clarkandaldine

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  • TEACHING LIFE SKILLS TO YOUR LITTLES: MONEY

    TEACHING LIFE SKILLS TO YOUR LITTLES: MONEY

    Before I became a stay at home mom I taught just outside of Chicago for 8 years. I miss teaching dearly, but truly love being able to spend as much time as possible with my little dudes. With a teaching background I can’t help but incorporate my love for learning into our everyday life. One thing I often do is try to use everyday life skills. Money is one of those things! Believe it or not it is also a thing that many parents never introduce to their littles…and you it’s so easy! We all have piggy banks (or in our case, mason jars) and you know your little loves getting their hands on any money you’ve got. So let’s start young. Here are some super easy things you can do with money and coins to help your little learn some very important everyday life skills.

    Simple Ways to Teach Money

    Sort the money

    This is perfect for your early learner. E (who’s 3) loves to sort coins. I like to start with nickels when sorting mixed money. as they often get confused with quarters. We call them ‘chubby nickels’ since the sides of them are the thickest coin! Then, feel free to move on to any of the others. Our nicknames are ‘thin dime’, ‘HUGE quarter’ & ‘copper peppy’ and no I’m not that creative, I picked those up from teaching along the way!

    Make Patterns with the Money

    You can make all kinds of patterns with money, and making patterns is a pretty awesome skill. Do penny, nickel, dime, penny, nickel, dime, ect… or quarter, quarter, dime, quarter, quarter, dime. You get the point.

    Count Money

    Count the money…not by the amount, just count how many coins you’ve got. Or put them into groups and count them that way.

    Count Money by the Same Amount

    For older littles, have them actually count by like coins.  Count all the dimes by ten, nickels by five and quarters by 25…that’s a tricky one!

    Count Mixed Money

    Once they’ve really got it down add counting mixed money. Show them how to put all the same amount of money together and always count from the highest coin to the lowest.

    Create the Exact Amount

    give them an amount like 37 cents and have them make it for you.  You can even have them make it for you in three different ways!

    Give Change

    If you want to go crazy, have them make change. This can be tricky, but it’s oh so much fun once they’ve really got the hang of money.

    Money is such a great lifeskill to have. And trust me, your child’s teacher will thank you for this knowledge!

    much love-

    xoxo

    money

  • 3 WAYS TO BABY WEARING

    I’ve had lots of questions lately about baby wearing. What I like? Are they worth the investment? What’s the difference between the carriers? Let me start by saying I am by no means an expert on this topic. But, I do use my baby wearing carrier, wrap or sling every single day! With an active toddler and a newer little, this mama has to find ways to have both hands free to get anything done. I feel baby wearing helps continue to develop the bond between you and your child. Plus you are keeping them close and knowing where they are at at all times, extra bonus there! A study in Pediatrics found that wearing your infant 3 hours a day reduces infant crying by 43%!  And you can breast feed in two of these carriers. Yes, it takes a little practice but you can totally do it mama. The list of studies goes on and on of why baby wearing is where it’s at. So let’s talk about the 3 types I currently have: baby carrier, wrap & sling. I personally feel all three of these serve a purpose in our lifestyle and couldn’t imagine not having each one.

    baby carrier

    We have the baby bjorn and have been very happy with our purchase. The one we have is from when E was born, and at the time it was their top of the line carrier. I love how easy it is to put on, and the additional back support you get from it. And the boys can face outwards once they have head control. The newer baby bjorns have a built in hip healthy carrying system that I secretly want to get! M likes to wear this one too! He finds it easy to get Z in and out on his own and he can still play with E.

    wrap

    I own both the mopy and solly baby wrap. At first the wrap was very intimidating, because how on earth was I going to figure out how to wrap my new baby and make sure he was actually safe? Thank you YouTube! Gotta love the home personal training sessions you can search on there. I love wrapping my boys when they are fussy or just need to be held. I always feel like the wrap keeps them close and calm. Sometimes it takes them a few minutes to adjust to the wrap but they always settle in. When I’m going out I need to plan ahead to use the wrap because I personally don’t love wrapping when I’m out and about. The wrap is so long that it’s difficult for me to wrap without the fabric being on the floor. Like I said before there are lots of different ways you can wrap your babe and YouTube is a wonderful resource to find them. That is where I found the breastfeeding in the wrap tips and tricks! Between the two wraps I own I am much happier with my solly baby wrap. I love how light weight the fabric is, making it easy to wear all day without feeling like I am going to overheat. Plus you can layer sweatshirts, sweaters or even plaid shirts over the wrap and you seriously can’t even tell you’ve got it on underneath. The wrap fabric is much thicker making it harder to wrap with and making this mama very hot. Although I used the mopy wrap religiously with E I haven’t even taken it out of the box for Z. The plus with the mopy wrap is you can pick it up in almost any baby store and you can hip carry, which I might just get it out for. The solly baby you have to order online and you can only wear your little in the front.

    sling

    This is my newest addition to baby wearing and I so wish I had this one sooner! I absolutely love how easy and quick the sling is, not to mention the fabric on my sling is linen. Talk about light weight. I use my sling for in the moment wearing. When I realize I need to have both hands and someone needs to be held. It is easy to put on in the moment without having to worry about the fabric touching the ground. Since the weight limit is 35 pounds I can actually still hold E in the sling. I love that the sling can be worn on my hip, in front & on my back! Plus M wears this one.  There is just something about a guy wearing a baby that gets me every time!

    You can’t go wrong with baby wearing!  Again, I personally recommend any of these for parents out there. Do you guys have favorite baby wearing products?  I’d love to hear about them too! Baby wearing is definitely my jam!

    much love-

    danielle

    xoxo

  • PARENTING AT NIGHT

    PARENTING AT NIGHT

    This seems to be a topic everyone wants to talk about when they have a baby in a crib…yet once that little one changes to a big bed the talking stops. So let’s do it!  Let’s talk about what happens once you’ve got sleeping down and you go and make a change. Well in our house here’s what happens…E can get up!  And get up is exactly what he likes to do.  As we’ve worked
    through the bed time routine of getting up 20 times before actually falling asleep, we are still waking up sometimes in the middle of the night.

    M and I feel strongly that our job as parents is to make sure our boys feel safe. For us that means they’ve got to feel safe even in the middle of the night when we are tired and want to sleep too. So, while we continue to work through the middle of the night wake-ups we are working together at parenting during the night. Here are a few tips that work best for us.

    1. Stay calm. Even when your little won’t stop crying or is laying on the floor refusing to get into bed. Getting upset only makes the situation worse.
    2. Cuddles. Nighttime cuddles do wonders. At our house we call it getting into the nook! There is just something soothing about feeling mama or dada close by to help put your little back to sleep.
    3. Sleep. Night time is for sleeping. So, however that’s going to happen that night, make it happen. We are all better parents when we’ve got sleep.

    much love & extra sleep,

    danielle

    xoxo

  • 9 WAYS TO A HAPPIER, LESS STRESSED MAMA

    9 WAYS TO A HAPPIER, LESS STRESSED MAMA

    Prior to becoming a mama I thought I worried…haha! Looking back I literally didn’t know what worrying looked like till you had your heart living outside your body! On top of worrying more I am also finding myself spread thinner and thinner than ever before. I want to do everything for everyone in my family…can you relate to me? Here’s a small list I have found to personally make me a happier and some what less stressed mama!

    Get up early.

    Yes, I mean before you have to start to get ready. Giving yourself some “you time” first thing in the morning before the craziness of the day starts helps to mentally prepare you for the task ahead! You might even get to enjoy one cup of coffee that you don’t have to reheat!

    Make me time.

    You read that right. Make time for you. I can promise you I am awful at this. I am still working on making me time.  But I’ve found going to yoga two days a week and even getting my nails done counts for me time. Now just working in magazine time, wine and girlfriends to the mix and this mama’s one happy lady! Oh, and shopping, I always can use more alone shopping time…even just to target (insert monkey covering eyes emoji)!

    Stay calm.

    I know how hard it is to stay calm in the heat of situations with toddlers. But honestly, does getting upset really help the situation? For us it never does. I only find myself more upset and less productive. Remaining calm helps every situation, especially my blood pressure!

    Unplug.

    Put down the phone! I know that sounds like a no brainer, right? But sometimes we all know when you’ve got to plug your phone in before 2:30 you’re not “adulting” right!

    Get down to their level.

    Yes, literally get down at their level and play. Plus, trying to think like your little, I know it sounds a little strange, but it really helps! I think when I am thinking like them I’m truly able to accomplish so much more!

    Stop judging.

    Really, you’ve got to stop judging other parents. We all know we’ve had a bad moment in parenting. We can only hope that bad moment is not in public. You never know what others have going on in their life.

    Stop comparing.

    Your little is your little, and they aren’t going to be able to do all of the things the next little can do. So don’t size them up! Let them develop and encourage them along the way, it’s ok if your little can’t do it all…neither can you! And Please STOP COMPARING YOURSELF! We are all doing our best. You are doing a great job.

    Encourage other mamas.

    We are here to support each other. I love the saying “it takes a village”. Working with other mamas only helps to build each other up in the most challenging task we’ve ever set out to tackle.

    Slow down.

    Cuddle them. Hold them. Stop and play with them. They are only little for so long. I know I’m going to miss this time when my dudes are bigger. Trying my best every day to live in the now and just slow down.

    Alright mamas, these are my 9 best tips for the moment. Now, if I can just stick to listening to them too we can all be happier, less stressed mamas together. Have any more tips? I’d love to hear those too!

    Happy Monday!

    much love-

    danielle

    xoxo

  • EASY TRAVEL PACKING TIPS YOU NEED TO KNOW

    EASY TRAVEL PACKING TIPS YOU NEED TO KNOW

    Packing…UGH! The thought of packing gives me anxiety. Maybe some of you are way better than this mama, and I’ll gladly accept any tips for it. For our crew I’ve found packing early and planning for everything works best. By all I mean the boys and me. M packs himself, you know white tees and the outfit he wore yesterday…just kidding M, kinda!

    Ok but for real let’s get back to packing for kids.  

    1. pre-plan outfits. You guys, this is seriously going to save your life. 
    2. pack extras. I always try to pack extra tops for my boys for every day we are gone. We all know kids are messy and we need to be prepared. Most days I pack a full outfit extra for Z, unless I know there is going to be a washer and dyer that we will be using.
    3. zip lock bags. Ok, I know this sounds weird but it has been life changing. Pack all outfits in zip lock bags. This way you can just pull them out without destroying your whole suitcase. I pack all extras in individual bags too but with E and Z together. Then I can just grab this for my bag when we are out and about.

    happy packing!

    much love-

    danielle

    xoxo

  • POTTY TRAINING

    POTTY TRAINING

    Anyone who has a little one has got to do this. As with almost all things in parenting EVERYONE has an opinion on it.  When you should do it, how long it should take, how you should potty train…I swear when we started to think about potty training E my head was spinning. Ok, not literally but I tried to take in all of the information I could gather from everyone I talked to, and trust me, it was A LOT! So I figured why not share my experience with you guys and talk about what worked and didn’t work for E. I put it in a list format since I just love list so much!  

    1. Timing is everything. If your little isn’t ready to potty train it’s not worth the pain & wet pants (or even worse, poopy ones!).
    2. Watch your little’s behavior. Sometimes it can be difficult to know when your little is ready to potty train. Not every little is going to just come out and say, “I want to use the potty”. My best advice is to see how they react to going to the bathroom. Does your little want their diaper changed as soon as they have gone?  Does you little go to a private area to poop? Is your little not going poop because they don’t like the feel? These are all good signs that your little might be ready.
    3. Create a plan. In order to be successful you need to know how you are going to tackle this time in you life. Are you going to time between potty times? Are you going to reward? Are you going to track how many times your little has gone? These are just a few things you need to think about.
    4. Be consistent. Yes, consistency is the key when it comes to potty training so make sure you and your partner are on the same page.
    5. Stay calm. I feel like this is an reoccurring theme in parenting. But seriously, you can’t get mad when your little makes a mess. This is a learning process and the last thing you want is for your little to develop a fear or anxiety over going to the bathroom. It takes time.
    6. Celebrate. Even the little things. The first time your little goes on the potty…celebrate it!  When they poop, celebrate! When they actually tell you they need to go to the bathroom, celebrate! You get it…celebrate every accomplishment with your little.

    Wishing you the best of luck. I’d love to hear from you guys. Do you have other strategies that work with your little?  

    Happy Monday!

    much love-

    danielle

    xoxo

  • SPRING BOMBER JACKET

    SPRING BOMBER JACKET

    When I look in my closet it is full of solid colored shirts, jackets, button-downs and a few striped tops.  As I started my spring cleaning and reorganization of my clothing I found I was true to myself with keeping color combinations that last the tell of time. Neutrals. I love them and can’t seem to get enough. And when paired with black you are guaranteed a classic timeless look.  This spring is here in the midwest so you’ve got to be good with your layering. Moto jackets are popping up everywhere. They are perfect to throw over just about any outfit and help create a warmer and polished look.

    Essential Spring Bomber Jacket

    happy hump day!

    much love-

    danielle

    xoxo

  • SECRETS TO BREASTFEEDING IN PUBLIC

    Your baby starts to cry, you’re out and about, you try everything you can think of to help your little out, knowing ultimately that your little is just plain out starving.  Your heart starts pounding, you didn’t bring a bottle and you’ve got to breastfeed in public! We’ve all been there before right…it can’t be just me. I swear when I had E the thought of breastfeeding when outside the comforts of my own home made my palms sweat! I was a nervous reck.  How would I make it happen?  Could I just whip out my boob? Are people going to stare?  These were all pretty common thoughts I had every time I found myself needing to feed in public.

    As I became more comfortable breastfeeding at home nursing in public got a lot easier. With my second little now five months old, and a little toddler running around alongside, nursing in public happens more regularly than not. I thought I’d put together a few secrets I have to make nursing in public a whole lot easier.

    1. Dress for success: nursing friendly tops are the key. There are many great options out there from real nursing tops to just button downs. This makes getting yourself ready to feed easier.

    2. Tank tops or camis: let’s be honest, nursing tops are expensive and wearing a button down everyday, especially with warm weather, just isn’t always an option. Wearing a tank or cami under your shirt is the perfect way to lift up without showing your whole belly.  I like ones that I can just pull down the top of the shirt and unlatch my bra.

    3. Nursing bras: yes this just makes your life easier.

    4. Scarf: looking for a little extra coverage? Grab a light weight scarf…it’s all you need. Just throw it over your shoulder and your little’s head is covered as they feed. This is also useful for the super distracted feeder!

    5. Use your shirt: if you’re layering shirts with a tank it is easy to keep the top shirt over your boob to prevent from showing the world your nipple!

    6. Stay calm: you’ve done this a million times at home. Breastfeeding is completely normal, and the calmer you are the easier it is on you and your babe!

    7. Ignore and smile: I’ve found it’s best to ignore what other people around you are doing as you try to start nursing. Aim your focus on making sure your little is attaching and getting the food they need. Once you’re all set up feel free to make eye contact with others around you and just smile.

    Hoping all you mamas out there find as much success to breastfeeding in public as I have.

    much love-

    danielle

    xoxo

  • PAW PATROL PARTY

    Themed parties have a special place in my heart.  I’m can be a little crazy when it comes to planning, but a themed party makes my planning brain oh so happy!  I love finding ways to make food coordinate with the theme and the little details with the decorations.  This year E has been all about paw patrol, and yes I know the whole theme song!

    I started with food. Everyone knows food makes a party and E loves loves loves pizza so ‘pupperoni pizza’ was where I started.  Our menu consisted of chew sticks, antipawsto salad, pupcorn, fetch, pawtato chips, pupcakes & of course a dog bone cake!  For decorations I bought balloons that were light blue & paw print.  Then to add to that we cut out 3’s in paw patrol colors to tie to the bottom of the balloons.  I also bought a paw print stamp for added details.  The party hats we added 3’s with paw prints.

    To make the ‘pupcakes’ I cut a large marshmallow in half for the center of the paw then added 3 smaller marshmallows for the top. The bone cake is made of 3 cakes.  The center I made a chocolate cake using a bunt cake.  The sides of the bones are two circle vanilla cakes, but we shaped the circles to look like an end of a bone.  I frosted the cake to make it look like one cake!  We topped the cake with m&m’s to make the number 3!

    No job is too big, no pup is too small! Paw patrol, we’re on a roll!  So here we go…\PAW PATROL!

    much love-

    danielle

    xoxo

  • ALL FAMILY EVERYTHING

    ALL FAMILY EVERYTHING

    As it starts to finally feel like Spring here I can’t help but celebrate!  But of course, like any midwest state, Spring can be tricky. One day it’s in the 60s and the next we’re back in the 40s.  Lucky for me we carry our life with us as we travel out for the day!  Ok…maybe not our whole life but it sure feels like it when I’m leaving the house with two boys and all their necessities.  In my bag I always carry layers and my favorite thing to add to layers have been these Portelli Brand beanies!  They are light weight yet still provide enough warmth for this Spring-like weather.

    Portelli Brand is all family everything, which I absolutely love!  I am excited to share that I will be giving away a beanie from the latest Portelli Brand collection!  To enter, subscribe to my newsletter below or check out my post on Instagram featuring Portelli Brand for an additional way to enter.  The winner will be announced on Friday, March 18, 2016.

    much love-

    danielle

    xoxo