Blogs on crafts for toddlers

One of my friends recently posted on Facebook about craft kits for kids and it gave me the idea of coming up with a list of blogs or articles about crafts for kids. Her son is around 3 - so I thought I'd make a list for toddlers.

1. Gift of Curiosity:- This website has a lot of articles with ideas for toddlers and preschoolers in particular. She explains the activities very well with lots of photos and has printables available for free which we can download and use. 
2. 1+1+1=1 :- This website has a lot of articles on homeschooling and parenting and also has printables for free.
3. 3 Dinosaurs :- Has a lot of great suggestions for activities  for toddlers and preschoolers and tons of printables. 
4. Toddler Approved :- As the name suggests, has a lot of suggestions for activities for toddlers
5. Kids Activities Blog :- Again, the name is self-explanatory

Food for toddler teeth

I've recently been getting a little concerned with my toddler teeth. I'm not giving her a fluoride supplement and our water doesn't have fluoride. However, she drinks water at daycare and I don't know if that water has fluoride in it. This is something I need to bring up with my toddler's pediatrician/dentist. I'm yet to schedule a dentist appointment for her.

Regardless, I'm having some major food struggles with her and I came across this article on food choices for better toddler teeth.

The foods which were mentioned in the article are:

• Cheese
• Sweet potatoes
• Oranges
• Cranberries
• Fresh or frozen cranberries
• Apples
• Water with fluoride (tap water)

Some meal/snack suggestions from this list:

• Cheese kebabs with strawberries
• Paneer Tikka Masala (go less on the spicy stuff but add flavor)
• Sweet Potato Fries
• Put pureed sweet potato in pancake or waffle batter
• Steamed carrots or broccoli
• Cranberry Bread or Muffins made with fresh or frozen cranberries
• Oranges and apples slices

Hitting a bump in the road

After my high of Monday, yesterday was a big flop. I only hit 6500 steps - because I was only able to go for a 10 minute walk yesterday.

Yesterday, I also felt dizzy as I was having my lunch.Even though I didn't walk much yesterday, I felt very tired and bone-heavy and that feeling is continuing into today.

Today, I'm being a little more careful and eating sometime every 1-2 hours but still feeling very tired. As I was climbing the steps to get the 1st floor of my office, I could feel how difficult it was for me and I was out of breath when I climbed to the top.

I wonder if the exercise of the last week has caught up to me and I am feeling tired because of it or if there's some other reason for this.

I'm going to try to work through this and still try to hit my exercise goals.

Highest Steps Ever!

For the last 2 weeks, I've been tracking my steps with a Fitbit Zip which I bought from Walmart. Yesterday was my highest step count ever! I hit 11699 steps! 

I was so proud of myself - I pushed myself a little bit yday and I'm so happy I did.

Weekly Health Update

Over the last two years, my health has declined a lot. After delivery of  my baby and breastfeeding and dealing with my daughter's allergies, I had lost a lot of weight - I weighed 107 pounds. But I was getting very less sleep and my health was in bad shape. I was falling sick a lot. I figured it was because of my restricted diet when I was breast feeding my daughter.

I stopped breastfeeding my daughter a year ago when she was around 10 months. After that, it was like no-holds-barred for me - I was eating everything I could and shouldn't. After some time, I controlled myself but still could not stop my sweet tooth and my milk/yogurt habit.

Now, fast-forward one year, I've put on 20 pounds and my health has deteriorated. According to my blood test results, my blood sugar has gone up, cholesterol has gone up and triglycerides has gone up. I haven't received my Vitamin D test results yet but am not expecting good news from that. I keep having aches and pains in my back and start huffing and puffing after some exertion. Because of less sleep and my daughter's clinging to me, I've been very stressed out as well.

I need to take some strict action to lose weight, exercise and eat more healthy. I'm decided to be more accountable for it. Every week, I will post on my exercise and food - what I did well and where I messed up. I'm going to start slow as I don't think I can go cold-turkey.

My goal is to try to hit 10000 steps per day. I'm going to try to walk at least 30 mins a day. I will try to eat salads at least 2-3 times a week. I will try to eat dessert only 2 times a week.

Grocery store success trip!

Yesterday, I had my first ever grocery trip when I went with a shopping list, bought only the items on my list which was all fruits, vegetables and milk and got out. My bill came up to $25.

I was so proud!

Goals for 6/11 - 6/18

Here's an update on last week's goals and next week's goals.

Last week's Goals:

Home:

1. Go to the library and pick up some books for Anjali
2. Pay medical bills
3. Make at least 2 updates on my daughter's memories book (Made 4 updates)
4. Finish baby blanket I was making (no progress on this one)

Work:

1. Learn about the competitor product and do some research into it (Did some work on this and now it's no longer a priority)
2. Write at least 3 blog posts for my deals blog
3. Write at least 3 blog posts for this blog

Personal:

1. Read 2 chapters of Vicki Iovine's Girlfriend's guide to Toddlers
2. Give blood test for yearly checkup
3. Make Prasadham for temple (not able to get to this)

Goals for 6/11 - 6/18:

Home:

1. Finish baby blanket I was making
2. Make at least 2 updates on my daughter's memories book
3. Switch out my daughter's toys with ones in the closet so she has some fresh toys to play with
4. Clear and clean laundry room closet
5. Finish a pet project for my daughter
6. Call health insurance company and figure out medical bills
7. Call pest control company to check on clearing out ant hills

Work:

1. Brainstorm goals for next few months and outline of goals
2. Write at least 3 blog posts for my deals blog
3. Write at least 3 blog posts for this blog

Personal:

1. Visit Indian Parlour
2. Read 2 chapters of Vicki Iovine's Girlfriend's guide to Toddlers
3. Make Prasadham for temple
4. Go for 30 minute walk for at least 5 days