I’m having a hard time thinking of indoor activities to do with my toddler. What do you guys do with your kids in the cold and wet winter months?
Girl, we FEEL you on this one. As the rain rolls in and it gets dark at 4 pm, we are finding it harder and harder to come up with fun, creative activities for the kids! The trick is to change it up as much as you can. If getting outside is not an option due to the rain, try finding a community center nearby with an indoor play area. We go to the library some days but not too often cuz 1. our kids are animals and NOT QUIET and 2. they get bored and want to just run around and play. For those of you with kids who will sit in a library and read a book and be chill, WE ARE JEALOUS. We have a great little bounce house nearby that we can take the kids to.. and then we always like to find restaurants with play areas sectioned off for kids. We have some great pizza parlors with legit baby gates.. so we sniff those types of places out lol! Alix and her husband got real creative and blew up a bag of balloons and put them all over their basement. Think of the McDonald’s ball pits you played in as a kid (soooo sanitary BARF) except with balloons.. the kids go nuts over it. And when all else fails, find your mom tribe and alternate houses for playdates. Don’t forget the bubbly.
Any recommendation for a healthier Starbucks holiday drink order? I know they are loaded with sugar, but still can’t resist!
My basic rule of thumb is that the more complex the name of the drink…the worse it likely is for you. For example, a grande eggnog chai latte has 62 grams of sugar! Stick to a basic coffee, misto, or americano (latte if you’re wanting more milk). I’m all about adding 1/2-1 pump of a flavor to make a basic coffee a bit more fun. Yes, you still get charged for the syrup, but you’re saving like 50+ grams of sugar…so worth it IMO. So, I might order a grande/venti americano with a half pump peppermint and a splash of almond milk. If you like the egg nog lattes you can get the flavor in an americano and just ask for a small splash or half the amount they typically put in. It’s not in a pump, so harder to be specific.
My baby is going through the dreaded 4 month sleep regression! Any tips to get through it?
Mehhhhhh first it’s the 4 month sleep regression, then 6, then 12, and so on and so forth. Baby/toddler sleep is forever changing, unfortunately, and there’s no real answer except to STICK TO YOUR GUNS AND STAY CONSISTENT. The second you change up that routine, your baby is ON TO YOU!
When my boys went through any sort of regression, I basically had to retrain them to sleep. It’s not fun.. there’s lots of sadness and tears.. but it worked. I’m not gonna lie, I’m a pretty tough cookie when it comes to sleep training and it’s not for everyone. But when that 4 month sleep regression hits, it can feel like you have a newborn again. But remain consistent, keep up the sleep routine you so carefully established in the first place and continue down your path. You know your baby’s cry.. if they are wet, tired, hungry or hurt. You know when you truly need to intervene and when you can just let it go.
When my boys went through their regression, I went back to the basics. I’d go into their room, ensure they weren’t hurt or dirty, kissed them, said “I love you” and left. I did this over and over and over every night until that regression stopped. Lasted me about a week. But the one thing I have always read and experienced myself is the art of consistency. Don’t change your routine. This. Too. Shall. Pass.
What are some healthy snack ideas/recipes to bring to a holiday party?
I’m surprised I even get invited to parties because I’m always the girl bringing the kale salads ha! I think making these gingerbread energy bites or these peppermint bites would be and easy and healthy snack people would like. These pumpkin bars are delish or these raw almond blondies. Non dessert like snacks…these rosemary almonds, this pumpkin hummus and cinnamon sugar chips, or this vegan kale artichoke dip.
I’m looking for a new pendant necklace to layer with other necklaces…any suggestions?
SO many suggestions! I am all about gold coins, layered, long or short. Coins with your birthstone or zodiac sign or religion.. I am into it:
I need an all black one piece swim suit for an upcoming girls trip and can’t seem to find anything cute- help!
Check out Nordstrom, ASOS, Revolve and Express but here are my top picks:
Alix- is kombucha or kefir better for gut health? I don’t feel like I need to be having both- do I?
Both won’t hurt you 😉 The more probiotic rich foods you consume the better in my opinion (don’t forget prebiotic foods too). Kombucha is rich in beneficial probiotics, some antioxidants, and is dairy-free making it a good option for vegans and the lactose-intolerant peeps. Kefir is also rich in probiotics and also provides a good dose of protein and B vitamins. If you’re lactose intolerant you might be able to tolerate and digest kefir since the fermentation process removes most of the lactose from the milk. There are also some dairy free probiotic drinks on the market these days like this one. Overall, kefir is a more nutrient dense options, but both are good probiotic rich food sources.
Do you guys have any healthier holiday cocktail recipes? I want to make something fun for my holiday party, but don’t want it loaded with sugar.
YUM | YUM | YUM | YUM | YUM| YUM | YUM
Thanks for your questions this week! Send us some more at champagnetheory@gmail.com. Happy Weekend! xx, H & A
