sure it was from being a mom but the doctor said that he sees it a lot with moms who are extended breastfeeders.

    I just sat there and smiled. I didnʼt know that was a term until I got home and googled it. I just thought I was doing what I felt was RIGHT at the time and season of life I was in.

    I never thought I would say that I am breastfeeding a 2-year-old.

    But, here I am with a 26-month-old who still loves her “mulk” before she falls asleep.

    Breastfeeding is an amazing feeling that I wish every mom had a chance to understand because no matter how hard I try to explain it, I could never come close to what it truly is.

    Extended Breastfeeding

    I’m going to back up to say that I have 2 daughters. The first was never breastfed, ever. The second is absolutely and ridiculously in love with her “mulk”. She has never in her life had a bottle in her mouth because she refuses it like crazy.

    So, since I never breastfed my first child I never thought that I would still be nursing my second past 12 months. Although, my breastfed baby has only been on antibiotics 1 time in her 2 years of life and I call that a win because my first child who was not breastfed was on antibiotics constantly as a baby.

    I believe that every child is different and that means that every child must be fed differently.

    3 reasons I chose to continue breastfeeding after 1 year.

    1. It felt right. I didnʼt feel like my picky eater was drinking or eating enough. I couldnʼt get her to drink regular milk from a cup or eat baby food of any kind at 1 year. She still is a picky eater and most of her disliking foods is a texture thing. She never liked baby food and I tried them all. I even made homemade baby food with our Baby Bullet from fresh veggies from our garden. She was not having it. With my first child, she ate baby food fine and by 10 months was eating what I made for dinner, just smashed a bit. Not my second child.

    2. Health benefits of breastmilk don’t just disappear after 1 year. Not to mention the meltdowns. My daughter would have crying fits if I refused to allow her to nurse. Like lay on the floor, and withhold from eating kind of meltdown fits. It stressed me out beyond measure and she was definitely stressed out.

    3. I realized that not every child is the same and that 1 year of breastfeeding is just a SUGGESTION. I guess I felt pressured from people around me to stop breastfeeding at 1 year because they thought thatʼs what you are supposed to do.

    But, I forgot that as her mother I knew what was best for her. After all, Iʼm the one who fed her every meal she has had to nourish her growing and healthy body while in my arms since the day she was born.

    How could anyone else know her and our breastfeeding relationship any better?

    You may like Positive Parenting- Why it is Important to LISTEN to your Child

    I know that a lot of people have different views on nursing their children and that is totally okay. Because as moms we more often than we recognize, know what is best for our children.

    Every child is different and requires different approaches to parenting. No one knows that my daughter is still nursing because I donʼt allow her to nurse in public. Not because Iʼm afraid of what people will say, but simply because that is not my thing.

    So, we will continue with extended breastfeeding until I feel the time has come to stop or she tells me. And. I feel it coming very soon.

    I will try to savor these last times as much as possible.

    Mama Inspiration for the Amazing Moms!

    Are you an extended breastfeeding mama? Tell us about your journey in the comments below!

    Are you looking to make life less stressful, Mama? Click below to get my FREE Mama Happiness Workbook!

    The Mama Happiness Workbook

    Easy Halloween Costumes- for Kids on Amazon!

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    Easy Halloween Costumes!

     

    As a mom of 2 small little ones, I know that sometimes we are just tired and need some easiness in our lives. Don’t you wish there was an easy way for everything? I know I do. And, that’s probably how you found this post. Because if you are like me, you looked for Easy Halloween Costumes on Pinterest!

     

    But, what makes these costumes great is that they are on AMAZON! and, since I have Prime Membership I get FREE 2-day shipping right to my door.

    So, as a mom I love Amazon. I don’t have to get kids ready and in the car. I just order what I need (and they have EVERYTHING.) Then, it is at my door in no time! I love it.

     

    This post has affiliate links. This simply means sometimes I recommend a product or service, and if you choose to purchase that product or service via my recommendation, I will get a small referral commission. Of course, this is at no extra cost to you but it does help keep Simply Happy Mama. I truly appreciate your support in this way. Thank you.

     

     

    There are so many bonuses to being a Prime member! If you would like to try it out FREE yourself here is the link.

    Try Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Easy Halloween Costumes

     

     

     

    I love everything Fall. With that, I want you to know that I am not a huge fan of Halloween. I love “Fall” festivals and the time of year but I am just not a “scary things” type of girl. I have never been. I never watched scary movies growing up and not because I wasn’t allowed just simply because I didn’t want to. And, I still don’t want to. If that is your thing though I will not like you any less 🙂

     

    So, you probably won’t find an idea for a “scary” costume on Simply Happy Mama. Sorry! 🙂

     



     

    Here are a few Easy Halloween Costumes for GIRLS.

     

     

     

                               

     

     

     

     

     

    These are Easy Halloween Costumes for the BOYS.

     

     

                                       

     

     

    More Halloween Fun on Simply Happy Mama:

     

    FREE Halloween Printables!

     

    FREE Printable Treat Bag Toppers!

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    What are your Easy Halloween Costume Ideas?

     

     

     



     

    Motherhood- Do you need some Mama Inspiration today?

    by 1 Comment


    Hey there! I’m so glad you are here Mama!

     

    Motherhood is amazing and messy.

    But, I love every minute of it! (Even when I don’t!)

     

     

    Embrace your Motherhood journey because it shouldn’t be compared to another!

     

    Motherhood is an adventure every single day. And, I love to have a little Mama Inspiration with my coffee 🙂 Don’t you?

     

    Sign up for the Motherhood Newsletter!

     

     


     

    Motherhood

     

     

     

    I have always had an issue with myself and with Motherhood.

    The issue is that I care too much about what people may or may not think of me and how I am raising my children.

    No matter how hard I try to shift the thought somehow it is still there.

    It does feel like a risk when you put yourself out there for people to see. 

     

    BUT it also shouldn’t be. We are who we are. That is a wonderful and beautiful thing. Especially in Motherhood.

     

     

    I told my 4-year-old to be herself when she was worried about starting pre-k. I know if she is herself, she will make friends and everyone will love her. I was right. I must remind myself sometimes too.

     

    Being a mom is about our own journey in motherhood.

    It shouldn’t be the same as another.

     

    I know I sometimes get snagged up in stressing over what I see everyone else doing as a mom. I worry regarding why I can’t be so perfect like them. I have to bring myself back down to earth and remember that I am a good mom already.

    As I know you are too. We may just need a little Mama Inspiration to get us thinking clearly again.

    The season we are in will not last long and before we know it this too shall pass. We have to find contentment where we are in Motherhood. Then develop a plan on the things we want to change in the way we parent.

     

     

    Try this Free Printable On Weekly Reflection for Mom.

     

     

    Weekly Reflection for Mom

     

    Just Sign Up for the Simply Happy Mama Newsletter to get it now!

    I know all moms go through the doubts of motherhood. But, we shouldn’t.

    The worrying if we are doing things right and if our kids are even listening when we talk. I WORRY ALL THE TIME.

    The truth is,  if we are trying to raise our children the way we feel is right and loving them with all we have there’s no way to go wrong.

     

    We just may need reassuring sometimes and someone to remind us that we are doing Motherhood right. 

    So here I am to remind YOU.

     

    Motherhood is a journey that is not meant to be the same for anyone.

    That’s the amazing part about it. We all are the mothers we are. 

    And that is ok.

    It is a risk to be seen as we are.

    A risk worth taking every day. 

     

     

    Read more on Mama Happiness

     

     

     

    Or take a look at these:

    Any tips for the worrying mama? I would love to hear some 🙂 

     

     

     

     


     

     

     

     

     

     

    Quality Time- Make it Count with Your Child!

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    Quality Time with our kids is probably one of every parent’s top priorities.

     I know it is mine.

     

    My kids ARE my LIFE. I have a job to teach and love them. And, I do NOT take it lightly. I try so hard to carve out Quality Time with each of them even though there is so much to be done.

     

     

    Quality Time

     

     

    In today’s busy world, work, household chores, and social activities all put a strain on time with our children. But as we all know, it’s important that we spend quality time together. It helps strengthen the bond between parent and child and lets our child know that we can be trusted and counted on.

    Children who spend quality time with their parents often do better in school and shine in extracurricular activities, hobbies or sports. And though it can be ‘scheduled’ to a degree, Quality Time is something that happens when you least expect it. So, it’s important that you do spend as much time as possible with your child in a relaxed way as often as you busy life allows.

    I know life is busy. I also know the need for more than 24 hours in each day for us moms but with a little creativity, I know you can come up with a plan. Prioritizing is the key.

     

     

    Here are some helpful suggestions on how to make the most of your time and find a quality time where you least expect it.

     

    • Look at your household chore list and decide which ones can be left undone or be done imperfectly in order to make more family time. You might also want to consider leaving certain things until after your child has gone to bed to make the most of your time together.

     

    • Turn some of your everyday routines into time together and make them count. Sing some favorite silly songs on the way to daycare, or make that drive to and from school a great opportunity to discuss what’s happening in your child’s life.

     

    • If you have more than one child, realize that each of them needs your individual attention. You may really have to juggle things around to make this happen, but try to be flexible and creative when spending time with each of your kids. And no matter what, don’t skip those individual times with each child. By doing so you show them they’re lower down on the priority list than the cleaning or the grocery shopping.

     

    • Children thrive on stability and routines, so plan your quality times so that they can take place regularly. Maybe you can walk the dog together on weekend morning, take a shopping excursion together, have a scheduled night each week for a sit-down dinner together, or make a trip to the park.

     

     

    Even though we all know chores, cooking, and cleaning have to be done in order to live without chaos we still have to make quality time for the little ones. It’s not just about having them fed, clean, and smart. Sometimes, it’s about the memories we make with them and the connection we have.

     

     

    Things I do with my Girls.

    • I like to make grocery shopping fun and include my girls in the process. It is a fun Mommy and Daughter adventure planning and shopping for things we will be cooking in the kitchen together.

     

    • I know my favorite time to really talk and listen to my children is on our 25-minute drive to school and home from school each day. It is a time when we have little distractions.

     

     

    You may also like:

    Why it is Important to LISTEN to your Child.

     

    So, sit down and think about how you want to intentionally make sure you have quality time with your little ones each day. It will make your heart happy!

     

    Here are some great books to check out.

     

     

     

     

    Weekly Reflection for Mom Printable!

     

     

    Weekly Reflection for Mom

     

    Grab Yours by signing up for the weekly Newsletter, Mama!