For families, the summer months are great. The days are long, the weather warm and everyone feels happier when the sun is shining. You can spend most of the day outside enjoying time with your family, which is a great way to keep the kids active. But, you need to wear practical outfits to really be able to take advantage of the warmer weather and enjoy playing with your children.

Jumpsuits

If you like jumpsuits, the good news is they are very much back in vogue. Retailers like Fashion World have plenty for sale, this year. They are really practical items of clothing, especially if you have young children. It is really annoying when your t-shirt rides up every time you pick up your child or bend down to pick up a ball. Regardless, of how you move your jumpsuit will stay in place and your modesty will be preserved. Provided you get the fit right, this style of garment will still provide you with plenty of freedom of movement.

Plus, jumpsuits are an instant outfit. If you wake up early, and the sun is shining, you can just grab your playsuit and favorite sandals and head off out with the kids. For a day at the beach, they are perfect. Just pull one on over your swimming costume, and go.

A tankini and jeans

Speaking of going for a swim, if you are looking for a practical swimming costume, a tankini could be perfect. They basically consist of a set of bikini bottoms and a top half that is basically a tank top. You can easily wear the top half with jeans and if it gets chilly you can just pop a cotton blouse or shirt on. It is a great “ready for anything outfit”. Tankinis now come in a range of designs, so it is quite easy to find a tankini that suits the way you like to dress.

A nice maxi dress

If you want to look pretty, a dress is always a good bet. The maxi is a particularly good design. A nice lightweight one keeps enough of the sun off for you not to have to use a lot of sun cream, yet you still feel lovely and cool. Plus, a maxi dress gives you plenty of freedom of movement. They are great for walking in, with the added benefit that you can get away with wearing most types of footwear. If you choose a long enough one, nobody is really going to notice that you are wearing flat pumps instead of high heels. It is really easy to smarten up your look by adding a semi-tailored jacket to your outfit. A maxi dress really is a surprisingly versatile item of clothing.

Convertible and multi-way clothing

Dresses, tops, and trousers that can be worn in more than one way are a good addition to any wardrobe. There are many different types available including blouses with sleeves that can be worn full length or rolled up. These days it is relatively easy to find shorts that can be worn at different lengths and there are some really nice dresses out there that can be worn in several ways. Reversible clothing can also be a good option.

If you are like the above ideas and want a few tips to help you to choose the best cuts for you, take a look at my “fashion tips for mom” article.

I often have a hard time when thinking about how to have fun with kids on a budget. It’s getting harder to find worthwhile things to keep them entertained. While it’s nice to get them outdoors and active, signing kids up for team sports or music or art activities, can add to an already slim budget.

Fun and Affordable Things To Do To Have Fun With Kids on a Budget

1. Random Acts of Kindness

Teach your kids that not everything involves spending money and people can do things out of the kindness of their hearts.

– Bake some cookies and bring them to a nursing home.
– Volunteer at a local soup kitchen.
– Help a neighbour to clean up the garage.

Acts of kindness cost very little but have a huge payout that sparks happiness and a sense of personal growth in your child.

2. Nature Scavenger Hunt

Go for a hike at a local park and create a list of items that your child has to be on the look for. Things like acorns, a maple leaf, squirrels, birds or anything you can think of. The first child to find everything gets to pick where everyone goes afterward such as ice cream or hot chocolate.

You can even find some cool printables online you can use for your own nature scavenger hunt.

3. Recycled Inventions

This is great if you have some creative geniuses in your home. Pick something out from the recycling bin for your kids to transform into something useful. Things like turning milk containers into bird feeders or turning boxes into forts will teach kids about sustainability while they have a great time.

4. Design A Graphic Novel Or Comic Strip

You don’t have to be an artist for this one. Sometimes the crude drawings make the comic more interesting. Brainstorm some story ideas and characters with your kis. If they’re too young to write, you can fill in the captions for them. It’s a great activity to have fun with kids on a budget.

5. Weekly Library Trips

Once a week, go to the library and let everyone in your family pick a book for them. Libraries here have great study sections, children’s sections, and a room where you can watch movies. They often organize interesting lectures you and your kids will definitely enjoy.

And at home, you can organize your own family book club where you can all discuss a book you’ve read. Of course, you will have to read children’s books, but that can be fun too!

There are so many other activities you can take part in with your child that isn’t going to cost you an arm and a leg. Simply taking them to the park and throwing a ball around can be fun as well.

Tell your kid stories about when you were their age and their attention span will move from their phone to you.

See, there are so many things you can do to have fun with kids on a budget. What is your favorite budget activity?

Did you know that the world was celebrating ‘Pack your lunch day’ on March 10th? Oh yes, that is for real. But hey, who doesn’t like celebrations? So, to celebrate that, I collected 35 best lunch box recipes for your little one (and the rest of your family). Share yours in the comment and I will add it to the list!

The best thing about these recipes is the fact that they are perfect for your kids, but also you! Take this to work and you will feel energized all day long.

First – lunch box tips and tricks!

1. Choose fresh food. Not only are fresh foods better for you and your kids, but they even taste better.

2. Freeze what you can. You can prepare your snacks when you’re free and then just freeze them. It will save you time when you’re busy from work.

3. Keep your food safe. Choose an insulated lunch box or one with a freezer pack to keep the lunch box cool. You should pack food like eggs or dairy products if just cooked. First cool in the refrigerator overnight.

4. Go vegetarian at least two days a week. Replace it with a plant-based protein-rich food that will also fill you up.

5. Let your kids pack their own lunches. You will save time and they will not complain about their lunch.

And here is a list of 35 lunch box recipes from around the web you can choose from.

1. Baked Parmesan Zucchini Chips – Vegetable chips can be really tasteful. This is amazing!

2. Ham & Cheese Muffins – Ham and cheese, how can you go wrong with that?

3. No-Bake Granola Bars – Perfect recipe for when you don’t feel like baking.

4. Rice Puff Bars – Kid of all ages just adore rice puffs. Try to make your own!

5. Raspberry Almond Lunch Box Waffles – Cute and interesting!

6. Monte Carlo biscuits – This is yummy classic!

7. Pinwheel lollipops – This is one of my favorites!

8. Fruit Kebabs – One really simple idea and the cutest one!

9. Cheese Puffs – It’s called cheese puffs, but it’s full of veggies!

10. Peanut Butter Brownie – For peanut butter lovers!

11. Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies – Healthy version of cookies!

12. Banana Molasses Granola Bars – Granola bars are perfect for a quick burst of energy.

13. Acai Bowl – Time for superfruit!

14. Carrot & Oat Breakfast Cookies – Cookies with carrots!

15. Homemade Parmesan Potato Chips – Potato chips are not really healthy, but why not try homemade option?

16. Chicken Roll Surprise – Stuffed chicken!

17. Mini Quiches – Who doesn’t like quiches?

18. Fruit and Yogurt Parfait – You can put it in a jar! Love that!

19. Baked Quinoa Burgers – This is one of my favorite veggie burgers!

20. Savory Spinach Rolls – Don’t worry about spinach, your kids will love this!

21. Rice Balls – Cute and simple!

22. Pea Fritters – Wonderful and tasty lunch for your kids!

23. 3 Ingredient Mini Muffins – Just three ingredients!

24. Peanut Butter & Jelly Sushi Rolls – Coolest idea ever!

25. Roasted Eggplant Sandwich – Different type of sandwich.

26. Veggies Stored in Dip – Simple and you don’t need to cook!

27. Tuna Dippers – You can prepare it a day before!

28. Zucchini Slice – I adore zucchinis and this is the next on my ‘to cook’ list!

29. Vegetable Muffins – Healthy muffins!

30. Holy Guacamole Sandwich – I can’t wait to try this sandwich!

31. Banana Bread – You can’t go wrong with banana bread!

32. Wheat and Refined Sugar-Free Carrot Cake – One of the healthiest cakes I’ve ever seen.

33. Sandwich Sushi – Looks so interesting!

34. Raspberry Baby Muffins Sugar-Free – Muffins without sugar!

35. Veggie Wraps – Veggies are always the best lunch choice!

Which one is your favorite lunchbox recipe? Feel free to share your recipe in the comment section!

There are so many reasons why children lie. Lying does not begin in adulthood; instead, children’s lying behavior starts at a young age. Children lie when they feel the need to cover up something they did to avoid getting into trouble. For instance, when your child steals a candy, they lie and deny doing such a deed since they know they will get in trouble if they tell the truth.

How to deal with Children’s Lying Behavior

Besides this, children also lie to gauge your response when they lie to you. This means that sometimes your children lie to assess your response and thus, determine if they can continue lying in future. Sometimes, when children are with their peers and are storytelling, they tend to lie to make the story more exciting. They also make up things to better their image in front of their peers.

Additionally, the other reason that children’s lying behavior starts is that they desire to get your attention, more so, when they know you have not given them any attention. Thus, they will lie even when they know you know the truth. Another reason that they lie is when they know they cannot get what they want from you. Hence, they will lie to you to get what they want. They will say something like, “Mum lets me have candy before dinner,” or, “Dad lets me watch YouTube before I sleep.”

When do children lie?

Children’s lying behavior starts at an early age. They usually begin lying from around three to four years. At this age, your kid begins to realize that you cannot read minds. So at this time, your child starts to test your knowledge of realization of whether you can tell they are lying. So they will say things that are untrue to you. By the age of six, children lie even more. Thus, at this time, they become better at lying. Hence, they can match their facial expression with the tones in their voices. She will even get more confidence in telling lies. When the child reaches the school age, they not only lie more often but they also better their lying skills. Thus, their lies become more complicated since your child has more words to use and explore when lying but also has a better understanding of the way people reason. At this time, they become perfect liars who can get away with their lies at any time, any place and any day.

Four ways to make your child stop lying

1. Make your child stop lying or shun away from lying is through encouraging them to tell the truth always. Once they have grown older, they begin to have more understanding of the differences between the truth and lies. Thus, it is great to encourage them.

2. Support them to tell the truth. Through supporting them, your children will shun from lies.

3. You can succeed in this through laying great emphasis on the vitality of honesty in the family.

4. When your child practices honesty, then it is best to praise them, as this will get them to become more honest.

May 4th has become commonly known as Star Wars Day. And who could be surprised? The words, “May the 4th” seem to beg the rest of the catchphrase be uttered. Star Wars, an epic space opera became an almost instant cult classic.

The way you celebrate Star Wars day will depend on how well you know this cultural phenomenon. Movie marathons with friends, Star Wars trivia games and even Star Wars themed snacks (Death Star piñata, anyone?) will guarantee this day is full of fun as well as being very educational.

This year, we will just have a movie marathon with our little one, and my husband found some great Star Wars decor for true fans! May the 4th be with you!

Awesome Star Wars Decor you Can Buy Online

1. DoorWrap: Han Solo in Carbonite Vinyl Sticker for Door / Bedroom / Home

This is something that every Star Wars fan will die for – to make your bedroom door look like it has Han Solo frozen in carbonate or even your front door.

2. Vinyl Record Clock – Star Wars

Star Wars clock made of vinyl record. This home made clock is perfect example how to make something old in to something cool and new. Perfect Star Wars decor for kids bedroom.

3. LEGO Kids’ 9002113 Star Wars Darth Vader Mini-Figure Alarm Clock

For every Star Wars fan having something in the house that is Star Wars themed is an obligation! This clock is perfect not only for kids but also for man caves. Maybe even bedroom if you wife allows it :).

4. Uncle Milton Star Wars Lightsaber Room Light

This awesome Star Wars decor room light will find its place in any Star Wars fan home. It has 8 different colors and they can be changed with a remote control, how cool is that?

5. Star Wars Darth Vader Self Stirring and Spinning Mug – Mix your drink with the Force

Perfect gift for everyone from age 3 to 60. This Darth Vader cup is a perfect gift for any Star Wars fan. Plus, it stirs your drink with the force – it can’t get better than that.

6. Star Wars Rebels Standard Kit (Serves 8)

All in one set for kids birthday party with Star Wars theme. Kids will love it and will have no dishes to do after the party.

7. Silicone Star Wars Theme Style Molds for Ice Cubes-Chocolate- Set of 5

Ever wanted to have your ice cubes shaped as Star Wars space fighter, R2D2 or maybe Han Solo frozen in carbonate. Now you can! With this great set of Silicone style molds you can have a super refreshing drink with your Star Wars ice cubes.

8. Star Wars Han and Leia Bathroom Hand Towels

If you are a couple into Star Wars, this towels are cool Star Wars decor to have in your bathroom. They are not tacky so you can put them without making a bathroom to geeky.

9. Star Wars – Darth Vader 4 Port USB Hub

This USB hub is not only super useful but your computer table will look bad ass.

10. Lucas Film Star Wars Rebels “Fight” Sheet Set, Full

This Star Wars bedding is something that any kid will just love (and some bigger kids like your husbands).

Do you have some Star Wars decor at home?

*And just for full disclosure, there are affiliate links in this post about Star Wars Decor. That means that I’m sharing something that I think is helpful, and if you make a purchase through the link, I earn a little bit back. No extra cost to you, and just a little help for me to pay for the blog expenses.