Questionable Choices in Parenting

Laughing at life as a parent so they don't commit me

On-The-Go Snacks for Busy Families

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When fall kicks into high gear, it’s not just fall foliage and cooler weather we have to look forward to—although those are pretty amazing. The fall season also means back to school and back to busy afternoons and evenings for you and your kids. So if you find yourself in your car shuttling your kids to practices and games almost every day, you need to keep up your energy, too. Instead of grabbing chips or candy or spending a fortune at a drive thru, here are on-the-go snacks that every busy mom needs to take in the car.

Make your own protein box – The best part of these protein boxes is that you can make them on a Sunday and have them ready to go for the entire week. Grab a few plastic containers and make up a protein box full of healthy snacks that will keep you full and won’t blow your healthy eating. Start with a hardboiled egg, cheese stick, apple slices, and veggies. Portion out these foods for the week, pack them in a container, and grab them on the way out the door.

For the days you need a sweet fix – Pack slices of apples, peanut butter and yogurt into a plastic container. Mixing the peanut butter and the yogurt makes a delicious apple dip that hit the spot on the days you want something sweet. Toss a few napkins and a spoon into your bag so when you are hungry, you can snack in between pickup and drop-offs.

 

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5 Great Apps to Download when Traveling With Young Kids

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As the holiday season kicks into high gear, chances are, you and your child will spend some time in the car. From traveling to see family to running lots off errands, you have your apps to keep you entertained, but what about your backseat companion? These apps are simple and entertaining and can come in handy on long car rides. So climb into the back with your kids and enjoy a few of these apps to keep your little one entertained on long car rides.
Sago Mini Road Trip – You are your child can explore this app and go for a fun-filled drive with the adorable cat Jinja. Your child can select the car Jinja will drive-our favorite is the pickle car, the destination, and even what to take along on the trip. This is a great app for younger kids because it has very simple controls, will keep them engaged, and this is a game they will play over and over and not get bored with easily.
Dr. Panda Mailman – This app is so adorable that you will want to play it with your kids. Because this game has no time limits it’s perfect for your little one. In the game, your kids help Dr. Panda deliver letters but they will need to navigate different worlds to reach their task.
Labo Brick Car – If you have a Lego or block loving kid, you’ll want to try download this app for your next road trip. Your kids can build vehicles and take them for a test drive through courses that are entertaining but won’t frustrate them. This app is awesome because it has so many templates, car parts, and fun driving courses, your kids will love playing this game. It’s the perfect travel app for younger kids.

Traveling with Kids? These Apps are Great For Young Readers     

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You already know that your kids will be glued to their electronics when you travel. So rather than let them spend all of their tie in the car just watching movies or or playing mindless games, download a few apps that are geared towards young readers. They will love reading and playing educational games while you travel and you’ll love that they are learning while they play.
Tales2Go – This app is a Parents’ Choice Gold Award-winner-so you know it is a great app for kids. Tales2Go streams on-demand, unlimited access to more than 1,000 stories. Kids can scroll through each story and sort by reader age, genre, and more. Be sure to bookmark and build a favorites list for each child.
Memetales – This is a book reader app that is designed for kids 10 and under. When you download the app, you get 15 free books. After that, kids will be given one free book a week. This is a great way to make sure kids keep coming back to the app to read. With Memtales, you’ll have new books to entertain and motivate your young reader. Timbuktu: What’s great about this app is that it’s actually a children’s magazine on your tablet. With 12 issues per year, each issue has two free stories.  Each story has lots of visuals and engaging actions to encourage young readers.

How to Create an Awesome Trunk or Treat

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During the Halloween season, your kids probably can’t wait to go door-to-door trick or treating, but another trend for having a little Halloween fun that has been growing in popularity is Trunk or Treat. If you’ve never heard of Trunk or Treat, believe me, you are going to want to attend one or plan one this fall!
Trunk or Treat is the perfect alternative to the regular candy-grabs and works well for Halloween events for schools, churches, or clubs. Parents decorate their trunks in a fun or spooky Halloween theme and line up their cars in a parking lot so that kids can visit each trunk and get a little treat. It really is fun for the whole family.
If you are going to be part of a trunk or treat this year, here’s a little inspiration!

Apps You’ll Want for Your Next Road Trip

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You’ve planned your trip and your bags are packed! All that’s left to do in jump into your car and hit the open road. But before you leave on your next road trip, there are a few apps you should download first. From figuring out how to get your destination and then what to do when you get there, here are apps perfect for your next road trip.

Waze – This app has quickly become my favorite car app and I use it on long road trips and even when I am just running errands close to home. The app provides turn-by-turn driving directions on a live map. So Waze automatically checks for the latest traffic information and re-routes you if there are poor traffic conditions or an accident up ahead. Waze works by connecting you to its network of local drivers who contribute traffic info and road reports on things like accidents, construction areas, and police traps.

Heads Up! – This game is so fun, you will love it! Heads Up! is the fun and hilarious game from Ellen DeGeneres that she plays on her show, and now you can play it with your friends. If you have a long road trip planned and you will need something to pass the time while you are a passenger, download Heads Up and start playing.

 

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The One Car Hack Every Parent Needs!

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A car emergency kit means something very different once you are a parent. Sure it would be handy to have an emergency kit filled with items to help you if your car breaks down or you have a flat tire; however, a car emergency kit that would really help a parent has much different items. Because mornings can be so crazy and after school when you are shuttling your kids to all of their activities, you need a kit made just for you. For this emergency car kit, you probably already have everything you need at home. Start by grabbing a rolled makeup container and fill it up with all of the items you realize you and your kids need when you are running late but you are already in the car:

 

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25 Fall Date Nights Ideas

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The cooler weather ushered in with the fall is the perfect time to spend time together with your significant other. It’s also the perfect time to plan a few date nights that highlight the fabulous fall season. From enjoying the fall foliage or catching up on a few scary movies, here are 25 fall date nights you might want to consider.
1. Show your team spirit and tailgate at a football game
2. Find a new coffee shop and try pumpkin spice everything
3. Visit a haunted house or haunted hayride
4. Infuse bourbon with apple pie flavors. Sip and enjoy your drinks together.
5. Enjoy a long drive somewhere new to enjoy the beautiful fall foliage
6. Check out a local flea market or antique store
7. Find a B&B that is offering a fall special and spend the weekend away
8. Have a sweater weather picnic

Apps that Every Busy Family Needs

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If you are a multi-tasking parent with no time to waste, you need apps on your smartphone that make your life easier, help save you time and money, and are super simple to use. From grocery shopping to planning your family’s busy schedule, here are apps that every busy mom needs to download.

 

Ibotta: Cash Savings & Coupons – This is an app you want to download right now because it is going to help you save money and is super easy to use. Ibotta is designed to get you cash back on the items you purchase and you’ll get cash back wherever you go. The app works with leading brands and retailers all of the country to help you take advantage of easy savings without having to worry about carrying around clipped coupons or remembering promo codes. So no more searching for coupons because Ibotta is going to help simplify saving money. To use, simply browse rebates on the app before you go shopping, find and add relevant cash back rebates, and shop away!

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