The ABC's of Everything Blog

With kids facing so many distractions these days, reading is a great opportunity for redirection. It's a well-known saying, "first you learn to read, then you read to learn".As your kids grow older, they learn more enthusiastically if they love the act of reading itself when they are young enough to form a relationship with the written word. This s...

As a parent, getting your kids to go sleep at night can be quite a challenge. Having a child that goes right to sleep at bedtime is like winning the lottery and probably about the same odds. As difficult as it can be it's still one of the most important things you can do for your child's well being and your own sanity. Every child is different in t...

There is an enormous amount of digital interaction available to kids of all ages. A lot of what is being offered is really great; it's educational, has positive messages and gives parents a little break. The challenge is in figuring out when too much of a good thing becomes detrimental. The US Department of Health and Human Services estimates ...

Recently I was reminiscing with my son about the summer we put hummingbird feeders in our backyard and how much fun it was to watch the birds and their antics. We discovered they had different personalities and different roles. One bird was always keeping a look out while others were feeding. There was a hierarchy to who could feed first and as we ...

I would describe mindfulness as "being in the present moment" the practice of focusing on what is happening right now and nothing more. It's a timeout from being in the past or future and an opportunity to take a break from over thinking, a time to quiet your mind and body. So how is this helpful for children? Practicing mindfulness throughout the ...

The first thing to happen would be that most of my favorite foods like vegetables, fruits and nuts would go with them.No more salads, stir fry's or delicious smoothies, and what kind of summer would it be without watermelon, wine and cheese parties. Yes – no more cheese, food sources for our animals would also be diminished. This is not the world I...

Most of us start off each New Year with a list of resolutions or intentions related to what we want to change about our self or our situations. I want to lose weight, exercise more, eat better, have more fun, work less, make more money -- the list goes on and on. We tend to focus on things about ourselves or our interactions that we don't like...

​We think you'll love these Greek style roasted veggies! It's a simple side dish where the fresh herbs shine! Please let us know what you think in the comments section below. We love hearing from you! Attached is a PDF version for printing. Greek Style Roasted Vegetables  ​1 LB small red potatoes quartered 2 small eggplants cut into ½ inc...

​The beautiful fall colors of this side dish are a perfect fit for any Thanksgiving meal. Attached is a printer friendly PDF version. Maple Glazed Beets and Carrots ​1 LB. of carrots cleaned and sliced about ¼ inch thick 1 LB. of beets cleaned and sliced about ¼ inch thick 2 TBS. coconut oil 1 TSP. whole fennel seeds crushed lightly ...

​Cauliflower Tapenade makes a great party dip. This version has the added nutrition from the secret ingredient...cauliflower! Please let us know if you've tried it and what you think! Attached is a printer friendly PDF version. Cauliflower Tapenade  ​3 cups of Cauliflower florets 1 cup of Olive Oil 1 Cup pitted Green Olives 2 Gr...

​This potato hash is made healthy by the substitution of white potatoes for sweet potatoes! You can also use Yams. The natural sweetness from the sweet potatoes pairs wonderfully with the salty breakfast sausage and the earthy green peppers. You can also bake some eggs on top for some added protein! Let us know what you think in the comme...

These healthy stuffed zucchini boats are sure to please every member of the family! Attached is a printer friendly PDF version. Stuffed Zucchini  ​1 cup of cooked rice or quinoa ​4 medium zucchini ​1 lb. of grass fed ground beef ​1 can of tomato sauce ​2 cups of chopped fresh spinach​½ cup sliced mushrooms ​½ onio...

This Cashew Chick Lettuce Cup recipe is a delicious, healthy twist on your favorite Asian restaurant dishes. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do! Please let us know what you think in the comments section below! Attached is a printer friendly PDF version. ​Cashew Chicken Lettuce Cups ​3 TBS. of soy sauce 3 TBS. of honey 2 TBS. of peanut or canola ...

​This butternut squash soup recipe is sure to warm you up! Please let us know what you think in the comments section. We love hearing from you!  Attached is a PDF version of the recipe for easy printing. Butternut Squash Soup  ​1 garlic clove chopped ½ of small onion diced 2 TBS. of olive oil 1 large butternut squash, peele...

I'm a list maker – everyday I add to and cross things off my lists, but the lists never seem to get any shorter. At the end of the day I can look at my list and feel really productive because I've crossed so many things of it. Not being measurably productive is hard for me. I have actually completed a task that was not originally on my list and gon...