Author: Patricia

We are now about five months into pandemic life and it has been full of ups and downs in our house. We have finally started getting a hang of what could be our new normal for a long time. I wrote a post in April about things my family wanted to do once things started getting back to normal. Today, I want to share a little bit about what our life is currently like and decisions we’ve made to keep safe!

Travel

We will not be going to our October 2020 trip to Walt Disney World. We decided that between the quickly raising number of cases in Flordia and the changes to the parks, it just wasn’t worth it. We are aiming to visit in the spring! Our totally random road trip is happening within the next few weeks! You’ll want to subscribe to our YouTube channel to follow our journey. We will only be gone 4 days, but it will definitely be interesting! We have ventured out of the house to three local zoos, two drive through animal parks, and a walk through animal park.

School

My toddler will not be going back to pre-school. Last October, she joined the preschool class at the daycare we had enrolled her in a few months before. She loved it. I am really sad that she will not be going this year. It just is not the right choice for our family this year. We will be learning at home instead for now.

Family Time

We have started to see family again! We have gone to a few small outdoor family gatherings. We have not gotten together with friends yet but hope to at some point. We will likely go back to seeing less family once the weather gets cold and we can’t be outside, but it has been nice to get out of the house a little bit!

I’d love to hear from you! How are you adjusting to your new normal?

Summer will be over before we know it! Pineapple is a wonderful fruit all year round, but I think it just tastes like summer! Today, I want to share a variety of recipes that you can make with pineapple!

Pineapple Moscow Mules

Pineapple Whoopie Pies

Grilled Pineapple Rum Glazed Chicken Breasts

Air Fryer Dehydrated Pineapple

Celery Pineapple Smoothie

Classic Pineapple Crisp

Slow Cooker Macadamia Pineapple Chicken

Pineapple Cheesecake Dip with Toffee Pretzel Pieces

Pineapple Coconut Cream Pie

Piña Colada Macadamia Cookie Bars

Pineapple Sorbet

BBQ Pineapple Shrimp

Grilled Pineapple and Red Onion Salsa

Grilled Teriyaki Pork Kebabs

Instant Pot Pineapple Pork Chops

Pineapple Coconut Muffins

Kale Pineapple Smoothie

Pineapple Ice Cream

I hope you enjoy these pineapple recipes! I’d love to hear from you! What is your favorite pineapple recipe.

Choosing a daycare center can be a difficult task. Today, I want to share some tips to help you find a quality daycare center!

Education and training matters!

Look for a facility with a director who is highly educated and has experience in early childhood education. You may be able to find this information on the center’s website, but you’ll also want to add this to the list of things you want to ask about when you take a tour! The classroom staff should also be knowledgeable.

Interview Multiple Centers

Start by calling or emailing each center you are interested in. This way, you can make sure the hours and curriculum meet you and your child’s needs before you do an in person visit. When you do visit, make sure you bring a list of any other questions you have. If you make an appointment to visit, try to stop in one other time unannounced. If a center does not allow unscheduled visits of any kind, that may be a sign that it isn’t somewhere you’d want to leave your child. You will also want to watch how the staff interacts with the children and take a look to make sure the classrooms are well organized and safe!

Carefully Read Through All Of the Paperwork You Are Given

When you are ready to commit to a daycare, you will be given a giant stack of paperwork. You should find the daycare’s policies in with forms that need filled out. You will likely have to sign that you have read these policies. Do not just skim through this information! You will want to make sure that you are on the same page as the daycare on topics such as discipline and safety procedures. If once you read this information you decide that center is not for you, do not be afraid to find another center!

Trust Your Gut

You know your child’s needs better than anyone else! If something doesn’t feel quite right, move onto the next center on your list! You may not like a center everyone in town raves about and there is nothing wrong with that!

I hope these tips can make the process of finding a daycare center less stressful! If you already have a center you love for your children, I’d love if you shared how you picked it!

It is hot out! Today, I want to share ten refreshing adult beverages that are perfect for summer evenings!

Long Island Iced Tea

4-Ingredient Orange Julius Cocktail

Frozen Watermelon Daiquiri

Fresh Blackberry and Lemon Cocktail

Blackberry Margaritas

Frosé ( frozen rose wine )

Coconut Bellini

Spiked Peach Iced Tea

Pear and Elderflower Martini

Strawberry Guava Hard Seltzer

I’d love to hear from you! What is your favorite summer adult beverage?

Nothing is more refreshing on a hot summer day than ice cream! Did you know that you can easily make your own ice cream at home? Today, we are sharing some great recipes!

Sugar-Free 0 Point Weight Watchers Chocolate Banana Ice Cream

Pineapple Upside Down Cake Ice Cream

Homemade Ice Cream Sandwich

Coke and Salted Peanut No Churn Ice Cream 

Red, White, and Blue Ice Cream

Kool Aid Ice Cream

Peaches ‘N Cream Ice Cream

Probiotic Apple Pie Ice Cream

Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream

Football Oreo Ice Cream Sandwiches

We’d love to here from you! What is your favorite ice cream flavor? Have you ever made ice cream at home before?