Tag: Parenting Tips

Books, Children's books

Elbow Grease Brings Out A Positive Message To Children | Book Review

“Never Give Up!”

Words of encouragement and empowerment for many. It’s three little words that have the greatest impact. This is why we are thrilled to introduce all of you to Elbow Grease. 

Elbow Grease is a children’s book written by John Cena and illustrated by Howard McWilliam. Now if the writer’s name sounds familiar, it should as he is very well known especially in the world of wrestling entertainment. John Cena is a versatile entertainer and dedicated philanthropist. Now he has taken the stage of child’s author to share the important lessons he has learned over the years, such as never giving up whether you win or lose.

Synopsis

Elbow Grease is a little smaller than the other monster trucks; however, he is still proud of what makes him different from the rest. Win or loss, he always tries his best. This is what John Cena calls GUMPTION.

#MelAndNikkiReview

We are so honored to be able to review and feature Elbow Grease on the #MelAndNikkiReview as we are fans of John Cena. We didn’t know what to expect from the book but we are happy to say that it did not disappoint us. The story flowed nicely with the illustrations complimented it with every page turn. The message of “Never Give Up” was beautifully incorporated through the book and easily understood for children. Now I have to admit that I loved that the mechanic in the story was a woman and named Mel. 😉

Nikki who is only 4 loved the book so much that she wanted to do one of her special vlogs to tell us how she felt about it and a little extra more. We never really know what Nikki is going to say in her videos but that is what makes it fun and real! 🙂

As you heard from Nikki, she gives it 5 out of 5! I give it 5 You Can’t See Me’s out of 5! We have truly enjoyed reading this book and it has been on our reading line-up daily! I have read it SO much that I am now doing it in character – yes! That does not happen often but this book is SO fun to read.

If you are looking for a fun book with an empowering message for a child (ages 3 to 7) to learn, then this is the book for you. Or if you have a John Cena fan on your gift list, then this would make a perfect gift. Please click here if you would like to know where to buy it.

Special thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for sending us Elbow Grease to review as we LOVED it!

Until next time…Happy Parenting!

-Momma Braga

 

Games, Motherhood

i-Top and Pop the Pig “Pop N’ Race” Hits The Game Scene | Goliath Games

We are BIG fans of Goliath Games and they keep giving us reasons why to keep loving them. We are delighted to announce two exciting games that you will want to try out!

i-Top

Do you have a child who loves high-tech? Well, we have the game for them. It is where technology and fun come together in game form.

The classic “tops” has just been upgraded to a new generation with i-Top! Using smart technology, this high-tech top keeps track of the number of spins while LEDs light up the display. Spin your way to the top score by competing in multiple challenges.

Unlock hidden features by spinning the top an exact number of spins to show special animations, or challenge your friend to a high score. With over ten different ways to play and tons of animations, the fun with I-Tops is non-stop!

It is available in Mega Gear Blue, Infinite Purple and Vortex Red. This game is recommended for ages 7 and up.

If you want a spinning good time then i-Top is the game to get! To purchase your very own, click here. This would make a great gift idea too!

Pop the Pig “Pop N’ Race”

Pop the Pig is an international preschool classic and is adored by millions of children and now he is back in a whole new game! We are delighted to introduce you all to Pop the Pig “Pop N’ Race” by Goliath Games.

This unique board game features a specially designed pig die popper. Pop his belly and race around the board as you try to be the first player to get your 4 movers home. This game is great for children 4 and up and it will make family game night popping fun!

What child would not want to press the popper to win the race?! I know Nikki would! That is just half the fun. 😉 The game is colorful and helps children learn to wait their turn, count and follow instructions. A definite win in our books!

To purchase your very own, click here. This would make a great gift idea too!

We are so excited to introduce you all to these two games and we know you will love them. Goliath Games has done it again by bringing interactive games to families. Make sure to follow Goliath Games on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter.

Until next time…Happy Parenting!

-Momma Braga

 

 

 

Motherhood

Lil Babe Accessories | Accessorizing One Bow At A Time

A bow can be more than just a bow as it is used as an accessory piece to our assemble. Accessorizing is a skill for many and for me, not so much.

This is why I appreciate and value those who are extra creative and accessorize to a beautiful new level.

One person in particular is my sister, Karen. She has always been the most creative one and one that can really put a great assemble together with style. This is why it is no surprise that she has created some beautiful accessory pieces for her baby girl to wear.

It is with great pleasure that we introduce you all to Karen’s new adventure as the creator and founder of Lil Babe Accessories.

We got the inside and exclusive scoop for all of you in this interview with Karen.

Tell us a little bit about yourself

My name is Karen and many of you may remember me as the DIY expert on Momma Braga. I love doing creative crafts, food and accessories. I especially love special holidays and must say that Halloween is my favorite.

I am also a mom to a beautiful baby girl and am so grateful to be her mom.

Photo Credit: Kelly Middleton Photography

How did Lil Babe Accessories came to be? How did you come up with the idea?

Since I can remember I have always loved baby accessories, especially for little girls. So naturally when I had a baby girl, I handmade most of her headbands. From there, Lil Babe Accessories was born and I decided to share my creations with the world.

Why “Lil Babe Accessories”?

“Lil Babe” is just one of the many nicknames I gave my daughter. Lil is short for little and “accessories” because I wanted to expand my collection instead of just selling headbands.

What do you offer and how can people purchase from you?

At the present time, I offer a variety of different style headbands and bows for ages 0 to 5 years of age. You can find and purchase these products off of my Etsy shop.

What do you have upcoming? Anything we can announce first to our readers? 😉

Yes! I will be making and selling baby boy accessories very soon! I want to cater to both genders. Also…I am now introducing pre-orders, these are exclusive items that are offered to my followers and will not be sold on my Etsy page.

What do you hope each accessory and bow accomplishes?

I aim for a design that will compliment any outfit but most importantly feel comfortable! I also love to make show pieces that are created for special occasions.

Anything else you would like to add?

I have always loved shopping small and online myself. Being a mom and now owning my own small shop, it is amazing to see and hear all the support from the community around me. It’s one thing to hear it from family and friends but hearing compliments from strangers on your hard work – is amazing! The best part is that these strangers than quickly become friends. I am truly thankful for that!

There you have the inside scoop on Lil Babe Accessories and we love them!

We have personally used the bows and handbands created by Lil Babe Accessories and they are the first to stay on Nikki’s hair. We also love how they are unique bows and Nikki loves when she is asked where she got her bow. It gives her the chance to say it was handmade just for her. 😉

We highly recommend Lil Babe Accessories for your little one or even for someone else’s little one as it would make a bow-errific present!

Make sure to follow Lil Babe Accessories on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter as you will want to see the new creations that are made.

We want like to say thank you to Karen for taking the time to let us in on her new adventure and wishing her much success!

Until next time, Happy Parenting!

-Momma Braga

 

Food, Motherhood, Recipe

Baked Garlic Lemon Salmon | Recipe

Growing up in a Portuguese household, it wasn’t uncommon to have a fish dish for dinner. However, the one type of fish my parents did not do was salmon. Only when I got older did I notice that salmon was often served at the special events that I would attend and after eating “one bad one.” It was a dish that I stayed away from but it was time to go back to salmon.

I researched for long hours trying to figure out what recipe was easy to follow for my first attempt at this dish. It was actually difficult to find a recipe that I could easily follow so I combined a few recipe steps together and made this Baked Garlic Lemon Salmon dish just in time to celebrate my mother-in-law’s birthday.

Baked Garlic Lemon Salmon

INGREDIENTS

  • Fresh bone-in salmon (They say bone-in but they do try to take out as many bones as they can. We were lucky not to get any bones in ours)
  • 8 garlic cloves chopped
  • 1 stick or 4 tbsp of butter
  • 1/4 cup of chopped green onions
  • 1/4 cup of Fresh Italian parsley
  • 1/4 cup of freshly-squeezed lemon
  • Salt and black pepper
  • 1/4 white wine

DIRECTIONS

  • Start by washing the salmon thoroughly and put it aside. You can also start the pre-heat process to 350.
  • In a pot, place the butter and wait until it melts and add all your chopped up garlic. Stir.
  • Once the garlic cooks a bit in the butter, remove from the top of the stove and place it on a trivet.
  • Then add the white wine and freshly-squeezed lemon to the pot. Then stir. Place aside.
  • Use a baking flat tray and cover it with tin foil (leave extra as you will be wrapping up the salmon in it). On the tin foil, spread butter so that the salmon doesn’t stick to it.
  • Once it is all covered, add your salmon.
  • With a spoon, add the sauce that was just made onto each salmon. Then with a brush, spread it on the whole salmon.

  • Then cover the salmon with tin foil and place it in the oven.
  • Time varies depending on how you want to have your salmon cooked and the type of oven you have. For me, it took 40 minutes to cook to perfection. *You can uncover the salmon 5 minutes prior to removing it from the oven.
  • Once cooked, remove from the oven and sprinkle the green onions and parsley over each salmon.
  • Then it is ready to serve!

This was an easy and simple recipe to follow and the end result was fantastic! I truly enjoyed eating this dish and I know I will be making it again soon. The best compliment anyone could get after you cook a meal, is when your guests ask to bring left overs home. This is how I know that I did a great job and had to share this recipe with all of you. Enjoy!

If you try this recipe, would love to hear from you. Leave a comment below. 🙂

Until next time…Happy Parenting!

– Momma Braga

Books, Children's books

Potato Pants! | Book Review

I love potatoes! It is one of my favorite side dishes but never in my wildest dreams would I think that potatoes would need potato pants!

Well, they certainly do if you are in the new children’s book, Potato Pants! written and illustrated by Laurie Keller. Laurie Keller is the acclaimed author-illustrator of several bestselling picture books, including Do Unto Otters, Arnie, the Doughnut, The Scrambled States of America, and Open Wide: Tooth School Inside, among numerous others.

Potato Pants! is a book that details potato’s single minded pursuit to get a pair of potato pants. However, his plan is quickly diverted by an Eggplant, who he misjudges at the start to be a big, old bully, only to realize it was a big misunderstanding by the end. Beyond being hysterical, this book also taps into those universal feelings of childhood anxiety and is a cautionary tale of what happens when you make a judgment before you have all the information. Just check out this hilarious trailer on Potato Pants! 

#MelAndNikkiReview

We couldn’t help but giggle out loud throughout the book as Potato tries to find ways to get potato pants. It is also a great book with an important message about anxiety, friendship and forgiveness. This is why for this #MelAndNikkiReview, we give it 5 potatoes out of 5! If you want an entertaining picture book then this is the book for you and your child. The illustrations compliment the story perfectly and it truly is the silliest picture book you’ll ever read. We simply adored it!

To purchase your very own copy, click here.

Until next time…Happy Parenting!

-Momma Braga

 

 

Books, Children's books

Skelly’s Halloween | Book Review

We love Halloween in our home especially when it comes to trick-or-treating! Nikki loves to dress up and of course get all the chocolates that she can get.

This is why we were so excited to receive, Skelly’s Halloween, written by David Martin and illustrated by Lori Richmond. It is a fitting book for us to read this season.

“Head and shoulders, knees and toes. Trick-or-treating, here we goes!”

Skelly is a skeleton who loves Halloween since its the one day in the year that he is awake. His favorite part of Halloween is trick-or-treating of course! However, he takes a tumble leaving him in pieces, Skelly just might miss out on his favorite holiday. How will he ever get put back together again?

Skelly’s Halloween is a Spooktacular book. It provides young children a playful read aloud with a Humpty Dumpty-like hook. It is so catchy and became an instant favorite of ours as we countdown for Halloween. The book flowed nicely and the illustrations were adorable! We love how Skelly’s Halloween was on the fun-loving part of Halloween and it wasn’t a scary read which is great for young children. If you are looking for a book to ease a child into the concept of Halloween then this is a great book! Or if you have a child (like mine) who loves Halloween then this is the perfect book for them as well.

“Snap my fingers and rattle my bones – it’s Halloween!”

#MelAndNikkiReview

For this #MelAndNikkiReview, we give Skelly’s Halloween, 5+++ Bones out of 5! We loved the story and the catchy phrases within the book which we have pointed out in quotes within this review. 😉 The illustrations compliment the book beautifully and overall it was a great book for young children. I know that we will be reading this book nightly until Halloween arrives as it is getting Nikki excited for the big day. We know this book will become a Halloween staple and you don’t want to miss it!

To purchase your own copy, please click here. It truly is a Boooo-tiful read!

Until next time…Happy Parenting!

-Momma Braga

 

 

Health

Managing Diabetes, High Blood Pressure and High Cholesterol Even Without Medication

Many suffer from diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. All or just one of these factors can result in being overweight.

But what is a safe and great way to lose weight while dealing with some of these health issues?

We are delighted to announce that you can learn all about these specific issues and the program called Zero Excuse Go that can help you lose the weight and keep it off too.

Event Information

Join Dr. Stotland, professor at McGill University and his team at Zero Excuse Go in their next teleconference online on October 9th from 7 PM to 7:30 PM.

In this session they will highlight how to better manage diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol in overweight patients, even without medication. They will also talk about Zero Excuse Go revolutionary technology that will transform weight loss programs forever.

You will also be given an opportunity to hear testimonials of some of their patients who lost a significant amount of weight while following Zero Excuse Go’s program. Then they will have a demo of their weight loss technology and a Q&A period.

Sounds like an online session that can benefit many who are suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

If you want to lose weight and be in better health, click the link to register and for more info on the event. Make sure

If you would like to join their private and free Facebook page click on this link, https://www.facebook.com/groups/ZeroExcuseGO/. Their health professionals are there to offer weight loss motivation and advice.

 *This is a sponsored post. Momma Braga was compensated for writing and posting this article.

Motherhood

I Survived My First Week Of Kindgarten

She held my hand excitedly with her backpack on her back and ready to conquer Kindergarten. “I am so excited for school. I have been waiting so long to go,” exclaimed Nikki. I took a deep breath and knew it was time to let go a little more.

After months of preparing myself mentally and physically for the beginning of Nikki’s first day and week of school. It appears that the heart still pulls all the weight no matter how much we think we are ready. I re-lived those sleepless nights with the anticipation of Nikki starting school. It all came down to this one day and wondering how Nikki will do.

So many questions went running through my head like will she make friends? Will she adjust? Will she cry?

First Day

When the day finally arrived. Nikki woke up excited that it was her first day of school. We started our morning routine and we made sure to take those first day photos with her beautiful poster designed by ID Inspired Designs. We packed her lunch and were ready to start her school day.

We arrived early and walked to school together (while I was holding her hand tightly). As we walked, Nikki kept telling me how happy and excited she was. She went on to tell me that she is going to learn so much and grow. At this point I started to feel that lump in your throat when you are about to cry. I stopped myself and said, “You have to be strong! Don’t let her see you cry!”

We went inside the classroom and the teacher directed us to find a cubby. As Nikki hung her jacket and bag, I realized that I have an independent young lady and could not have been more proud.

At this point it was time to sit at the carpet to start the day. Without hesitation, Nikki went on her way. I approached Nikki and I wished her a magical day and told her how much I loved her. Nikki turned to me and said, “Ok mom. Bye. I’m ok. You can go now.”

Cue Waterfalls

As I walked to my car wiping the little tears that were making their way down. I started to think about that very first day that she was born. I remember the doctor placing her on my chest and with her curious eyes looking up at me as if she was reconfirming that I was her mother. I looked down at her and said, “Welcome to the world Nikki. We have been waiting a really long time for you. I promise that I will always be there to protect you.” But how can I keep that promise when I have released her into the world of school?

By the time I got to my car, there were no more tears but waterfalls at this point. I lost control of the overwhelming emotions that I worked so hard to contain. But I couldn’t as I remembered how hard it was to conceive her after my miscarriage and how grateful we were to finally hold her in our arms. I wasn’t ready to let go no matter how much I said I was. However, the tears were the release that I needed to reassure me that she was going to be ok. My tears were a lot better than having her tears on this first special day. She was ready to let me go and that I am grateful for.

The rest of the day I watched my clock to see when it was time to pick her up again. I couldn’t wait to see her and hug her and ask how her day went.

End of First Day

I waited patiently outside to see my child’s glowing face coming out from the classroom. Nikki came out with the same excited smile that she went in with that day and I knew it was a success! She had a great day and that was all that mattered to me at that moment.

First Full Week

Luckily the first full week of school had no tears from either party and each day was enjoyed as Nikki asked to go back to school. This made the mornings much easier to cope with. What we did find is that afterschool was harder as Nikki would be very tired from the long day. Some days she would squeeze in a little power nap which helped her the rest of the evening until bedtime. The days that a nap wasn’t a possibility made it a little more difficult for all of us as cranky would be her middle name. But this is the adjustment and transition phase which we hope is just a phase. However, the silver lining is that she is enjoying the daily stimulation of school and all that needs to be learned.

We always take it one day and week at a time with adjusting along the way. It seems that we do a lot of that in this journey we call parenthood.

As we just completed the second week I realized something from the first day. Maybe my promise hasn’t been broken to protect her. By raising her to protect herself when I am not there is the best way to keep my promise to her….At the end of the day, I am just happy to say that I survived my first week of Kindergarten!

Until next time…Happy Parenting!

-Momma Braga

Food, Recipe

Momma Braga’s Clam Stew

A very easy and simple recipe that my husband adores in our home is the Clam Stew. We like to do this meal every once in awhile and we love how simple it is.

Clam Stew

INGREDIENTS

  • 1/2 Onion
  • Olive Oil
  • Salt
  • Black Pepper
  • Paprika
  • Baby Clams (We love to use the Ferma Baby Clams)
  • Cup of water
  • 5 to 7 potatoes

DIRECTIONS

  • Start by washing the onions and potatoes. Chop up the onions and potatoes. Everyone has a preferred style for potatoes in their stew, we like it diced. Set the potatoes aside as you will need them later.
  • Once the onions are cut, place them in a pot with some olive oil with a pinch of paprika, salt and black pepper. On low heat cook the onion until the onions are a golden color. Then add your clams (including the liquid that is included in the canned clams), potatoes and one cup of water.
  • Let it cook on medium and stir.
  • Now cook until the potatoes are cooked and you are done. If a fork goes through the potatoes then that is my sign that they are done.
  • You can serve your clam stew in a bowl and if you like Portuguese buns, then provide some at the dinner table as they are great for dipping into the stew.

And there you have it, Momma Braga’s clam stew! Give it a try and let me know what you think of it!

Until next time…Happy Parenting!

– Momma Braga

Motherhood

How to Turn Your Family Office into a Homework Area

Written By: Claire Adams

All parents want their kids to do well in school. For that, you need to provide them with a bit of help, a lot of support and a practical area for schoolwork. Sure, sending your child to their room to do homework is the traditional way to handle the situation, but is that really the best? Well, just as you have a designated room for your “homework” (usually a home office), your kids will also benefit from a space like that. So, how can you design a family office to welcome your kids?

Photo credit Pixabay

Safety first

If you’re planning to share your office with your first-grader, you must child-proof your shared space. Kids at that age are super curious, and even though they understand what they can and can’t touch, they are often unable to resist the temptation. Make sure to keep your staplers, letter openers and other potentially dangerous items in drawers and safely secure all heavy items on shelves. If there are many cords winding around your office, get cheap cord organizers that will prevent trips.  You don’t want to see your kid getting hurt nor your laptop flying from your desk!

Make it fun

Adults might thrive in minimalist spaces, but kids will simply hate them! There’s no way your child will love his or her new study area if it’s decorated like a cubicle. So, make sure to fill their little corner with color and decorate it in a fun and inspiring way. Of course, that doesn’t mean you must go all-in! Pick a few complementary shades, put up some wall decoration and make it generally fun and pleasant. Organize a little DIY shop, so you can create decorations together and spruce up the space. Your kid will naturally gravitate towards the area, even when they don’t have homework!

Photo credit Pixabay

Light it up

Homework is still mainly done on paper and involves plenty of physical books, so you need to light up your space! The best way to provide your kid with appropriate lighting is to get a good desk lamp for evening homework sessions. But, if you can provide your kid with natural lighting, go ahead and place their desk near the window to let the sunshine in. After all, natural lighting is still the best and healthiest way to illuminate a homework area.

Equip it for the win

It goes without saying that you’ll equip your kid’s homework area with an ergonomic desk and chair, but there’s more to successful homework-doing than that! Colorful highlighters, crayons, rulers and post-it notes are all essential for fun and fast schoolwork. If you have older kids, you need to provide them with more serious office material and tools. Check out the Winc stationery range and you’ll find everything your kid might ever need, from paper clips and scissors to calculators and batteries. Homework has never been this easy, fast and fun!

Photo credit Pixabay

Boost health

Offices are known to get pretty stuffy from all the electronics, so air purification and proper ventilation are a must! Luckily, there are great air purifiers on the market today which keep your indoor air free of dust, pollen, mold, dander and even some nasty odors! Combine them with a few plants and you’ll have a clean and healthy office and homework area. Also, make sure to keep your office warm. Adults are much less sensitive to cold than kids, so don’t forget to provide your space with some heating. A portable heater is a great option, as long as it has a safety switch, cool surface temperatures and a safety grate around the fan.

Sharing a home office with your little scholar will not only give you an opportunity to monitor their work, but also allow you to provide them with help, support and motivation to keep up the good work!