August 2014 – Tiny Oranges | OC Mom Blog | Inspiring moms with juicy ideas for sweeter family living

Keeping it Simple with Kid Activities

This summer I have been making sure my kids are active, busy, learning, and social. We’ve happily done park playdates, beach time, school camps, family vacations, arts and crafts, science experiments…and on and on. Guess what? As much as my kids are enjoying these planned activities, I realized that sometimes the simplest games are often the most popular. Go figure! Here are my easy activity ideas for kids.

I was just talking about this in one of my mom’s groups. Sometimes, getting back to the “basics” can bring the most joy. Here are some of the favorites in my home…

#DailyChargeChallenge: Crowdsourcing Ideas

Last week I wrote about ways to keep your sanity during the back-to-school madness as I tend to get a ~~tad~~ okay, a lot, stressed when school starts. New classrooms, schedule, drop offs, pick ups, packed snacks and lunches, oh my. I am already tired just thinking about it.

This time of year can also be stressful for our kids as they get used to a new routine, wake-up time, classroom, and friends. Usually my kids are an over-tired mess the first month as they get into their groove. The last thing they need is an over-tired, frazzled mom to come home to, which is what inspired the idea behind the #DailyChargeChallenge.

When moms get busy, the first thing to go out the window is self-care, as we run every which way doing a million and one things. Wouldn’t it be nice this September if we focused a very small amount of time each day to do something that recharges the battery? A recharged battery = happier mommy = happier family.

Join the #DailyChargeChallenge!

I am recruiting moms (and dads!) to participate in a #DailyChargeChallenge, which will begin September 1st and last for 30 days….

Little Girl Drama

I have two girls, ages 5 and 8, so I have been around lots of girls their ages since my first was born. Lots and lots of girls.

Starting in preschool and continuing into the 2nd grade, there is one unkind sentence girls tend to throw around ALL the time when they get frustrated or mad.

Most of the time, little girls use it as a ploy to get their way when playing with a friend, not to be outright unkind or mean.

But I have witnessed many tears and hurt feelings of the little girls who are the recipients of this sentence. It’s hurtful, and just like teaching kids not to hit or bite, teaching kids to be kind is equally important.

Can you guess what it is?

Last Week of Summer Sandwich Special!

Disclosure: My family will receive a complimentary Last Week of Summer Sandwich Special to enjoy a beach picnic this week. Thank you Sessions! Follow me on Instagram, Twitter and FB for photos.

Sessions Sandwiches Newport Beach is giving locals the chance to celebrate the last week of summer with a special basket ready to take to the beach for a family picnic.

From August 25th through August 29th, Sessions West Coast Deli will offer a “Last Week of Summer Sandwich Special” beach picnic basket for $35 (a retail value $75), to serve four people.

The Sessions Sandwiches beach picnic basket features fans’ favorites including:

WAKE UP! It’s a School Day!

Disclosure: I am a Serta brand ambassador and I m compensated for my time and participation in the program. I have also received complimentary products for review.
All opinions are my own.

Many kids in this area are going to back to school after Labor Day, so I wanted to share some back-to-school sleep tips for kids to hopefully create brighter mornings when school starts.

From my work the past three and a half years with Serta, I have had the opportunity to experience firsthand the difference a good night’s sleep makes when sleeping on a quality, supportive mattress like the iComfort. Serta’s Perfect Sleeper mattress is the official mattress of the National Sleep Foundation – a great resource site for all sleep topics.

Getting enough sleep is essential for a child’s health and well-being, especially during the school year so they can be alert and able to learn.

Summer inevitably brings later bedtimes for the kiddos. With lighter, later nights, fun activities and vacations, parents tend to relax a little on bedtime, especially if they can sleep in the next morning.

But when summer vacation comes to an end, it’s often a rude wake up call for kids to wake up early.

Here are some of my personal tips I have learned through my 8 years of parenting combined with expert advice on back-to-school sleep tips for kids from the National Sleep Foundation.