Busy Moms Helper

Family fun, food, recipes, crafts, and free printables

Top 6 Awesome Activity Books for Children

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What better way to keep kids inside the house other than to show them the wonders that they can learn while reading activity books for children? Getting kids to like reading is tricky. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. After all, kids can watch cartoons the TV or YouTube and keep themselves entertained without having to ever pick up a book. This is why it’s a great idea to get them interested in reading from a young age.

The “trick” to make books interesting is to pick something that all kids like. Here is where activity books come in and save the day. If you are not familiar with activity books, then you should know that they are designed to present kids with interesting and fun activities that will help them later in life.

For example, there are children activity books that show them how to cook, fun facts about science, and much more! With that being said, let’s go ahead and check out what are the best activity books for kids that boost their curiosity and creativity.

Awesome Activity Books for Children

#1 Jump Pad of Picture Puzzles by Highlights

Jump Pad of Picture Puzzles

Who doesn’t love puzzles? Kids are stoked about them and the Jumbo Pad of Picture Puzzles by Highlights features more than 125 unique puzzles. To make things even better, the books also contains fun, learning activities such as Spot the Differences, What’s Wrong, and even some Hidden Pictures.

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#2 Unbored Activity Kits

Unbored Activity Kits

If you want to make sure that your clever kids always have something to pique their interest and keep them entertained, then you can’t go wrong with the book called Unbored Activity Kids. This book is actually a set of three. It includes the following titles: Unbored Time Capsule, Unbored Disguises, and Unbored Carnival.

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#3 The 50 States Activity Book by Gabrielle Balkan (Author) and Sol Linero (Illustrator)

The 50 States Activity Book

Do you want your kids to learn more about the US? If that is the case, then getting The 50 States Activity Book by Gabrielle Balkan (Author) and Sol Linero (Illustrator) is the best decision that you can make. This book will take the kids on a wonderful journey across the magnificent US and all 50 of its states.

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#4 Doodle Town by Dominika Lipnieskwa

Doodle Town by Dominika Lipnieskwa

When it comes to fun activities for kids, there is nothing that tops doodling. After all, kids love nothing more than to take their crayons and start doodling on everything, including the walls. The Doodle Town by Dominika Lipnieskwa is going to help you ensure that your kids always have an interesting drawing to doddle and keep them learning. The book teaches kids lots of interesting things such as tips, tricks, and special drawing techniques.

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#5 Playing with Food: An Activity Book by Louise Lockhart

Playing with Food: An Activity Book

Learning how to cook is typically a skill that most kids have to discover on their own when they leave for college. First experiences are never good when cooking. This is why it’s a great idea to get them Playing with Food: An Activity Book by Louise Lockhart so that they can be guided in their cuisine adventure. We need to mention that the book only features age-appropriate recipes and tips.

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#6 Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Mad Libs

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

This is one of the world’s most popular children activity books, and there is a good reason for that. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Mad Libs focuses on showing kids just how powerful their imagination can be. The book encourages them to write hilarious that feature funny characters from the Wimpy Kid Gang. Who knows, maybe your kid will discover a newfound love for writing scenarios?

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Top 20 Bestselling Audiobooks of All Time

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Busy moms don’t have that much free time on their hands, especially to relax and enjoy a good book. It’s quite difficult to stay focused and immerse yourself in wonderful books when you need to cook breakfast, do the dishes, clean the house, and get your kids ready for school. All at the same time! Here is where audiobooks come in and save the day.

Listening to audiobooks is so amazing that you will feel like you just unlocked a “cheat code” to life. You can finally combine relaxation with the daily tasks of a mom and to make things even better, there are so many extraordinary audiobooks that you will never get bored. Finding interesting books is not easy but today we are going to help you with that by presenting the bestselling audiobooks for busy moms of all time!

What are the Bestselling Audiobooks of All Time?

Audible is the most popular platform for listening audiobooks. Back in 2017. Audible wanted to celebrate 20 years of activity and it did that by sharing a list with the most popular audiobooks of all time. This should come as no surprise, but the list includes top-rated titles such as “The Subtle of Art of Not Giving a F**k” by Mark Manson and the famous “It” by Stephen King. However, the list also contains some interesting titles that you probably didn’t get the time to read yet.

Nonfiction Audiobooks

Nonfiction Audiobooks

Untamed by Glennon Doyle, read by the author

Becoming by Michelle Obama, read by the author

Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari, read by Derek Perkins

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson, read by the author

Educated by Tara Westover, read by Julia Whelan

Being Mortal by Atul Gawande, read by Robert Petkoff

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah, read by the author

White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo, read by Amy Landon

Trick Mirror by Jia Tolentino, read by the author

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson, read by Roger Wayne

Fiction Audiobooks

Fiction Audiobooks

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng, read by Jennifer Lim

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, read by Jeremy Irons

Beloved by Toni Morrison, read by the author

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, read by Cassandra Campbell

Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid, read by Nicole Lewis

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles, read by Nicholas Guy Smith

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi, read by Bahni Turpin

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman, read by Cathleen McCarron

Circe by Madeline Miller, read by Perdita Weeks

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, read by Jim Dale

My Chicken Kitchen Recipe

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Are you starting to get bored of the bland recipes boneless, skinless chicken breasts? It gets overcooked really fast and more than often, you will end up with a dry and chewy breast that doesn’t even come close to the delicious flavor that the chicken recipe your mama made. If that is the case, then you are in luck! Today we are going to share with you two delicious chicken kitchen menu recipes that will make your taste buds go crazy.

We are going to present to you the famous air fryer chicken breast and instant pot chicken breast recipes that are so flavorful that you would think they straight came out of your mama’s chicken kitchen. With that said, let’s get cooking!

Air Fryer Chicken Breast

Air Fryer Chicken Breast

We think it’s safe to say that roasted chicken is popular in every kitchen. On the downside of things, you have to use oil and wait a long time for it to be cooked to perfection. Fortunately, there is an alternative way. If you try our air fryer chicken breast recipe, you won’t need to use a single drop of oil.

Ingredients

Here are the ingredients that you need for this recipe:

  • 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts;
  • 1 large egg (beaten);
  • Kosher salt;
  • 3/4 c. bread crumbs (preferably panko);
  • 1/4 c. flour;
  • 2 tsp. lemon zest;
  • 1/ 3 c freshly grated Parmesan;
  • 1 tsp. dried oregano;
  • Ground black pepper;
  • 1 /2 cayenne pepper.

Cooking Instructions

#1 The first step is to place the eggs and flour in two separate bellows. Get a third bowl and combine the oregano, cayenne, lemon zest, crumbs, and Parmesan. Now, you can season it with salt and pepper.

#2 Dip the chicken breasts into the flour, then the beaten eggs, and now add the crumbs mixture.

#3 The last step is to place the chicken breasts into the air fryer basket and let it cook at a temperature of 375°. Make sure to flip the chicken breasts after ten minutes and then wait for five more.

Instant Pot Chicken Breasts

Instant Pot Chicken Breasts

There’s nothing worse than being hungry and having to wait for your chicken breasts to finish cooking. This takes a long time and minutes start feeling like hours when your stomach is rumbling. Luckily, this is not the case for our instant pot chicken recipe.

Ingredients

Here are the ingredients that you need for this recipe:

  • 4 boneless chicken breasts;
  • 1/4 tsp. onion powder;
  • 1 tsp. dried dill;
  • 2 tsp. dried parsley;
  • 1 c. low-sodium chicken broth;
  • 2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil;
  • Kosher salt;
  • Freshly ground black pepper;
  • 1/2 tsp. dried chives;
  • 1/2 tsp. paprika.

Cooking Instructions

#1 Use a small bowl to mix up the spices and then season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper.

#2 Head over to your Instant Pot’s menu and select the “Sauté” option so that it starts heating up. When the oil is hot, add the chicken breasts. You should try and work in batches and sear both sides of the breasts until they are golden. Usually, it takes three minutes for each site.

#3 Take out the breasts and place them on a plate. Now, sprinkle both sides with the spice mixture that you prepared in the first step.

#4 Turn off the Instant Pot and add the broth. Get a wooden spoon to help you scrape and deglaze the bottom of the pot. The next step is to place the trivet in the pot and to make sure that the chicken is placed on the top side. Close the lid and set the Instant Pot to the “Pressure Cook” mode for five minutes.

#5 The last thing that you need to do is wait for the cycle to be complete. Dinner is served!

15+ tasty and healthy Chinese snacks

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Are you craving some delicious Chinese snacks? China is renowned for its unique cuisine that will make your taste buds go wild and there is a good reason for that. The meals that you can find in China are rich in spices and flavor. Not just that, but there is also tradition behind each meal and their flavor is rooted in the beliefs of the natives.

Fortunately, you don’t have to visit Asia in order to taste these amazing snacks. You can order them online and have the same experience as if you were dining in Hong Kong. If you don’t know where to buy Chinese snacks online, then you should be happy to know Amazon has your back. Now, let’s go ahead and check out what are the top 20 tasty and healthy Chinese snacks that you can order online.

Top 20 Chinese Snacks

#1 The Stinky Tofu

The Stinky Tofu

We are going to start our list with something that is truly unique to the Chinese people. We are talking about the famous Stinky Tofu. The powerful smell usually scares people away, but the taste is going to drive your taste buds nuts. A fun fact about this snack is that the tofu needs more than 300 years to stay in fermentation. Isn’t that incredible?

#2 Pocky

Pocky

If you ever visit China, then you will quickly notice that all kids are eating Pocky. This is one of the most popular Chines snacks and this is all thanks to the fact the Pocky is sweet. Pocky is mad from biscuits that are covered in a delicious layer of cream that comes in various flavors.

#3 Haw Flakes

Haw Flakes

The Haw Flakes are your “go-to” snack when you want to show to someone how unique and delicious Chinese food can be. This snack is made from the fruit that grows in the hawthorn tree and therefore, it is very healthy. What’s great about Haw Flakes is that you can use this snack as an ingredient for your fruit salads.

#4 Youtiao

Youtiao

Another amazing Chinese snack that will make you feel like you are walking on the streets of Hong Kong is called Youtiao. These are fried breadsticks that go great with soymilk and porridge.

#5 Rice Crackers

Rice Crackers

Since this is China that we are talking about, then it should come as no surprise that Rice Crackers are featured on our list. The most popular brand of Rice Crackers in Asia is called MSG.

#6 Yan Yan

Yan Yan

Do you want something that will satisfy your sweet tooth? If that is the case, then you can’t go wrong with the Yan Yan. This package contains crunchy biscuits and cream that will put a smile on your face right from the very first time that you taste them.

#7 Pop Pan

Pop Pan

Pop Pan is another popular Chinese snack that is known for its unique taste. These are buttery crackers and what makes them stand out is the fact that they have scallion flavor.

#8 French Biscuits

Despite being called French Biscuits, this snack originates from China and the biscuits are covered in a thick layer of cream. They go great with tea and Chinese people love serving them to their guests.

#9 Wung Wang Snow Cookies

Chinese people make great cookies and the Wung Wang Snow Cookies are the perfect example of that. A single pack of Wung Wang Snow Cookies contains two delicious cookies that feature a mix of salty and sweet flavor.

#10 Turnip Cake

The Turnip Cake is commonly known as “Io bak go” in China and it can be found in all Chinese supermarkets. The Turnip Cake features turnip that is seasoned and mixed with corn-starch, onions, and sausages. The flavor is amazing!!

#11 Steamed Bao Buns

Steamed Bao Buns

If there is one snack that you are guaranteed to see in all pop-up shops around China, then Steamed Bao Buns is definitely the one. Just like all donuts, the Steamed Bao Buns are available in various fillings and all of them are mouth-watery.

#12 Fried Dough Twist

Fried Dough Twist

The Chinese love taking simple dough and turning it into delicious dishes. The Fried Dough Twist is the perfect example of that. This snack doesn’t only look amazing, but it’s also sweet and savory.

#13 Shrimp Chips

Shrimp Chips

Are you looking for a quick snack that you can enjoy while watching your favorite TV show or movie on Netflix? If that is the case, then Shrimp Chimps are your best choice. They come in various flavors and you will always find at least one bag open at Chinese parties.

#14 Gummy Candies

Gummy Candies

Gummy Candies are known for being the “unofficial” Chinese New Year snack. You can find Gummy Candies in various flavors starting with peach and ending with mango. However, we want to warn you that this snack is a bit expensive.

#15 Kasugai Roasted Green Peas

Kasugai Roasted Green Peas

If you like having peas in your food, then you are going to love the Kasugai Roasted Green Peas. This snack is not only healthy, but it’s also incredibly tasty. The peas are covered in wasabi and they will set your mouth on fire if you are not used to spicy food!

#16 Egg Rolls

Egg Rolls

You knew that we are going to present Egg Rolls ever since you clicked on our article, right? After all, everyone who visits China will have the opportunity to eat Egg Rolls since they are so tasty and popular. On the downside of things, the crumbs will make a mess!

#17 Prawn Crackers

Another snack that is super popular among Chinese kids is called Pawn Crackers. These deep-fried chips that are flavored with shrimp. To make things even better, you will also feel a tingling sensation when eating the chips. This is what Chinese snacks are all about!

#18 Curry Fish Balls

Even though Curry Fish Balls might not sound like a delicious dish for Europeans and Americans, all the street vendors in China are selling them. The deep-fried fish balls are cooked in a special curry sauce that is not only delicious but also spicy!

#19 Pineapple Buns

While Americans are arguing if pineapples should be put on pizza or not, the Chinese are taking it to the next level and they are making Pineapple Buns. We are kidding! These buns are just called pineapple because of how they look, they don’t actually have pineapples in them. Nonetheless, they are crunchy and flavorful.

#20 Dried Squid

We are going to end our list with a snack that is so unique that it can’t be found anywhere than China. We are talking about Dried Squid. This snack is chewy and it’s seasoned with salt and spicy chilly. You can also find Dried Squid that has a creamy finish. This is one of the tastiest Chinese snacks!

Top 5 Slow Cookers in 2020 Review & Buying Guide

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If you love cooking delicious meals for your family, then the slow cooker is your best friend! While multi-cookers might do a great job, past tests show us that nothing compares to slow cookers. The meat turns out tender and your beef stew with potatoes will have an extraordinary taste when it comes out. This is thanks to the fact that slow cookers are great for preparing healthy, home-cooked meals that will send you back to your childhood with only their smell.

The question that remains is which slow cooker is best for you? Here is where we come in. We have selected the top five slow cookers in 2020 so that you can prepare amazing meals for your family. The rule of thumb when selecting these products was that all of them should be of premium quality. Therefore, you can’t make a wrong choice.

#1 Hamilton Beach Slow Cooker

We are going to kick off our list with the Stovetop Sear & Cook Slow Cooker that is made by Hamilton Beach. This is a fantastic tool to have in your kitchen and it will add that “special something” to your family dinner nights. The Stovetop Sear & Cook Slow Cooker features flexible programming and a capacity of 6-quart.

What makes this product stand out is the fact that it ships with a removable nonstick aluminum pan so that you never have to worry about finding Hamilton Beach slow cooker replacement parts.

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#2 West Bend Slow Cooker

Top 5 Slow Cookers in 2020 Review & Buying Guide 1

If you are looking a slow cooker that is simple to use and does an outstanding job of preparing meat, then you can’t go wrong with the West Bend Slow Cooker. This slow cooker model features adjustable temperature control and the glass lid is perfect to watch food as it cooks.

Another amazing thing that we want to mention about the West Bend Slow Cooker is that it is equipped with a special “Warm” setting that keeps all meals at the ideal temperature for serving. To top it all off, this product will last for years and you can always use West Bend Slow Cooker replacement parts.

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#3 Bella Slow Cooker

Top 5 Slow Cookers in 2020 Review & Buying Guide 3

The Bella Slow Cooker is one of Amazon’s best-selling products and there is a good reason for that! This is a high-quality product that features a 5-quart capacity which means that you can prepare meals for up to five people at the same time!

We also want to highlight that the pot and the tempered-glass lid of the Bella Slow Cooker are dishwasher safe. This is always a nice feature because it makes it much easier to clean after you cook. In addition, this is an Eco-sensitive product and it uses less energy than other slow cookers.

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#4 Bella Triple Slow Cooker

We have another slow cooker from Bella on the fourth spot. What makes this slow cooker special when compared to the other products featured on our list is its ability to cook multiple-course meals. The individual temperature controls are available in low, medium and high settings so that your meals are always cooked just right.

Each tri tip slow cooker from Bella comes with a serving spoon and spoon rest. Not only that, but we want to highlight that the Bella Triple Slow Cooker features a capacity of 7.5-quarts so that you can cook for an entire party without having to worry if the food will be enough for everyone. Also, the tru triple slow cooker is bundled with 3 lids, 3 lid rests, 3 spoons and an owner’s manual.

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#5 Cuisinart Slow Cooker

Cuisinart is a household brand in the cooking industry and this is thanks to the fact that the products that this company makes are all premium. The Cuisinart Slow Cooker which features 24-hour programmable cook time, cooking rack and cool-touch chrome-plated handles is the perfect example of that. This Cuisinart Slow has a capacity of 4-quart and Cooker it’s perfect for home-cooked meals. The reason why we are saying that is because the folks at Cuisinart have made sure that the slow cooker can prepare an outstanding number of recipes that are famous for their delicious taste.

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Buying Guide

If you don’t feel like the slow cookers that we have presented today are not to your liking or you don’t know which one to pick, then you should check out our buying guide below. We are going to present what are the most important factors that you need to take into consideration to find the best slow cooker for your kitchen.

  • How does it heat?

What many people don’t know is that not all slow cookers use the same method of heating. This is a very important factor when deciding which slow cooker is the best for you because it can benefit your cooking. The best heating method is by using a removable insert. The heating element is located on the bottom and it can also bee moved on the side base (not for all models) and this makes it possible to evenly distribute the heat.

  • Capacity

Another important factor that you need to consider when searching for the best slow cooker is the capacity. Do you need a slow cooker that can prepare enough food for a party of up to five people? If that is the case, then you should pick a large on that features a capacity of 10-quart. You can also go with something smaller if you don’t want to deal with leftovers.

  • The Lid Material

The last factor that we want to highlight is the quality of the lid. As everyone knows this already, you don’t want to remove the lid when preparing meals with a slow cooker because you will disperse the heat. This is why it’s always worth to pay extra for a see-through lid.

How to get kids to eat vegetables

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How to get kids to eat vegetables? Ahh, the decade-old question that moms are trying to figure it out every day. Getting your kids to eat healthy veggies is sometimes an impossible task because, as we all know, kids love nothing more than ice cream, chocolate, cotton candy, and all other types of sugary snacks. Back in the day, cartoons such as Pop-Eye taught kids that eating spinach is right for them, but what about now?

After talking with my friends who are successfully making their kids get excited about eating veggies, I found the secret that helps them to that. The secret of getting kids to eat vegetables is to cook delicious and healthy meals. This is easier than done! Finding the right recipes that will make your kids ask for a second plate is not easy at all. Here is where I come in! I did my research and discovered what is the most mouth-watery veggie recipe that your kids will not only love, but they will ask for it every day.

Delicious Veggie Nuggets

If there is one thing that all kids love when it comes to food, then it has to be finger food that can be dipped in their favorite sauce. McDonald’s owes most of its success to nuggets, but that is not the recipe that I want to share with you today, and instead, I will show you how to prepare veggie nuggets. The recipe is borrowed from Real Mom Nutrition.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup shredded carrots
  • 3 cups broccoli florets
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 1/4 cups seasoned breadcrumbs, divided
  • 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon canola oil

How to Prepare the Recipe

  1. Shred carrots (I use my food processor’s shredding attachment).
  2. Steam broccoli in the microwave for two minutes or until tender.
  3. Place shredded carrots, steamed broccoli, garlic, eggs, 1 cup of the breadcrumbs, cheese, onion powder, and black pepper in food processor and pulse for 15 seconds or until well combined. Mixture should form easily into a ball. If it’s too crumbly, add water one teaspoon at a time until you achieve the desired consistency.
  4. Form mixture into balls, about a tablespoon each (I use a cookie scoop). You should get about 25 nuggets. Flatten slightly into round discs about 1/2-inch thick.
  5. Place remaining 1/4 cup breadcrumbs in a shallow dish. Coat each veggie nuggets with breadcrumbs.
  6. Heat oil in a skillet on medium high heat until it sizzles when sprinkled with water droplets.
  7. Arrange nuggets in skillet and cook about 4 minutes each side, or until golden brown and crispy. You may need to do this in 2-3 batches depending on the size of your skillet.
  8. Serve with honey-mustard sauce, ketchup, or other favorite dip.

Nutrition Information: Yield: 8, Serving Size: 3 nuggets, Amount Per Serving: Calories: 175 Total Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 0g, Unsaturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 57mg, Sodium: 371mg, Carbohydrates: 19g, Net Carbohydrates: 0g, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 3g, Sugar Alcohols: 0g, Protein: 8g

Teach Your Kids About The Benefits of Veggies

Now that you have a delicious recipe to help you, getting your kids to eat vegetables is no longer impossible. However, this is not the only thing that you can do. Experts are saying that one of the best ways to get kids excited about eating veggies every day is to teach them about the benefits that eating healthy brings.
Obviously, your kids will not care about the low carbs of veggies or the fats that they contain, and this is why you should teach them in a different way. According to experts, you should tell your kids that if they eat veggies, they will be powerful just like the heroes that they see in Marvel movies such as The Avengers, for example. Do your kids want to have super strength? Tell them that green foods will make them powerful. You can also invent things on the go and tell them that orange fruits such as will give them supervision!

Which Vitamins and Minerals Does the Human Body Need the Most?

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Every day, we read ‘expert’ opinions online (or another media channel) which speak about optimal nutrition and which nutrients our body needs the most. Let’s get things clear right off the bat – all vitamins and minerals are important. Those optimal diets you can find online can do a lot more harm than good. A varied approach to our diet is best and you should also keep in mind that you need to eat everything in moderation.

With that being said, there are some key vitamins and minerals the human body needs regularly. Check out the list below but ensure that you’re getting other nutrients every day as well.

Vitamin D3

An important vitamin that keeps our bones and muscles in check, vitamin D3 can prevent a myriad of disorders. Although we mostly synthesize it from sunlight, plenty of foods have it as well. Eat egg yolks, soy products, and sardines to keep your vitamin D3 levels in check.

Vitamins B6 and B12

Both vitamins from the B group are key for to mental and physical health. B6, for example, regulates our sleeping patterns and our appetite and mood as well.

Vitamin B12 raises the production of the hemoglobin protein in red blood cells and keeps our nerves healthy.

You can get more of the first from bananas, chicken, sweet potatoes, and grains. Vitamin B12 can be found in boiled eggs, beef, turkey, and yogurt among other foods.

Iron

Iron is an incredibly important mineral for our health. It keeps our energy levels in check, boosts the production of red blood cells, and keeps anemia at bay.

Spinach, shrimp, sunflower seeds, and steak are the most iron-rich foods you can eat.

Calcium

Calcium is vital for our bones and teeth. It also keeps our blood pressure steady and regulates other important functions in the human body. Lack of calcium is a serious problem that can have unforeseen consequences. To make sure that never happens, eat more dairy products as well as salmon and almonds.

Simple Home Exercises to Melt Your Lower Belly Fat

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If there’s one thing all women hate, it’s weight gain. The problem is that weight gain has become so common due to our poor diet and the lack of exercise. Clobbering that muffin top isn’t that easy. It requires a lot of will and dedication as well as a good diet play and plenty of exercise. Even with that, it’s going to be at least a few months before you start seeing a difference. Add the lack of time to hit the gym to the mix and it’s a recipe for disaster.

Don’t despair, though. There are many exercises for your lower abs you can do at home with ease to melt the excess fat. Below you can see a list of 3 simple ones that won’t take a lot of your time and don’t require special equipment as well.

Front Toe Drops

Focus on the video to do the exercise properly. It is great for your core muscles and abs. Make sure to pay attention to your breathing – it’s a key part of the exercise.

The Bridge

An absolute champion at pounding away excess abdominal fat, the bridge is a challenging, yet rewarding exercise. It will be hard in the beginning, but you’ll get used to it. The bridge will pound on your lower back, glutes, and abs at the same time.

4-Point Balance

This exercise works on your abs and can also help fix your balance. Do it properly and it can work wonders for the excess abdominal fat.

Plank

You know it and you may have even tried it. The plank isn’t a fad – it’s a powerful exercise that can do wonders for weight loss if done properly. Watch a video and raise the bar every day to stay in shape.

Amazing Uses of Coconut Oil

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You’ve read and most likely heard the news – coconut oil is a true miracle worker for our health and appearance. The oil has amazing benefits and has been used since the dawn of time to create pitch-perfect natural remedies. From improving the appearance of our skin to boosting our immunity, the oil can do wonders for our health.

Let’s see what makes coconut oil so powerful.

Coconut Oil Health Benefits

The oil is composed of highly important compounds.

  • Caprylic acid
  • Capric acid
  • Lauric acid

Rare substances that can only be found in this oil, the combination of these three acids is the reason why coconut oil works like a charm. Even better, it’s highly versatile and can be used in a variety of ways. Rubbing it on your skin can help treat numerous conditions while consuming coconut oil will oil-up your system and help fight diseases.

Here are some of the amazing benefits this wondrous oil offers:

Health Uses

Relieves Pain

Coconut oil has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Consuming it regularly can lower inflammation and drastically reduce any type of pain.

Great for Your Thyroid

Did you know that the oil is great for your thyroid gland? Thanks to the presence of healthy fats, it can boost the function of your thyroid and keep it running at an optimal level.

Improves Bone Health

Consume the oil every day and it’ll boost your bone and joint health like nothing else.

Beauty Benefits

Eliminates Dandruff

Apply some of the oil on the roots of your hair to get rid of dandruff once and for all.

Great Against Dermatitis

Rub coconut oil on your skin to treat atopic dermatitis and treat your dry and itchy skin.

Natural Lip Balm

Do your lips crack in the winter? Just rub a bit of coconut oil – it works much better than any lip balm.

Cooking

Better Than Any Cooking Oil

Use coconut oil for cooking to improve the taste of any dish and give it a healthier touch.

Great Homemade Mayo

Use coconut oil as the base for homemade mayo. It’s lighter, tastes even better, and most importantly, it won’t raise your cholesterol levels.

Add It to Smoothies

Want to give your smoothies an edge? Just add some coconut oil – it will improve their taste and their benefits as well.

Five things first time moms need to know about newborns

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I bet that you have spent hours thinking about how your baby is going to look like. However, I am also sure that the thought of motherhood can be frightening, especially if this is the first time that you are going to bring home a baby from the hospital. The job of being a mother is difficult, and what you should keep in mind is that you will learn everything on the go.

Learning how to take care of newborns is difficult, but it’s also an enriching and amazing experience. If the thought of becoming a new mom is scary to you, then you have arrived at the right place. The reason why I am saying that is because I have prepared a list with five things all first time moms need to know about newborns.

#1 How to Handle a Newborn

If you didn’t spend too much time around newborns, then handling them might seem scary. They are fragile, and we need to be extra careful when holding them in our arms. Here are some tips that experienced mothers have to share about handling newborns:

  • Always wash your hands or use hand sanitizers before holding the newborn. Don’t forget that the immune systems of babies take time to become strong;
  • Support the baby’s head and neck. You can do this by cradling the head when carrying the baby;
  • Do not shake the newborn! The reason why you don’t want to shake the baby, not even in play, is because this can cause bleeding in the brain.

#2 Trust Your Instincts

I am sure that you have heard of the term “maternal instincts”. This is a real thing and my advice to you is always to trust it. If you feel like something strange is going on with your newborn, don’t rely on Google to provide you with answers. Pick up the phone and call a medic as soon as possible. If your maternal instincts are making you uncomfortable about a toy that your baby is playing with, take the toy away! Always trust your gut when it comes to your baby.

#3 Listen to The Baby’s Cues

Another essential tip that is going to help you become a strong mamma is to listen to your baby’s cues. Babies communicate through body language and crying. You should make it your top priority to listen to these cues and learn what they mean. For example, some babies will start sucking their fingers when they start feeling hungry. If you fail to pick up on this cue, you will surely notice the next one because it is crying. So, keep an eye out for small signals and motherhood will be an easier job.

#4 Post-Baby Body

The last thing that you need to worry about when becoming a mom is extra weight. Your body will change significantly during pregnancy, but it doesn’t stop there. Your body will experience changes, even post-pregnancy and it will take you some time before you can get back to where you were. It’s unfortunate that we live in a society where looks matter so much, but you should not be stressed about getting back in shape after having a baby. Your priority should be to make sure that your baby is healthy and happy.

#5 Enjoy Every Moment

Even though the job of a mom is tiring, and you will rarely have time to spend on yourself, you should make it your top priority to enjoy every moment. Babies are adorable when they are little, and you should spend as much time with them as possible because this is not going to last. Babies grow up very quickly, and if you don’t spend all your time by their side, you might miss out on important moments.

I talked with many moms, and they all had the same tip to share with me. They all said that new moms should document every moment from the little one’s life. Take a picture when your baby takes the first bath or eats solid foods for the first time. These moments are incredibly precious, and you will thank yourself for documenting everything as the years go on.

5 Tips to Make Your Child Eat Its Food

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Every mother knows that the key to proper child growth is healthy and nutritious food. A child’s diet needs to be healthy and diverse, but it’s pretty challenging to make them eat their veggies and other foods. When children refuse to eat something, parents are ready to do everything they can to make them. It’s a vicious cycle that involves petty blackmail that can have unforeseen consequences. But, worry not – we have a few tips that will make your child eat.

  • Whenever your child refuses to eat, leave them without food for hours

It may sound cruel, but it’s a method that works. Whenever your children refuse to eat, take the food off the table for a couple of hours. This method will make your child a bit irritated, but they’ll eat whatever’s on their plate later.

  • Never feed your children when they’re tired

If you want your children to eat whatever you’ve prepared, never do it when they’re tired. Force-feeding them just to meet expectations isn’t going to lead you anywhere. Let them have a break and you can try again later.

  • Let your child help in preparation of meals

Hey, what child doesn’t want to make a mess in the kitchen? If it helps, why not try it? The next time you’re preparing a meal for your kid, let them help. The chances that they’ll eat it will be far higher.

  • If they hate something, don’t go for their favorite dish

If your child doesn’t want mashed broccoli, don’t go with pizza or whatever their favorite meal is. It may calm them down at once, but they’ll also learn how to manipulate you.

  • Make mealtime fun

Fill the period with songs and stories that’ll make the whole process fun. In this way, your child is guaranteed to eat anything you put on their plate.

Top 100 Best Baby Names in 2020

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Your life is going to change when you become a parent and the only thing that you can do is to prepare yourself. If you are expecting and you are not sure yet what name to pick for your baby, then you have arrived at the right place! Picking the right name for your baby is very important. The name you pick is going to follow them all their lives and you can’t make a mistake. This is why today I am going to show you the top 100 best baby names in 2020 based on the analysis provided by Nameberry.

The Most Popular Baby Boy Names in 2020

  • Tate

This might come as a surprise but one of the most popular baby boy names in 2020 is Tate. This name has Norse origins and it means cheerful. It’s a great name for a happy baby boy.

  • Austin

If you are looking for a name that is going to make your baby boy stand out, then you can always go with Austin. You can even tell your friends that you picked this name because you were inspired by the famous author Jane Austen.

  • Cash

Cash is an awesome name and there is no doubt about that! Just say it a couple of times. Doesn’t it feel smooth? If you believe in the law of attraction, then Cash is the perfect name for your baby boy.

Check out the list below to see what are the other top 50 most popular baby boy names according to Nameberry.

  1. Alfie
  2. Alistair
  3. Amias
  4. Ansel
  5. Apollo
  6. Archer
  7. Archie
  8. Arlo
  9. Arthur
  10. Atlas
  11. August
  12. Beau
  13. Beckett
  14. Bennett
  15. Brooks
  16. Caius
  17. Calix
  18. Casper
  19. Cassian
  20. Chester
  21. Cian
  22. Clliian
  23. Cormac
  24. Elio
  25. Emmett
  26. Enzo
  27. Ezra
  28. Felix
  29. Finn
  30. Flynn
  31. Grant
  32. Hugo
  33. Jax
  34. Jonah
  35. Josiah
  36. Jude
  37. Kieran
  38. Kit
  39. Lazarus
  40. Leon
  41. Lincoln
  42. Mateo
  43. Micah
  44. Miles
  45. Nash
  46. Nico
  47. Nolan
  48. Oliver
  49. Orson
  50. Otis

The Most Popular Baby Girl Names in 2020

  • Billie

This shouldn’t come as a shock if you listen to pop music, but Billie is the most popular baby girl name in 2020. This is thanks to the fact that the singer Billie Eilish has smashed records with her hit songs such as “Bad Guy”. She is also the world’s second artist to take home four Grammys at the same time!

  • Nova

Another highly popular name for baby girls is Nova. This is the perfect name if you love gazing at the sky to admire the stars in all their beauty.

  • Adah

The most popular baby girl names in all history start with Ad. This includes the names of famous singers and actresses such as Adele, Adelina and Adelaide. In fact, the name “Ah-dah” is deeply rooted in religion being featured in the Bible.

Check out the list below to see what are the other top 50 most popular baby girl names according to Nameberry.

  1. Adelaide
  2. Allegra
  3. Amaya
  4. Anastasia
  5. Andromeda
  6. Anya
  7. Ariel
  8. Artemis
  9. Astra
  10. Aurelia
  11. Avalon
  12. Ayla
  13. Briar
  14. Camila
  15. Cecilia
  16. Clara
  17. Claudia
  18. Clover
  19. Cordelia
  20. Cosima
  21. Delia
  22. Eden
  23. Eliora
  24. Elodie
  25. Eloise
  26. Fia
  27. Harlow
  28. Indigo
  29. Ione
  30. Juniper
  31. Kiara
  32. Lara
  33. Luna
  34. Lyra
  35. Mabel
  36. Mira
  37. Myla
  38. Nyx
  39. Octavia
  40. Olive
  41. Persephone
  42. Piper
  43. Poppy
  44. Primrose
  45. Reign
  46. Sally
  47. Selah
  48. Sloane
  49. Theodora
  50. Willow