Lilac City Momma

Lynn

Top Tips To Help You Cope With A Fussy Eater

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It is normal to be very frustrated when you have spent time preparing a meal and your toddler simply refuses to eat it. Approximately 90% of children go through at least one lengthy phase of fussy eating. Eating habits and tastes are formed at an early stage therefore it is important to offer a variety of foods from the start. Learning to eat is like any other learning process, it takes time. While it can be very annoying when your child rejects the food we prepare for them, their eating habits are hugely influenced by our reaction to the situation.

Don’t get emotional

This sounds easy in theory, but actually the practice of it is very hard.  Usually by the time parents look for help about their child’s “fussy feeding” the patterns of conflict are well established and parents’ stress levels about food have usually soared to serious heights. If arguing with your child about eating or not eating has become a battle of wills, then you are probably finding that it’s one of the few areas where your child’s will is prevailing. Children realise very soon that there are few things they can control, one is what goes into their mouth and the other is what comes out. Children if left alone will regulate their own food intake to ensure that they are not left hungry and they will in general get enough energy to live, grow and move.

It is understandable that eating habits are worrying for parents, however it is important to park up emotions at mealtime. All parents become anxious when their children do not eat properly. Don’t pander to a restricted diet, instead offer a variety of balanced meals.

Try and develop a daily routine of three meals and two snacks around your toddlers sleeping pattern. Your child will then know when to expect food. This will also encourage your child to eat, depending on the age of your child, you might want to explain to your child  that you are no longer going to feed them, allow 15 -20 min for each meal and take the plate away  even if the plate is not empty. Praise your child when he eats well or tries something new and try hiding your frustrations. This may mean that you have to ignore some behaviour.

There is no magic solution to fixing a fussy feeder, especially if the pattern has been going on for some time. It takes a lot of patience and consistency to ensure parents turn the situation around.  Once you decide to take control stick with it.

Knowledge of child growth and development will allay anxieties for parents. Young children vary in what and how much they are willing to eat. This unpredictability is due in part to their inconsistency about independence, and eating is an area where they can act out this confusion. So don’t be surprised if your child eats a large plate of food one day and practically nothing the next, loves parsnip on Monday and refuses it on Friday, will self-feed at one meal and wishes to be feed in the evening. Try to simply “go with the flow” and don’t take your fussy feeders habits too personally.

Relax

Children sometime between their second and third birthday become set in their ideas on just about everything, including the way food is prepared. Expect food fixations i.e. cheese first and then a slice of ham in a sandwich. Don’t see this as being stubborn. Toddlers have a fixation about the order of things in their world.

Food refusal is a normal phase that most toddlers pass through. Fear of new foods in the second year may be a survival mechanism to prevent increasingly mobile toddlers from poisoning themselves through eating anything and everything. Toddlers may limit the variety of foods they eat. This phase will normally pass without too much fuss but it may last for a few years and be more visible in some toddlers than in others. Your child may refuse food if it is new. Remember they need to taste it a few times to learn to like (up to 10 times) so offer it the next time you are eating it. Some children eat less than other children of a similar age. If your child is growing and developing normally then it is most likely that he or she is taking the right quantity of food for his or her own needs. Don’t just look at the daily intake but look on previous week. It may be helpful to keep a food diary, you may be surprised at the amount of food your child actually takes.

Stay positive and focus on enjoying healthier options, and don’t dwell too much about the unhealthier choices.  The important thing to remember with any changes is to try and persist with them; it can take up to 10 times before you succeed.  The more frequently children can try healthier foods, the more likely they will eat them – but discuss and compromise a little as this is also part of role modelling a healthy approach.

Explore the Laya Healthcare site for more information on family health insurance cover options or to get a health insurance quote online today.

5 Hacks To Layer Your Necklace

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If you love the current trend of layering more than one necklace at a time, perhaps you are wondering how to make it look good and not create a complete mess when it comes to time to take them off.

Necklaces are not like putting your wedding ring next to your engagement ring London because in the first place they don’t have to go together at all. How do you go about making the layered necklace look?

You must have at least three

Wearing two necklaces doesn’t qualify as layering. It just looks as if you’re not sure which of the two necklaces that you always wear you want to wear today.

You have to have at least three for it to count as layering, and they will all three be different.

Next is lengths

The next point is that however many you wear, they all need to be different lengths. Necklaces start at about 14” which is approximately the size of your neck. It will sit either right at, or choker like above the jugular notch.

From here you will find that chains tend to go up in two-inch increments, all the way down to your navel (33” or 34” long). 30” will reach to the sternum for most people unless you’re especially tall.

Besides creating the look you want, having one of each length is going to help you take them off without them getting snarled together.

Start with the shortest chain and then add them one after the other, shortest to longest.

Chain style

Although each necklace can be totally different, try and go for the same chain style and color. The effect will be to create a cohesive and obvious connection of necklaces which have something in common.

What you’re trying to avoid is a punk collection of mismatched items, or perhaps a Bohemian collection of items which came together by happenstance.

The effect here is to create something that looks curated. Keeping the chain style and color the same will do that for you.

Try and have an effect through the length

If you plan to wear a 16” and a 33” chain, the third needs to be somewhere between the two. You don’t want it to be either 18” or 30”. This too is about balance. Like the style and color, the balance will look organized and thought out. Imbalance will look like a hodgepodge.

Adding interest

This is where you can let your creative mind run free. Add different shapes and types of decoration. If you have a horizontal bar at say 18” then try to add something that will take the eye downward from there like a triangle or a pendant.

What does it say about you?

The real answer is that it says what you want. The way you construct can be bold or conservative. You can add a color in the form of a bead or colored decoration for interest. You could add a charm here as well.

 

Things To Know Before Choosing Your Wedding Venue

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Getting things ready for your big special day is a huge ordeal and you want to be sure that everything is in order so that you can take care of it. How can you be sure that you’re doing whatever is necessary in relation to what you’re doing? Are there ways to get everything in order so that you can get thing done?

Bride and Bridegroom at Wedding

After you figure out details like whether you want contemporary or traditional engagement rings or who you want to be in your bridal party, it will be time for you to start planning the celebration itself. How can you be sure that you’re doing it correctly and that you have some options that will make sense? How can you plan your dream event? And how do you find the right venue? Here are some things that you want to consider before you choose your wedding venue.

What Sort of “Feeling” Do You Want?

Some people want a wedding that is low key – others want it to be the fanciest party that they have ever had! As you think about what you want to do and how you want to enjoy your celebration, be sure that you think about anything and everything that you need to get done to make things happen. Knowing the “feeling” of what you want to do can make it a bit easier for you to sort out what venues would work best.

How Much Money Are You Willing or Able to Spend?

Money is a big factor here – how much do you have to spend and how are you going to spend that money? If you have a budget that you’re trying to stay within, then you want to keep that in mind as you start to look at all of the different venue options that are available for you to choose from.

How Many People Do You Plan to Invite?

The number of people that you invite is another important factor in your choice, because you want to be sure that you get a space that is going to be large enough – but not too large – for you and your guests to be able to enjoy the experience and event.

Where Do You Want the Venue to be Located?

Do you want it in your hometown? Maybe you want it in a location between two of the most common places where people may be coming from. Or maybe you want a destination wedding! Brainstorm what you want with your partner and pick a place that both of you will be happy with.

Thinking about the big picture and working out what will make the most sense here can help you to make sure that you’ve got everything worked out and that you can determine what you want to take care of next. By exploring these details before the wedding, you can be sure that you’re doing whatever is necessary and make sure that you can work out whatever it is that you need to be able to accomplish. Do some research with your fiancée and find that perfect place to hold your event.

 

Four Easy Ways to Watch Your Health in Winter

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With winter comes the excitement of Christmas, the crisp tread of snow, and a whole host of festive activities such as seeing in the new year with those you love most. When thinking about this time, the chances are taking care of your health doesn’t spring to mind but watching out for your wellbeing is extremely important during the winter months as this is the time where coughs and colds are all around and the chances of becoming ill are high. There are lots of things you can do during winter to make sure your health doesn’t go down the pan, you just need to know where to begin. To help you out with this, this quick guide will give you some tips to watch your health in winter and stay well all year long.

Get your vaccines

When winter rolls around, it is of paramount importance that you protect yourself from the nasty illnesses that are all the more prevalent during this season, such as the flu. Going to your local doctor’s surgery can finding out what shots and vaccinations you need, as well as the ones that are not deemed necessary but highly recommended, will help you prevent bad illnesses before they strike.

However, another important thing you need to keep in mind is the issue of medical negligence. While we like to think these occurrences are rare, there is nothing stopping you from being the victim of a misdiagnosis or a badly administered injection. Should this happen you need to investigate how to make medical negligence claim so that you are able to get the compensation you deserve.

A balanced winter diet

When it is so cold outside, the temptation to indulge in comfort foods every day can take over, so it is then important you educate yourself about what foods you should actually eat during the winter months. Oatmeal is rich in zinc which helps the immune system function properly and is also full of soluble fiber that helps keep your heart strong. Try pairing this with cranberries full of antioxidants or potassium-rich bananas that can give you an energy boost to make the perfect breakfast.

Staying active (even when it’s cold outside)

It can be hard to motivate to keep yourself getting outside and exercising when the temperature drops, but there are ways to maintain your exercise routine in the cold so that you don’t have to compromise your health. Before venturing out for a run, do five minutes of jumping jacks or running on the spot so that, when you do get outside, the cold isn’t so much of a shock but rather a refreshing breeze.

Simple rules

Finally, an easy way you can keep a watch on your health as winter approaches is by following these two simple rules: stay warm and stay hydrated. These may seem obvious but are actually some of the best ways to keep your overall health and energy at a consistently high level.

Weekend Family Getaways Near The San Francisco Bay Area

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There are points in our lives when everything seems perfect as usual but all you want to do is pack up and leave for some faraway place, away from all the hubbub of the city. But because of our jobs and daily duties, it isn’t always possible to just pack up and go somewhere. It doesn’t mean that you cannot get away to have a lovely time with your partner, though, because North California is full of the odd, the charming and the majestic. Merely a drive away from the bustling city of San Francisco are getaways where you can let your worries slip away and relax with a wine in hand. Or, if you are one of those power couples that enjoy adventuring together, you may take long meandering hikes among the tall redwoods or go surfing in the Pacific.

And if you want to make it an extended family affair, renting a minibus or mini coach bus out of San Francisco is the perfect way to make sure that everyone arrives on time, and no one gets lost along the way.

1. Bodega Bay

A mere ninety minutes’ drive away from San Francisco lies Bodega Bay. A jewel in the shining crown that is Sonoma country, the place is bustling with gorgeously golden beaches, shops full of beautiful oddities and tastefully eclectic dishes that feature seafood at its centrepiece. Here in Bodega Bay you can while your time away simply with a book in hand and a wine and your lover by your side. But if lazing around is not your thing, head to the Chancellor Stables and take yourself for a ride. Literally. The guided tour that you may spend on the back of a gorgeous equine specimen will lead you through rolling dunes and soft meadows, sparkly beaches and around tall peaks.

And when that long yet breathtaking journey inevitably makes you hungry, you may ravenously eat yours through the deliciously comfortable food available at the Terrapin Creek Café. The place won a Michelin star for its delicious goodies and you will soon know why as you let the strangely familiar and mouth-wateringly new flavours take over your taste buds.  Or, if you are in the mood for less cheese burst and more organic green, head to the tasteful dining rooms inside Bay View restaurant. We promise it will not disappoint you either.

2. Big Sur 

Tucked right into the land that lies between southern and northern California, Big Sur will take you about three hours to get to. And every minute of that journey you might consider worth it once you let your eyes feast on what can easily qualify as one of the USA’s most breath-taking holiday destinations. Here you find the beaches slowly mingling with the towering majesty of the redwoods. But in case you cannot find a place to stay in Big Sur, which is somewhat unusual, you may also look for places you can rent in places nearby including, but not limited to, Carmel, Cambria and San Simeon.

If you are visiting with your lover, makes sure to head to the purplish and sandy expanse of the Pfeiffer beach. And once you are done letting your feet caress the soft sands, pamper yourself a little bit by heading to Sierra Mar, the slightly posh but amazingly elegant restaurant where you may dig into the delicacies on offer while enjoying the sight of the Pacific Ocean through the pristine floor to ceiling windows. But if you prefer to swap tale and ale with the locals, you might want to visit Nepenthe instead.

While the two places listed in this article definitely takes the cake, North California is teeming with way stranger yet wonderful options you might choose to visit with your loved ones. Santa Cruz is a fantastic place to take your family to, with the beaches and the food and amusement parks ready to take the breath away of everyone in the family. And the best part? You can do all this and more and yet return to the office on Monday, bright-eyed, bushy-tailed and ready to take on the world.