Nanny to Mommy

This is a sponsored post for Review Wire Media on behalf of CocoaVia™.

I personally never considered myself a supplements person. I thought, "I can just get everything I need from food". But honestly? It is really hard to get everything you need, daily to help your body perform at its best just by food alone. Though I do believe a well balanced diet and regular exercise routine are key, I have been looking into different supplements.

Recently, I was introduced to CocoaVia™. CocoaVia™ is a plant-based, daily cocoa extract supplement that delivers 450 mg of cocoa flavanols in every serving and has been clinically proven in numerous scientific studies to improve heart and brain health by increasing blood flow and pushing nutrients throughout the body. The flavanols in CocoaVia™ ensures that your entire brain remains nourished and can perform at its best, every single day. Their product has been used in over a dozen peer-reviewed scientific papers and is backed by 20 years of scientific research. I have been adding their Unsweetened Dark Chocolate Cocoa Flavanol Drink Mix to my daily cup of coffee. I love that I can just add supplements to something I plan to consume anyways. It gives my coffee a mocha taste which I am loving!

My first thought when I heard that they were closing schools was, "How are those children that get free lunch going to eat?" Thankfully, my school district is still passing out lunches. I would still go and deliver peanut butter and jelly sandwiches if that is what needed to be done. My next thought was, "How are we going to educate our children?" My son gets IEP and so this was a major concern whether he was going to get behind or not. Thankfully I have resources like ABCmouse and RevolutionMath, but not everyone is so lucky.

I came across this list from Amazing Educational Resources Facebook Group so I thought I would share here as well so more people can find it. I do encourage you to follow that group for more. Just click on each link below to find out how to access their free program.

If you are looking for a green shirt (or hat, socks, etc.) to wear for St. Patrick's Day and you are coming up short (and no one wants to get pinched), then you can make a relatively inexpensive one with most things that you probably already have on hand with this fun Tie Dye shirt tutorial! Tie Dye is becoming popular again, just like so many trends from past generations, and this is a fun activity for the kids to get involved in too! St. Patrick's Day is a great day to teach and celebrate Irish culture.

My daughter was so excited when I told her we were going to tie dye shirts that she would NOT let me forget! She kept asking "when is St. Patrick's Day?". And when I let her know that St. Patrick's Day is March 17th, she made it very clear that she was counting down the days. She is a hoot! So here is what we did for our tie dye shirts. We went with a spiral because I think it looks the coolest, but there are easier designs as well as some more complicated ones if you do a little search, like maybe "Tie Dye Shamrock". This Tie Dye Tutorial uses vinegar and food coloring which can be a safer alternative if you want to include your kiddos in on this activity. These ingredients are usually found around the house in a pinch, but remember that your colors may not be as vibrant as using fabric dyes.

So, you have just walked through the door with your new four-legged friend, and within minutes, he has peed on the couch, stolen the socks and is running around the garden with your favorite underwear. While you know you are going to adore your new pup, you are probably very quickly realizing that bringing a new dog home is not easy, and you have to both be eased into the process.

Whether you have adopted the staff’s favorite dog from the animal shelter or chosen the one with those cheeky eyes from a litter of Black Lab Puppies, your new dog will come with a personality. It will have thoughts, opinions, emotions, habits and quirks that probably did not cross your mind amid the joy and ruckus when choosing your new furry companion.

However, with a bit of prior preparation and work, bringing a new dog into the fold can be a smooth and stress-free experience for all involved.

If you are expecting a baby or planning to have a baby in the near future, then being prepared for what pregnancy will be like, and being prepared to have a healthy and happy pregnancy can go a long way too. After all, you are growing a human and it can take its toll on you. So here are a few things to think about and to plan for.