Family

As a cornerstone priority at A Better Life Lived, solutions to put all things family front and center in our lives are super essential! Sometimes, we all need a little help demonstrating the value that matches how we really feel about our family. Here you’ll find articles that will help you do just that.

How to Make Grinch Pancakes for Christmas!

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I love the Grinch. How the Grinch Stole Christmas has always been one of my favorite Christmas movies. It is watched every year, sometimes multiple times, in our household. Since the release of the new The Grinch cartoon a few years ago, I love it even more! It’s just so fun. That’s why I took my favorite pancake recipe and Grinched it up! These pancakes are great for a fun Christmas breakfast! They’re also great to serve for a Grinch viewing or party as you celebrate the Christmas season. How to make Grinch pancakes! These pancakes are seriously so easy but look and taste so delicious. First, start with the basic recipe for my favorite pancakes. You’re just going to … More…

10 Simple Tips to Keep your Family Healthy this Cold & Flu season

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In the Midwest, cold and flu season is 16 months long. No, wait, that can’t be right. In all seriousness, it is about 7 months long, lasting from October through April. If it can snow, you still might get sick. Needless to say, I’ve been searching for and testing ways to stay healthy for my entire life. That only increased when I became a mother. Because I do not have time, nor the ability, to be sick every month for more than half the year. With the new COVID-19 coronavirus illness spreading this year, I know finding ways stay healthy is at the top of everyone’s mind even more than usual right now. While we can’t be completely fool proof, … More…

How to Make Family Meals Important, Even When you Don’t Have Time!

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Research tells us having family meals is one of the best things families can do together. They serve as a great way to strengthen bonds. The family dinner table is a place to come together and discuss ideas, talk about our day, open up to find support, and laugh. These days, however, family meals have become more rare and less the norm. With busy kids and parents working late, it can be difficult to get everyone together at the same time, in the same place. Even when it is possible, it’s often rushed so we can move on to the next important thing. What we fail to realize is we’re moving on from the important thing. These are the things … More…

It’s Okay to Say No: Guard Your Family Time!

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If you’re like me, most days you feel like you’re being pulled in ten different directions. I am constantly having to decide what to do and when (which is why I love my planner). There are so many things that need my attention! From household chores, to work, to family time, to maintaining this blog…there just aren’t enough hours in the day to do it all. That’s why it’s really important if this is what your life feels like, that you guard your family time. Guard your family time with one magic word. In my house, family time is number one. If I don’t make a conscious effort to protect it, it could easily be consumed by everything else. That’s … More…

How to Declutter Kids Toys (and Why You Should!)

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No matter how many kids you have or how old they are, one problem all parents have to deal with at some point is the overabundance of toys. Every birthday and Christmas the toys pile up. In our family, there are even toys added on for holidays like Easter and Valentine’s Day! It’s never-ending. That’s why it’s important to declutter kids toys on a regular basis. The importance of decluttering kids toys There are so many reasons it’s important to declutter kids toys. Your own sanity not being the least of them. When kids have fewer toys, a few amazing things happen that you wouldn’t expect. The most counterintuitive is that they will actually play with them more! Zach had … More…

How to Make Your Family Feel Loved with Small Surprises!

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There are all kinds of ways to make your family feel loved. Telling them you love them, hugs and kisses, and spending quality time with them are some of the most obvious ones. But I think that small gestures, surprises, are the best way to make your family feel loved. Why a surprise gesture is the best way to make your loved ones feel MORE loved! Once a week, I get to pick up Zach from school. Normally, his Dad picks him up after work. But on my off day, I pick him up early so he doesn’t have to go to childcare after. Since he’s little, he’s only there a few hours. Which means I have just enough time … More…

The Importance of a Bedtime Routine for Kids & How to Create One

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Creating a simple bedtime routine for kids is one of the best things you can do. Both for a happy, well rested child, and peace in the house. When kids have a routine, they’re less likely to fight bedtime and more likely to have sound sleep. The routine in our house is really simple. After before bed we get pajamas on, brush our teeth, read a couple of books (or a few chapters of a book), go potty and get a little drink of water, and then go to sleep. We also lay down with him for about 10 minutes or so. We either talk a little or sing a few songs. He in no way needs us to lay … More…