Kids Helping Kids! Our Virtual LemonAiD Stand with The Salvation Army
Last year my son and I hosted our first LemonAID stand at Easton Town Center. It was a beautiful day, full of sunshine and cold refreshing lemonade. This year our LemonAID stand, in support of the Salvation Army, will be virtual so we can all stay safe and keep our neighbors safe as well.
Last year my son and I hosted our first LemonAID stand at Easton Town Center. It was a beautiful day, full of sunshine and cold refreshing lemonade. This year our LemonAID stand, in support of the Salvation Army, will be virtual so we can all stay safe and keep our neighbors safe as well.
I know that we are not the only family who are trying to find ways to stay safe and give back to our community this summer so I thought I would share more about how you can get involved with your own LemonAiD stand.
The Salvation Army launched the LemonAiD program in 2016 to give kids the opportunity to give back to other kids. While typically kids would host a lemonade stand or two and donate the money to The Salvation Army, this year it’s all virtual due to COVID-19 to respect social distancing. 100% of the funds donated to the LemonAID stand go directly to provide food and programs that help lift children out of poverty and homelessness.
The Salvation Army served 24,702 children last year. 35% of all persons served at the food pantry were children, and last year they helped secure permanent housing for 1,947 individuals, 1,168 of those individuals were children.
Every single dollar we raise through the LemonAiD stand helps children and families in our community and that’s something we can definitely support.
Important Details
The LemonAiD Program runs May 29-July 18 and it’s NOT too late to sign up.
You can sign up easily on their website and start sending your personalized web page to friends and family.
Promote your stand by getting creative - send fun emails, post videos on social media, put up a sign or two in your neighborhood, draw an announcement in chalk on your driveway and make sure to include personalized thank you notes in your marketing strategy :)
Share your photos and videos with The Salvation Army on their Facebook page to be entered to win weekly prizes.
Did You Know?*
1 in 4 children in Central Ohio live in poverty; 1 in 5 children in Ohio.
1 in 5 children in our community goes to bed hungry.
1 in 30 children in Ohio experience homelessness.
*Statistics provided by The Salvation Army Columbus.
11 Fun & Affordable Amazon Finds for Kids
It’s almost summer and that means more time spent in the backyard, cool summer nights outside looking for lighting bugs, and a lot of fun opportunities to make lifelong memories with your families. While summer may look a little different this year that doesn’t mean you can’t have the best summer ever! You also don’t need to spend a lot to make that happen! I’ve put together a list of items you can get online and shipped directly to you, at affordable prices, that will help make this the summer to remember!
It’s almost summer and that means more time spent in the backyard, cool summer nights outside looking for lighting bugs, and a lot of fun opportunities to make lifelong memories with your families. While summer may look a little different this year that doesn’t mean you can’t have the best summer ever! You also don’t need to spend a lot to make that happen! I’ve put together a list of items you can get online and shipped directly to you, at affordable prices, that will help make this the summer to remember!
Cotton Candy Maker
The purchase that inspired this entire blog post. I bought this on a day I was feeling really bored and wanted to try something new. I hadn’t bought a lot during this time and I think I needed a little retail therapy. My entire family loves cotton candy so I thought for under $30 I would give it a try.
I was so excited to try it and surprise my kids. Final thoughts - it works great, makes delicious cotton candy, and is perfect for a small family or a playdate treat. It takes a while to make a big fluffy cone of cotton candy but once you get the hang of it, it works really well and is easy. I also purchased some extra cones and ordered flossing sugar. Maybe one day we’ll try making cotton candy from hard candy but for now, I will stick with the flossing sugar. :)
Snow Cone Machine
This is the same brand as the cotton candy maker and while we haven’t purchased this yet, I plan to. It’s under $40 and from the reviews I could easily make lots of snow cones with it. My kids love popsicles, snow cones, and other cold treats throughout the summer. Normally I blend the ice in my Ninja but I like that this is made for snow cones and can make more at once than my Ninja. I love these snow cone holders and accessory kit.
Glow Stick Bulk
Long summer nights mean playing in the backyard in the dark. Glow sticks make the evening play even more exciting for the kiddos. We always buy some for nights like the 4th of July but who says you can’t play with them all summer long? Or have a glow in the dark party? So much fun for everyone!
Okay, so in all honesty the best deal you can find on these water balloons is at Costco. If you have a membership go buy these there because you can get about 400 balloons for $20 but on Amazon right now is still under $25. If you have watched a groups of kids have a water balloon fight you know those balloons go FASSSSTTTT! These balloons are our favorite. I always buy a few packs at a time to have on hand for those hot summer days.
Bump n Bounce
I’ve seen these for years and always thought they were funny but never purchased. My kids begged me to get them for them this summer so I went ahead and picked them up. I’ll update you on Instagram on how it goes but I’m excited to see this play out haha :) Under $20
Animal Sprinkler
There are many different variations of the popular animal sprinkler. Unicorns, dinosaurs, pandas, and more! You can find them at multiple stores in different varieties. They are fun to run through and not too expensive.
Stomp Rocket
My son got this for his birthday a few years ago and the mom who brought it said that it was always her to go birthday gift. I know why. This thing brought so much joy to my son. It’s a great activity for any day.
Bug Catcher
One of my favorite things as a kid was searching for lighting bugs, catching them in my bug catcher, and making up stories about who they were and this little bug family before letting them go. I know - I’m a little weird. It’s fine. :) There are so many fun options and it brings so much joy to the little ones. The kids on my street are already out searching for lighting bugs, even though it may be a little too cold for them yet.
Fairy Garden Kit
Fairy Gardens are great because they take time and effort to create and they also bring so much joy and imagination once they’re built. Don’t rush through it. Spend the summer creating the perfect space for your favorite fairies and watch those little imaginations run wild for months (maybe years) to come...
Flower Garden Kit
This was a fun find that I plan to get for my kids. It’s under $30 and helps them learn how to plant different flowers. I can’t speak to the quality but it looks fun and we plan to try it. Follow me on Instagram to see our final thoughts.
11 Children’s Books About Bravery and Courage
I’ve put together a list of books that discuss the topics of bravery and courage in the best way. These books are the stories I read with my kids and I can say that each book is loved by every member of our family. Below you will find the title of each book, a link to the Amazon listing, and a short review. I hope you enjoy reading.
Connecting to others through stories and learning through words is one of my biggest joys. I love spending hours in the book store with my kids and luckily for me, they love it too. I’ve put together a list of books that discuss the topics of bravery and courage in the best way. These books are the stories I read with my kids and I can say that each book is loved by every member of our family. Below you will find the title of each book, a link to the Amazon listing, and a short review. I hope you enjoy reading.
Be Brave Little One
I love reading this story to my kids. Bravery shows up in a lot of ways including learning to be still when you’ve had enough and being brave enough to mess up as long as you’re trying. I can’t recommend this book enough.
Say Something
Your voice matters! This book is a great way to begin the conversation with your children about how powerful their voice is. Every opportunity to speak up with our voice and our actions is how we tell the world who we are and what we’re thinking. This book is one of many powerful books written by Peter H. Reynolds, you can’t go wrong with any of his collection.
Maybe
I found this book while browsing Barnes and Noble a few months ago and fell in love. My youngest daughter and I love stopping by the book store after dance class on Tuesdays and looking for new books and playing with all of the fun toys. I remember reading this and thinking about just how special it was.
This book does a great job of inspiring young minds. We are all unique and special and there will never be another you. I love that it talks about struggles and messes. It shines a bright light on important messages that our kids need to hear.
Stardust
This is another book we found while browsing the book store and it made me immediately made me think of my amazing grandpa. This sweet little girl has big dreams and loves to do amazing things but her older sister seems to always shine a little brighter. Her loving grandpa sees her and just how amazing she is and makes sure she knows it. He wipes her tears as he tells her that we all shine differently. LOVE LOVE LOVE this book.
Tomorrow I’ll Be Brave
This beautiful book is filled with inspirational quotes, beautiful hand lettering, and messages filled with hope. You don’t have to have all of the answers, you just have to make the day yours.
Monsters Can’t Do Yoga
This silly story was so fun to read to my little guy. He loved the thought of monsters doing yoga! While many think they can’t the main character is ready to prove everyone wrong. She goes against the norms to show that she can do anything she sets her mind to. It’s a great read and a fun way to incorporate so many important messages.
The Little Seahorse
This sweet little seahorse must learn how to overcome his shyness to ask for help. With beautiful illustrations and a great message, this book is great for little ones.
When You Are Brave
Life changes can be tough. In this book the main character experiences having to say goodbye to friends, move to a new home, and a new city. That’s tough for anyone but especially kids. When you are brave you can find the beauty in changes like this and that’s exactly what the main character does.
Come With Me
What you do matters and the little girl in this story learns this lesson through small moments with the people she loves. This story talks about the power of kindness, bravery, and friendship. It’s a great one for kids of all ages.
Little Tree
Growing up is tough. It’s hard to let go of the things that you love so much. The little tree has a hard time letting go of his leaves as the rest of the trees let go. This sweet story is a great story for big life moments - change in schools, graduation, moving, and more.
How Big is Your Brave?
Big dreams mean big risks and scary leaps. This book is a perfect example of just that. When Zippy, who dreams of traveling to space, gets the opportunity to attend space camp the nerves are almost too much. She must find her bravery so that she can have the experience of a lifetime. We love this book and we pull it out when we need a little reminder on finding our brave.
Hosting The Perfect Birthday Party Sleepover | Everything You Need To Know
We LOVE birthdays over here. I love to create magical memories for every member of the family. It’s so important to me that they each get to be celebrated in ways that make them feel so incredibly special. Earlier this month my oldest daughter celebrated her birthday in the most magical way possible - a unicorn-themed sleepover with her closest friends. All thanks to a locally mom-owned business - Perfect Events.
We LOVE birthdays over here. I love to create magical memories for every member of the family. It’s so important to me that they each get to be celebrated in ways that make them feel so incredibly special. Earlier this month my oldest daughter celebrated her birthday in the most magical way possible - a unicorn-themed sleepover with her closest friends. All thanks to a locally mom-owned business - Perfect Events.
I initially reached out because my daughter wanted to have a sleepover with tents and invite her closest friends. I found a company on Instagram and thought we would give it a try. As much as I want to create magical memories for my kids I also need something easy for me. I’m sure you can all relate that as moms we already do so much for our families and birthday parties have the potential to add a lot of stress.
Perfect Events gave me everything I needed to provide a lovely party for my daughter that didn’t require a lot of planning on my part. I sent out a quick evite to her friends, bought the snacks and they took care of the rest.
My daughter picked out the magical unicorn party and it was in fact so magical. They delivered and set up while my daughter was at school and it took around an hour and a half. When she got home she first saw the karaoke set up in our living room and was really confused because I didn’t tell her we were getting that too. When she went upstairs her face lit up - it was here and she was so excited!! She absolutely loved it.
The room was beautiful. Every single detail was well thought out and intentional. The pillows all said something sweet and inspirational, the birthday girls tent was decked out a little extra, and each girl was so happy to sleep soundly in their tent. Perfect Events took care of everything, with excellent customer service and a passion for what they do that clearly showed.
5 Important Things To Know
Rent the karaoke machine! It’s so worth it. They will have so much fun. There are SO MANY karaoke YouTube videos to make it even easier on you. Everything from Lizzo to Frozen can be found with a quick YouTube search. We found a lot of the songs they love on Sing King’s YouTube channel.
Prepare for about 1-2 hours of set up and an hour for pick up. Just let them handle it. They are the experts. It felt so weird for me to essentially do nothing (read: do the dishes, work, switch laundry) while they were here but it’s really best to let them work their magic.
Let your kiddo pick out the theme that makes their heart smile. There are so many great ones from unicorns, LOL dolls, tropical paradise, mermaids, game on, and SO MANY MORE. I’m sure my kids would love any of them but letting her pick her theme meant that she got the sleepover of her dreams and that’s what really matters.
Pick a space in your home that can be free of pets and food. Our home is not big, so we had to get creative. Our basement isn’t set up for something like this so we took out all of the furniture of one bedroom to make it work.
Take LOTS of photos. I bought my daughter a polaroid and she took so many photos herself with her friends. They are photos that she will cherish for many many years.
I don’t know if you’ve ever hosted a sleepover with 6 nine-year-olds let me just tell you it’s L O U D and
C R A Z Y! We went through so many snacks and I have no idea when they finally fell asleep but I can tell you everyone left happy and my daughter was over the moon happy. I would book with Perfect Events again and again...The next time you are looking to book a party, definitely reach out to them. They will take care of everything!
The Karaoke Setup
Here we have the microphone, an entire bucket of props and a fun backdrop. This was the hit of the entire party!
16 Books on Self Love and Kindness for Kids
Connecting to others through stories and learning through words is one of my biggest joys. I love spending hours in the book store with my kids and luckily for me, they love it too.
While my kids go through phases of loving different characters I am always on the lookout for books with a really good message. My oldest is at an age where mean girls are active and it’s caused me to look harder for books on kindness and self-love.
This post contains affiliate links. I may make a small commission if you choose to purchase the item(s) through my link. I only link to products I have tried and/or fully believe will be of use to my readers. This doesn’t increase the price for you at all.
Connecting to others through stories and learning through words is one of my biggest joys. I love spending hours in the book store with my kids and luckily for me, they love it too.
While my kids go through phases of loving different characters I am always on the lookout for books with a really good message. My oldest is at an age where mean girls are active and it’s caused me to look harder for books on kindness and self-love.
My hope for my kids is that they are kind to others and to themselves. I want my kids to be the people who lend a hand, the ones that step up when no one else will, the ones that are kind because it’s just who they are. I want them to be able to stand up for themselves when needed and be able to apologize when they are wrong. I want them to love their bodies and their laughs - every freckle and every wrinkle. My hope is that my kids never second guess who they are or question if they are too much or not enough for others. I want them to feel safe coming to me when things get tough or asking for help from someone else if I’m not the right person for the job.
One of the most recent books I found that they loved was ‘I Am Enough’. It’s a sweet story about loving yourself, respecting others, and being kind. My son read this book every day for a week and would ask me to read it over and over. My two oldest kiddos asked to take it to school and share it with their class. That was a total mom win! :-)
I’ve spent a lot of time researching books on kindness and self-love as a way of opening up the conversation with my kids and after sharing some of them on social media (and the response was so amazing) - I’ve decided to put together my list in one easy place as a reference.
Please remember that what you see on 614 Mom is all my personal recommendation. If I don’t like something it’s not on this list. I have bought each and every book on this list and have studied it, read it to my kids, and rated it. You guys! I take my research very seriously :) With that being said - if there is something you’d like to see on here comment below! I love finding new books!
16 Books on Self Love and Kindness for Kids
I Am Enough
“Like the sun, I’m here to shine” one of my favorite quotes from the book. Hearing my kids repeat these words as they read the book is so good for my heart. Yes, baby. You are here to SHINE!
Let’s Talk About Body Boundaries, Consent, and Respect
This one was very popular on social media! I picked this book blindly on amazon as I wanted to find a book that could help me have a conversation with my kids about consent. They need to know they can say no to a hug from even the closest family member and it must be respected. I really liked how this book discussed such a difficult topic in a way that opened up a real and honest conversation without scaring or overwhelming my kiddos.
I Am Love
This book focuses on compassion and sharing love with others. Watching those you love go through something difficult can be challenging to witness. Even as adults we often question how we can help or what we can do to ease the burden that our loved ones are facing. This book does a beautiful job of sharing how you can show love to others and to yourself.
My Wish For You
“Let Yourself Fall then Pick Yourself Up” So much love for this book and this quote.
I am Not Just a Scribble
This super cute book focuses on kindness and inclusion. The main character, Scribble, didn’t know he was different until he met his new friends. After some time the other characters show kindness to Scribble and learn that they should have included him from the beginning.
What Do You Do With A Problem?
I found this on the shelf at a local book store after ballet one day. Elizabeth and I loved reading this together.
Listening To My Body
This book focuses on mindfulness and helping kids name different feelings and sensations.
Kindness Starts with You
No amount of kindness is too small and this book is the perfect example of that.
Dear Girl
This book is great for the little girl in your life. Every little girl needs a reminder that she is strong, powerful, and loved.
Dear Boy
I have both two daughters and a son so I picked this book up when I got Dear Girl. This is the book that reminds your son just how amazing he is being a helper or chasing his dreams.
A Little Spot of Love
Everyone needs love and this book helps explain how you can love someone the way they need to be loved and not just the way you want to love them.
A Little Spot of Anxiety
Anxious feelings can be overwhelming, and as someone with anxiety who never had anyone to share my feelings with, I like reading stories like these. This story was so great with my kids.
My Strong Mind
Strength, Confidence, and Growth Mindset. All things I want my kids to have. I love this book so much.
Happy Dreamer
Happiness is different for everyone and this book focuses on following those dreams in your own unique way. As someone who has a job that most don’t understand - I am here for this.
Remarkably You
You are amazing! Each and every trait that you carry helps you become the amazing human you are and this book talks about all of the goodness in being remarkably you.
Beautiful Oops
A mistake is an opportunity to make something beautiful. This cute book focuses on lessons like - it’s OKAY to make a mistake.
7 Tips for Quick, Healthy School Lunches!
“The kids have to eat! And unless your child buys at school, that means that you’re going to be packing a lot of lunches. In my case, it’s 2 or 3 lunches each weekday, and I don’t even want to think about the math on that for total number of lunches to be packed this year.
But the good news is, it doesn’t have to be time consuming or stressful or even the same old boring sandwich every day. Here’s my tips for making it as enjoyable (or at least as painless!) as possible!”
“Thank you Erin from Feed Me Greens for writing this guest post, scroll down to learn more about Erin and where you can find more from her. This post may contain affiliate links. ”
Each year summer seems to go faster than the last….and no matter how you feel about it, it’s that time of year again! Stores are selling back to school clothes, end caps of Target are brimming with crisp folders, marker boxes, and fresh pens and pencils, the kids are asking for new shoes and backpacks, and you’re feeling fired up and strong going in to the start of a new school year. You’re really going to nail it this time, join the committees, complete all the paperwork, volunteer to make homemade treats for the parties. Or maybe you’ve done this many times and know that won’t be you this year. Either way, there’s one fact that won’t change – the kids have to eat! And unless your child buys at school, that means that you’re going to be packing a lot of lunches. In my case, it’s 2 or 3 lunches each weekday, and I don’t even want to think about the math on that for total number of lunches to be packed this year.
But the good news is, it doesn’t have to be time consuming or stressful or even the same old boring sandwich every day. Here’s my tips for making it as enjoyable (or at least as painless!) as possible!
1) Get the kids involved. Depending on their age, it can be as simple as letting them pick which fruit, snacks, etc. you throw in the cart that week at the grocery. Older kids can pack some or all of their own lunch. It’s good for them to have the responsibility, and they’re more likely to pack things they’ll actually eat.
2) Arm yourself with a few trusted supplies. Brown bags are easy and economical. I get it, no muss, no fuss. I remember when I was little, the thing was to decorate your brown bag with marker for the ultimate personalized experience. But there are lots of great container and lunchbox options out there these days that can make the job easier and save you having to pack everything into Ziploc bags. Some of these lunchboxes are a little pricey upfront, but they can last for years and stand up to a good beating. For instance, we have a Planetbox container/bag combo (currently on sale!) that is going on it’s third year and is as good as new. The compartments make it easy to add in a variety of food and the bonus is that you don’t have to panic because you ran out of baggies again – or is that just me?! (Also, these lunchboxes make everything look pretty and delicious and organized which I swear somehow makes this whole process more enjoyable.) The metal container sections are ideal for packing foods without smushing them, i.e. sliced fruit and veggies or cheese and crackers, and there are small containers that fit within the compartments and can be used for things like yogurt or dipping sauces like hummus or salsa.
Shredded rotisserie chicken, sliced cukes, cheese cubes, Greek yogurt with maple syrup, granola and blueberries
There are other stainless-steel brands out there, i.e. Lunchbots and U-Konserve, plus bento style boxes like YumBox and Bentgo. The plastic Ziploc brand divided lunch containers (or similar) will get the job done and are less expensive even if they may not hold up as well long term.
Disclaimer: my oldest prefers a plain lunch bag like his friends. We use one called the Fridge to Go bag. If this is the case for you, I recommend a few reusable plastic or stainless steel containers of various sizes that you can put food in, as pictured below. This makes for less waste and is also easier for packing foods that may get smashed easily.
Leftover tomato soup, granola bar, cheese cubes, and berries
3) Make leftovers your friend! This is one of my favorite hacks because you’re not reinventing the wheel here folks. Slice up a leftover grilled chicken breast, fill a container with pasta, or reheat some soup. (Note: for warm items like soup, I love the small Thermos containers.) Leftover taco or burrito filling can be mixed with rice and cheese or rolled up in a tortilla. Had pizza last night? They just won the lunchtime lottery. Also, it’s not just dinner that has leftovers. If you made oatmeal for breakfast, toss that in a thermos with some blueberries. Didn’t finish their scrambled eggs? Wrap them into a tortilla or pita with shredded cheese.
Whole wheat pesto pasta, yogurt tube, chocolate chip/almond mix, apples, grape tomatoes
4) Use sneaky sandwich subs: Tortillas, bagels and pita bread can be your friend here when you are sick of sandwiches! Slather a tortilla with hummus, honey mustard and veggies, or load up a whole wheat bagel with cream cheese and turkey. I’ve used leftover whole wheat pancakes from the weekend to make sunbutter and or cream cheese and jelly sandwiches. Or think outside the bun completely and shove some meat, veggies, and cheese on a few long toothpicks. It looks fancy and is just as fast as a sandwich. I buy Amy’s brand frozen veggie burgers to heat up and add to a bun or tortilla. Finally, even changing the shape of the bread can make it seem different. Take one minute to roll the bread flat, add your toppings, and roll it up to make pinwheels. This takes literally one additional minute. Maybe.
Hummus and pretzels, clementine, turkey/cheese/mustard roll-up, and yogurt tube
5) Choose healthier packaged snacks: When buying packaged snacks (i.e. chips, crackers, cookies), I look for those with fewest ingredients, no artificial colors, and least amount of sugar. There are plenty of good options these days, and although some people choose to buy no packaged snacks, I can tell you in my realistic world, it’s helpful to have a few good options on hand that you know your family likes! Popcorn, tortilla chips (+ salsa), whole grain pretzels and crackers, and veggie straws or plantain chips (+ guac) are some of ours.
6) Packed Lunch Cheat Sheet: I pack lunches with these categories loosely in mind. Just some examples to get your wheels turning!
7) Finally! Don’t put pressure on yourself to have every lunch every day be healthy and delicious and Pinterest worthy. I try to aim for mostly healthy but they definitely get Pirate’s Booty and cookies sometimes and other times it’s homemade protein bites. Remember that they have someone who loves them enough to think about their lunch so they’re lucky and blessed before they even open that box or bag!
Pineapple, grape tomatoes, leftover rice pilaf, veggie straws, and hummus/cheese/honey mustard/veggie wrap
Erin Wanke spent 8 years working in clinical research before leaving to complete her health coach certification through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. She now runs a health coaching business, publishes a vegetarian food and wellness blog (Feed Me Greens), and provides recipe development and food photography services. Erin lives in Columbus, OH with her husband and three young children/sous chefs/mess makers. You can find more information on her website at www.feedmegreens.com, or follow her on Instagram (feed_me_greens)!