10 Tips for Raising a Healthy Happy Eater

By sunshineandholly on August 8, 2018

My kids are (thankfully) pretty good eaters. My son, in particular, loves trying new foods! He likes kale, spinach, sushi, raw oysters, quinoa, and lots of other foods that typically aren’t considered “kid-friendly.” Any time I post pictures or videos of my kids eating different kinds of food, other moms will ask, “What did you do to get your kids to try new foods? My kids won’t eat anything!”

The truth?

I got lucky. I don’t really think it was anything I actually did. My husband and I both love food. In fact, I have a really hard time thinking of foods I don’t like! Maybe our kids have a genetic predisposition to love food like we do? Ha!

But looking back, I guess there are a few things I did over the years to get my kids to try new, healthy foods.

10 Tips for Raising a Healthy Happy Eater

1. We (usually) sit down as a family to eat.

Confession time – I really don’t enjoy eating with my kids. They’re messy, loud, don’t stay seated, and tend to ask me for a million things (usually right after I sit down). Mealtime together as a family isn’t exactly relaxing. But I know how important it is to eat together as much as possible. Family meals strengthen relationships, build self-esteem, instill a sense of belonging, and are great opportunities for parents to set examples of healthy eating.

Leave a comment

4 Nut and Dairy Free Ideas for School Lunch

By sunshineandholly on July 20, 2018

This post may contain affiliate links. Purchasing through them helps support this website. (Click on the pictures to shop the links.)

Disclaimer: I was provided with free product from Stuck on You in return for my honest review. All thoughts an opinions are my own.

I know we’re still deep in the thick of summer, especially those of us here in the south where the temperature is way above “glistening” and on to full “sweating.” But back-to-school time will be here before we know it! My son is starting Kindergarten this year and I’m so excited for him. He’s going to an amazing charter school with a wonderful community of teachers and parents. We’ve already had a couple of play-dates and a family picnic this summer to get to know people.

His new school is nut-free, and we’ve also cut out almost all dairy from our diet. So school lunches have been on my brain. My son eats a peanut butter and jelly sandwich almost every single day. (In fact, when he was 2, his teacher at preschool told me he cried that day during lunch when he saw he had a ham sandwich instead of peanut butter!) Needless to say, I’ve been preparing him so that he’ll know he won’t get to have his beloved pb&j at school anymore, but he can have it at home! And I’ve been wracking my brain trying to think of healthy, filling school lunches that don’t include dairy or nuts.

Here are a few ideas I’ve come up with so far:

4 Nut and Dairy Free Ideas for School Lunch

Mediterranean favors fill this lunch box. My kids love hummus almost as much as I do, so I know this lunch will be a hit.

Leave a comment

family | motherhood | parenting

Natural Constipation Remedies for Children

By sunshineandholly on July 9, 2018

This post may contain affiliate links. Purchasing through them helps support this website. (Click on the pictures to shop the links.)

I am not a doctor or medical professional. Please speak to your pediatrician if your child is suffering from constipation.

When I decided to have kids, I had no idea that I was going to become an expert on so many topics. When my son was 2, I knew every type of construction vehicle: dump trucks, backhoes, excavators, bulldozers, I knew them all! Before kids, I was already pretty proficient in Disney movie song lyrics, but now that I’ve watched all the movies 1.6 million times each with my children, I’m at an expert level. Quiz me – I’ve memorized them all!

Another topic I never really expected to specialize in was constipation remedies for kids. But here I am, a wealth of knowledge about how to get your little sh**s to take a sh**.

Constipated kids are tough. They don’t feel well so they don’t act well. We’ve all been constipated at some point in our lives, and we know how uncomfortable it can be. Cronic constipation in kids can cause them to associate going to the bathroom with pain, which will make them avoid going, and then they end up even MORE constipated. It’s a cruel cycle and no mom wants to watch her child suffer like that.

The first (and sometimes only) thing pediatricians will recommend for kids who are constipated is Miralax. Please, please, please do your research before giving your child this drug. A simple Google search of “Miralax Aggression” will pull up a ton of articles you can read before making a decision about giving Miralax to your child. I won’t go into detail about our family’s personal experience with this drug, because I’m not comfortable sharing some personal information about my children here on the blog for all the world to see. But know that I will never give Miralax to my kids ever again.

It’s a shame that it’s so quickly prescribed to children because there are so many other things parents can try. Here’s a list of things we have tried that have worked for our family:

Natural Constipation Remedies for Children

Things we’re currently using/doing:

Aloe Juice

My son loves aloe juice! He calls the tiny pieces of aloe “aloe jello.” He has a cup or two a day.

Leave a comment

Packing for the Pool: 10 Pool Essentials and Tips for Taking Kids to the Pool

By sunshineandholly on May 25, 2018

This post may contain affiliate links. Purchasing through them helps support this website. (Click on the pictures to shop the links.)

We love spending time at our neighborhood pool during the summer. There’s nothing like sunshine and water to wear your kiddos out! (And to be totally honest, sometimes I even need a nap after spending some time at the pool!)

We’ve been members of our neighborhood pool for 3 years now and I’ve finally got a good system down for getting out the door and to the pool quickly and efficiently. The first summer, my kids were still little, and getting ready for the pool seemed like more work than it was worth! But now that they’re 3 and 5, we’re finally at a point where we can grab our bag, towels, a few snacks, and head to the pool for some fun in the sun!

Here’s a list of the things that I always keep on hand during the summer to make getting ready to go to the pool easy-breezy.

Pool Essentials for Preschoolers

1. A Big-A** Bag

I hate having multiple bags to bring to the pool. It ends up being way too much to carry. I have one huge bag that I throw everything in when we’re headed to the pool. My bag is a Lands’ End extra large canvas tote bag, but there are some great options on Amazon!

Leave a comment

Tips for Taking Kids to the Atlanta Botanical Garden

By sunshineandholly on May 1, 2018

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc., Clorox, and Flonase. All opinions are mine alone. #AllergyFreeAdventures #CollectiveBias

Tips for Taking Kids to the Atlanta Botanical Garden | sunshineandholly.com | family fun | travel | spring activities

One of my favorite places to visit here in Atlanta is the Atlanta Botanical Garden. We just bought an annual membership, and I’m thrilled we can visit as many times as we want throughout the year! But the best time has to be in the spring when all of the flowers are blooming. My kids and I love wandering around and checking out all of the beautiful, fragrant flowers. We always stop by the children’s garden to check out what’s growing and then end our trip spending some time in the active play area.

Tips for Taking Kids to the Atlanta Botanical Garden | sunshineandholly.com | family fun | travel | spring activities

Are you planning a trip to the Atlanta Botanical Garden? Check out my tips below!

Tips for Taking Kids to the Atlanta Botanical Garden

Check the Calendar

The Botanical Garden is typically closed on Mondays, so make sure to be aware of that before you plan your trip. Check the calendar before you go to see what events or kid’s programs are going on the day of your visit.

Tips for Taking Kids to the Atlanta Botanical Garden | sunshineandholly.com | family fun | travel | spring activities

Plan Your Itinerary

The Atlanta Botanical Garden website has some awesome downloadable itineraries you can print out and bring with you. Check out the itinerary titled “visit with kids” to get some ideas of what to do during your time at the garden.

Tips for Taking Kids to the Atlanta Botanical Garden | sunshineandholly.com | family fun | travel | spring activities

Pack a Lunch

There are 2 locations at the Botanical Garden to grab a quick bite to eat, as well as a full-service sit-down restaurant called Longleaf. But when you’re bringing kids to the garden, I think it’s best to just bring a lunch. That way, you’ll have it with you and ready when your kids decide they’re hungry. Just find a shaded spot to sit and have a picnic!

Tips for Taking Kids to the Atlanta Botanical Garden | sunshineandholly.com | family fun | travel | spring activities

We were so bummed that the Earth Goddess was undergoing renovations to replace her soil and plants. Scroll down further to see a photo of what she usually looks like!

Tips for Taking Kids to the Atlanta Botanical Garden | sunshineandholly.com | family fun | travel | spring activities

Bring a Swimsuit for the Kids

The Botanical Garden has a great splash pad during the warmer months. Make sure to throw a swimsuit and towel in your bag, as well as some sunscreen so your kiddos can splash and play!

Tips for Taking Kids to the Atlanta Botanical Garden | sunshineandholly.com | family fun | travel | spring activities

Be Prepared for Pollen

If you live here in Georgia, you’ll know to expect a good month or so of extreme pollen each spring. Everything will be covered in yellow – our cars, the mailbox, the doorknobs – it’s all sporting a fresh coat of bright yellow pollen! We hate having our outdoor plans cut short by sneezing, runny noses, and itchy eyes. Luckily, I’ve been purchasing Flonase and Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes from Kroger for years and use them both to keep allergies at bay!

Tips for Taking Kids to the Atlanta Botanical Garden | sunshineandholly.com | family fun | travel | spring activities

Once-daily Flonase nasal spray products are proven to offer 24-hour relief from both nose and eye-related allergy symptoms. So it’s the perfect product to use before a trip to the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Flonase products are both non-addictive and non-drowsy, so you’ll still have plenty of energy to chase your kids around!

Tips for Taking Kids to the Atlanta Botanical Garden | sunshineandholly.com | family fun | travel | spring activities

Consider bringing along some Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes, too. They’re perfect for cleaning up surfaces after your visit and will wipe away 99.9% of the most common allergens*. I love to keep some in my car to wipe down the stroller, my phone, my bag, my sunglasses, and anything else that might be covered in pollen after our day of family fun. Click here to learn more about allergy solutions for spring and to take advantage of some great savings. Don’t let seasonal allergies ruin your outdoor family adventures!

Tips for Taking Kids to the Atlanta Botanical Garden | sunshineandholly.com | family fun | travel | spring activities

So pack your bag, grab your camera, and take your kiddos to the Atlanta Botanical Garden this spring for a day of family fun in the sun!

Tips for Taking Kids to the Atlanta Botanical Garden | sunshineandholly.com | family fun | travel | spring activities

*Use Clorox® Disinfecting products as directed for removal of non-living allergens like pet dander, dust mite matter and pest matter on hard nonporous surfaces in your home. Keep out of reach of children.

Leave a comment