While we were researching play-sets and what would fit best in our yard, we kept going back to Woodplay. We love how customizable they are and it’s so fun to be able to switch out the different types of swings. My personal favorite is the hammock, and Lennox’s is the saucer swing. I love watching him and his friends play for hours on end! Their little imaginations run wild and I’ve seen this amazing structure be a magical castle, a hospital , a cabin in the woods and on and on… When we were customizing the actual structure and choosing accessories, Lennox had three must haves on his list— a curly slide, a trapeze bar and a megaphone! We just ordered the spotlight and will be surprising him with it for Christmas!

I always dreamed of a backyard where we could have space for Lennox to run around and play and have all of his friends over. We lived in a townhouse for so many years and simply did not have that kind of space. Feeling so incredibly grateful to be able to look out the window and see our son having such a wonderful time, being active and using his imagination! If you happen to be looking for a play structure this one is number one on our list! We chose the Woodplay 5′ PLAYHOUSE COMBO 2 which I’ve linked HERE

And definitely check out Swingsets.com for the different play-sets they offer along with many other fun outdoor activities for you and your family!

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I’ve been wanting to go home to Arizona for months now. I want to hug my parents and all of our family and friends that we haven’t seen in way too long…It’s strange how planning a road trip looks so differently these days. It used to be that we would do the proper maintenance on our car to ensure everything was in tip top shape, and now, after making sure our car is good to go, we have to worry about testing for Covid-19 and make sure we as a family are healthy too. On top of all the stresses that quarantine and the coronavirus has caused, I feel comfort in knowing that some things never change. 

Kelley Blue Book has been there for our family over the years (and over 90 years as the most trusted third-party automotive brand!) to support us with car maintenance, any estimated repair costs and even possible recalls on our vehicles

The Kelley Blue Book Auto Repair Guide helps to keep our cars in working order and helps us prepare for road trips like ones to Arizona by eliminating any added stress. Kelley Blue Book has a Fair Repair Range Estimator which helps to give us an idea if the prices we are being quoted are indeed fair based on dealer averages. They also provide the ability to make any service appointments on the KBB.com website. They make it so easy, especially at a time when we all have to alter our ways of life.

Before you take that next family trip, you should totally check out Kelley Blue Book‘s Auto Repair Guide to make sure your car is in tiptop shape! I’m so glad we did! Onward and upward!

The post thinking about our first Road trip post quarantine appeared first on Amy Davidson - Working Mom Blog.

I’m also trying to keep grocery store visits to a minimum, so I definitely stock up more than I used to. As a result, I’ve had to be strategic about organizing my fridge to make sure we eat everything we buy. Our Bosch refrigerator is a dream because it’s not only built for custom organization, it also ensures that our produce stays at its freshest with their new four-point FarmFresh System. For example, VitaFreshPro balances both temperature and humidity levels based on the setting I select. All I do is choose whether I’m storing fruits, veggies, meats, cheeses, etc., and the fridge does the rest of the work for me! The FreshProtect Filter absorbs natural ethylene from produce to slow down ripening, so I can buy more fresh produce and enjoy it for longer. And, MultiAirFlow + AirFresh Filter keep everything perfectly cool and smelling great all the time, so no more baking soda needed! I swear, I can have produce in what I now call “the freshness drawer” for over two weeks and it’s as if I bought it that same day. I bought an enormous bag of kale and it literally lasted almost two weeks. It was almost an experiment for me. I would eat a little bit of kale every couple of days, taste it for freshness, and it was always delicious! Truly magical and mom approved

Lennox and I have also really started enjoying cooking meals together. Whether it’s a simple PB&J for lunch or Taco Tuesday for dinner, he can easily access the produce drawer and help me pick ingredients for the meal we’ve chosen. He also takes the liberty of going to the drawer every time he wants some fruit!  Sneaky! He ends up asking, but it’s the perfect height for him to open and dig around, so ya can’t blame the kid! Something that has helped me get creative with meal planning is the Home Connect app, which is connected to our fridge and has plenty of recipes, plus cooking tips and tricks. I love using it for recipe inspiration so I’m not always cooking the exact same thing! I have to say, I’ve definitely added a few new recipes to my repertoire recently and it’s continuously growing!

As someone who loves to cook for and take care of my family, it’s comforting to know that my fridge is keeping everything at peak freshness and at the ready so we can whip up healthy and nutritious meals together at any moment. Here are a few of my favorite snapshots of us in the kitchen the past couple months!

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There’s so much more about the reading that was wonderful to hear and learn, especially during these uncertain times. Being a psychotherapist AND astrologer, Debra helped me get to the core and look deeper into my personality traits and guide me to ways of working with them. vs. fighting against them which is my default reaction. She has such a loving and nurturing way about her, her POV and guidance simply made sense to me and has truly has impacted me since we spoke. All this without knowing anything about me besides my date of birth, where I was born and what time. I’m currently reading Debra’s book, and I’m loving it. If you’ve also been interested in astrology Debra is offering a free intro to Astrology packet HERE that you can explore.

“I truly believe that studying your birth chart — starting with the 4 Elements — will help you find deeper compassion for the quirky parts of you you don’t like or understand. That’s why I wanted to offer you this free gift, as an introduction to the elements and compatibility.”

~ Debra Silverman

FULL BLOG POST

I’ve always been interested in astrology. I remember when I was in high school, the first thing I’d do when I got a new magazine was flip to the back pages and read my horoscope. I’m pretty sure I didn’t really understand what I was reading. My knowledge was and still is pretty limited. I’m a Virgo- an earth sign, a perfectionist at heart, logical, practical, systematic, analytical (to a fault at times) and this is a good one- we’re ruled by our digestive system. I always thought these descriptions explained the majority about my personality, BUT they don’t! More on that in a just a second… I’ve always wanted to learn about astrology, but it wasn’t until I discovered Debra Silverman‘s website and YouTube channel that my curiosity peaked. Being completely transparent here- I’m in my head a lot. A lot. Always thinking and analyzing and obsessing about certain things. It doesn’t really matter what it is, if there’s something for me to obsess over, I will! Not too fun. Are there aspects of your personality that either drive you crazy or you can’t quite figure out, too? I was fascinated to learn there are reasons for these aspects of my personality (that seem to battle each other) that help explain why I am the way I am. Debra blew my mind! By looking at my chart and seeing how the different planets line up with each other in relation to the moon and the sun etc. (please forgive my description, I’m a newbie) Debra asked specific questions because of what she saw. She gave me explanations that literally nailed the way I grew up which molded my personality into what it is today. All without knowing anything about me besides my date of birth, where I was born and what time. It’s like she was reading my memoir, but it wasn’t a book, it was my astrology chart. I sat there in awe as she explained how me being a Virgo- the responsible aspect of my personality, is constantly in flux with my rising sign which is Sagitarious- the kid-like, carefree side of myself. She said no wonder I feel crazy and in my head at times! It’s like a kid constantly battling the mature adult. Debra explained it as this ongoing ping pong match in my head. Yep, spot on

There’s so much more about the reading that was wonderful to hear and learn, especially during these uncertain times. Being a psychotherapist AND astrologer, Debra helped me get to the core and look deeper into my personality traits and guide me to ways of working with them. vs. fighting against them, which is my default reaction. She has such a loving and nurturing way about her. Debra’s POV and guidance simply made sense to me and has truly has impacted me since we spoke. I’m currently reading Debra’s book, The Missing Element and I’m loving it. I highly suggest it! If you’ve also been interested in astrology Debra is offering a free intro to Astrology packet HERE that you can explore.

“I truly believe that studying your birth chart — starting with the 4 Elements — will help you find deeper compassion for the quirky parts of you you don’t like or understand. That’s why I wanted to offer you this free gift, as an introduction to the elements and compatibility.”

~ Debra Silverman

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One thing that has been keeping me sane or I should say helping to keep me sane, is the ability to get outside. Breathing fresh air, going on walks and moving my body has been truly a lifesaver. I was nervous that was all going to change but thankfully it has not. Silver lining people. Silver lining. I have to say thank you because a couple of weeks ago, while on one of our long walks I asked you all for opinions and advice on wagons. Lennox, Sophie and I literally walk for miles and it was starting to get tricky because he’s getting so big. Lennox’s is literally 41 inches and 40 lbs!!! I was bringing the stroller for when Len would get tired, because let’s face it, I can’t carry 40 pounds on my back very far!I mean… A bunch of you mentioned the Wonderfold Wagon and I can’t thank you enough. Getting outside has always been important to me, to us, and more so even now. I love packing snacks, jackets, books for Lennox and just going for an adventure. There’s barely anyone on the streets and we just walk and walk and walk. Can ya tell Lennox loves his “wagon throne?”

What are you doing to help keep your sanity? Are you going outside? Or are you afraid? We are being safe, respecting social distancing and truly just doing our own thing. I still smile at people from afar and say hello. That’s part of who I am, it’s in my soul. I can’t change that nor do I want to. Am I giving out free hugs? Absolutely not. Do I look forward to the day when I can? Yes indeed. Sending an enormous virtual hug to all of you.

Stay safe, friends….

.

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We get in the car and go straight to his pediatrician. It turns out he has the flu and a pretty bad ear infection in one ear. The doctor keeps asking Lennox if his ear has been bothering him, and he keeps telling her no. I also have to tell you that he had a cough for about three weeks but never a fever, so my husband and I just decided to monitor it. (In December we were at the doctor twice for a cold and they kept saying there’s nothing to do because it’s just a virus.) A couple days before we headed up to Mammoth we had a conversation about whether or not Lennox should go to the doctor. Again, because this cough was never accompanied by a fever, we continued to give him Manuka honey and vitamins. The doctor thought the change in pressure from being high up in the mountains and coming back home to sea level could be the culprit for the ear infection. Who knows how he got the flu?  Ain’t flu season fun???

I know little ones get sick all the time. I know it’s really hard to tell exactly what’s going on with their bodies when they can’t fully tell us yet. I accept that. But there was something about this time he got sick that really upset me. I was upset with myself. I talked to a few friends who made me feel a bit better. They reminded me that kids catch everything and how are we always to know? That schools are a petri dish and it’s good for them to get sick and strengthen their immune systems. I’m grateful for my community, my loving friends and these awesome parents I’m surrounded by. I don’t know what I would do without you guys.  You know who you are…

It turned out that Lennox was only home from school for three days and is now happier than ever. We’re almost done with antibiotics and definitely on the mend. What I’ve learned through this experience this time around, is to not be so damn hard on myself. To trust my mommy instincts even more and give myself grace when I’m not perfect. Does this sound familiar to any of you? Are you also very hard on yourself? If you said yes, let’s do this together. Let’s give ourselves a pat on the back and some grace! We should be proud of how much we love our littles and how we do everything in our power to keep them safe and happy. It’s 2020. Let’s start some new habits and be gentler with ourselves. I’m talking about myself here, but if you’re in the same boat, I’m happy to support you as well. 

Thank you for reading this post. Please share your stories and advice in the comments if you feel so inclined. 
Xoxo

Amy

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I’m new to the Whole30 journey, but I’m not new to Ball® jars! We’ve had them in our home for many, many years and I am so excited to be incorporating them into my new healthy eating journey in the new year. I’ve been scouring the internet for recipes and couldn’t believe all the information I found, not only about Whole30, but all the tips and tricks people are using to
incorporate their journeys with Ball® jars, as well. I’ve found so many beautiful colors of food- different rainbows of colors making up delicious meals. I’m inspired to say the least.

To start my journey, I decided to eat as clean and organic as possible. I eat meat, but I wanted to eliminate it for a few days and so my first mason jar salad is all veggies and full of flavor! I’ve learned that the key to making mason jar salads is all in how you layer them. You have to be strategic so your salad stays fresh and won’t get soggy. Start with the dressing on the bottom and then work your way to the top with the heaviest ingredients first, to the lighter ingredients which will be on the top. TIP- Greens always go on the top so they don’t get soggy! I used a Quart-sized Ball® jar for my salad but the smaller 4oz Ball jars work well when you’re not as hungry.

Layer one – your dressing.

Layer two – hearty veggies that can stand up to being “marinated” in the dressing, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, etc.

Layer three – protein, such as eggs, chicken, cheese, and nuts, etc.

Layer four – your lettuce.

**Then, pour the contents of the Ball® jar into a bowl, and you have a perfectly balanced (and most likely colorful) salad!

I have to admit my salad was pretty amazing! I started with a green goddess dressing, then layered organic heirloom baby tomatoes, broccoli, corn, kale and then topped it off with sunflower seeds. I ate the entire salad and then went back for seconds!! Eating all these organic vegetables is helping me feel good from inside and out.

I have discovered so many amazing recipes, not just salads. Another favorite so far is a simple fruit parfait. I started with coconut yogurt from Cocoyo Pure which is Whole30 compliant, (most yogurts are not), then added strawberries, bananas, blueberries, raspberries and sprinkled some almonds and pistachios on top. I put it in the small Ball® jar because goodness knows I ate every last bite and if it was in the large jar I would’ve had a crazy stomach ache LOL! This was the perfect portion for me to enjoy a sweet treat in the middle of the day and not feel guilty!  I’m so excited for my Whole30 journey and thrilled to share it with all of you. Here’s to a healthy, happy new year!

And, BONUS…you can “Spin to win” for some great prizes!!! You could win Ball products like (4oz jars with plastic lids, pour-and-measure storage cups), a Whole30 cookbook, a $25 Athleta gift card, or a $10 Visa cards to be used at retailers to pick up Ball products! Click HERE! And good luck! So excited to share my journey with you all!

Happy New Year!

xoxo

Amy

A yummy, dairy-free sweet treat for you below that I’m loving!

I used coconut yogurt from Cocoyo Pure, then added strawberries, bananas, blueberries, raspberries and sprinkled some almonds and pistachios on top.

The post My BALL JAR AND WHOLE 30 JOURNEY🍓🍑🍋🥒🍆🍉 appeared first on Amy Davidson - Working Mom Blog.

Thank you. Xoxo

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We had a bit of a scare last night. An unfortunate string of events lead to an evening where my husband and I weren’t sure if we were going to end up in the emergency room…

Lennox has been swimming every day. Lots of chlorine, opening his eyes to see where he is swimming and learning to be safe and comfortable in the water. He is a kid who never wants to get out of the pool. When his swim lesson was over, I dried him off and was trying to dry his hair when he started crying and said I scratched his eye. Of course my stomach dropped. I was upset that I had hurt his eye. I think when I was trying to dry his hair his eye was open and the towel brushed his eyeball. #momfail Once it stopped watering, he seemed OK and was laughing with his friend Leo. So I thought there was no issue. We got in the car and started to drive home. All of the sudden he starts screaming again, “My eye, my eye!” So I pull over, get in the backseat with him and he’s holding his other eye and saying he scratched it with the book he was reading. I happened to be on the phone with my mom and she said try and flush it with cold water. That helped a lot and once again (this eye) stopped watering so we drove home.

Len is is happy. He’s goofing around. All seems well…I’m giving him a shower and soap gets in his eye. He’s wailing. I grab some eyedrops and try to flush it out. All he wanted to do was stand under the water. So after about 10 minutes he calmed down so I got him out of the shower and dressed. Again, he seemed to be fine and my goal was to feed him dinner and get him to bed early. So while I finish making dinner my husband is reading to Lennox and all of a sudden he starts screaming about his eye again. Not the one that I scratched after swim, but the one that he poked with his book AND got soap in. My husband and I could not console him. I tried to flush it with more eyedrops but that didn’t help. Then we tried to flush it with water. We put a cold compress on it and he calmed down for a little bit. By this time my husband and I are contemplating going to the ER…we decide to give it some time and see if it gets any better. By now Lennox is sitting in his chair at the table and I’m standing there holding him while his eyes are closed and he’s drinking his milk. I’m eating standing up because he won’t let me stop holding (which as a mom, melts my heart and breaks it at the same time.) A few minutes later I hear Lennox’s breathing get deeper. He’s snoring. He drops his milk cup on the floor. This sweet little boy has fallen asleep sitting up while we are holding each other. I pick him up, sit down at the table and finish my dinner while he sleeps in my arms. It reminds me of when he was a tiny baby and all the meals I ate with him sound asleep in my arms. For those few minutes we all sat there in silence. The only sound was his gentle snoring…

I carried Lennox upstairs and my husband and I put him in bed. He stirred a little bit but sleep seems to be exactly what he needs. Lennox slept for 12 hours and woke up happy as a clam. I didn’t mention his eye because I wanted to see if he would, and about 10 minutes later he said, “Mommy my eyes doesn’t hurt anymore.” And then he said, “last night was a bad night, wasn’t it?” Oh sweet Lennox, I love you so…I’m honestly amazed at how calm I was last night. Lennox was in a lot of pain and that was scary, but my husband and I both stayed calm, we followed our instincts and we are so relieved that Lennox’s pain was temporary. I praise all of you parents out there who have children with illnesses, temporary or chronic. You are superstars. You are SUPERHUMAN. Your children are so blessed to have you as their parents…

If I had only know about these 30 baby MUST HAVES when Lennox was a baby some situations may have been so much easier. Sharing because we can all use a little extra guidance!

The post We had a bit of a scare last night… appeared first on Amy Davidson - Working Mom Blog.

It is the most wonderful time of year, back-to-school season! I know we’re all making a list and checking it twice as we prepare for another fun year of learning and with that said, I wanted to share some exciting news. Paper Mate® has recently teamed with Box Tops for Education as the only line writing utensils that supports the program and since Lennox is learning to write, (OMG) I feel compelled as a MOM to help raise awareness! 

Being the daughter of educators has always been something I amincredibly proud of. My mom, dad and step mom spent their careers devoted to educating children long before I was born. I still love hearing stories of when they started teaching on the Indian reservation in Arizona and the little ones that impacted their lives. My mom still remembers some of their names! These kids were the introduction to my parent’s lifelong path of nurturing young minds. 

Some of my fondest memories growing up were helping my mom prepare her classroom for the new school year, and going shopping for all the supplies she needed for the room. I also loved spending summer days at my dad’s school helping out and volunteering in the kindergarten classes. My dad worked as a principal in several low-income neighborhoods throughout his career, followed by being an assistant superintendent of that same school district. He was very successful at turning failing schools into successful ones, one of which he did alongside my step mom. My mom taught middle school for over 30 years (good lord!) and managed to make 7th and 8th grade English fun for her students. She was definitely the teacher you wanted to have! 

I learned so much from all three of them about what it takes to not only teach children and run schools, but what also happens on the other side. For instance, I was privy to conversations  between my dad and step mom about school funding (and/or the lack thereof) because their school’s progress and success was always a topic of conversation. My mom shared with me that when we went school supply shopping for her classroom that was out of pocket money she spent. I had no idea at the time, but it makes sense to me now! I just spoke to my parents and they said they remember when Box Tops for Education started in 1996 and was only on Big G cereals, such as Cheerios, Total and Lucky Charms. They helped raise money and people invest in their local schools by purchases of consumer goods. Because it was so successful it expanded across the U.S and has earned over $868 million dollars for our U.S. schools. My dad and step mom shared how the PTA valued the incentive the program brought to schools which helped pay for supplies, athletic equipment and simply fill in the gaps the school was in need of. Being that my dad worked in low income schools, he stated that any and all incentive programs were incredibly important to the success of the school. Without proper funding it makes it very difficult for schools to succeed in that was always his number one priority. 

How it Works

Up until recently, individuals would physically clip the box tops of their products which they would then give to their local schools. Starting this summer, Box Tops for Education has rolled out a new digital format where consumers can easily scan the receipts of the items purchased to submit by downloading their app. Consumers will then be prompted to register and select a school, and then scan an eligible receipt containing Box Tops products. Schools will earn 10 cents for each Box Tops product purchased plus extra earnings for any Bonus Box Tops opportunities.

So as we quickly approach back-to-school season, I would love to encourage you and your families to join me and to take the #PaperMatePledge! When you go shopping for school supplies, know that Paper Mate® is going to give back to your local schools thru Box Tops for Education and you’re giving back by supporting the cause! Everybody wins!  

I am happy to be partnering with Paper Mate® on this post, however all thoughts are my own. 

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