Necessary info for the new nanny/sitter!

Happy Thursday everybody 🙂 I have been lucky to work with some of my families for over six years now. While that has been so great some of them are starting to outgrow needing a nanny or babysitter, so recently I’ve started taking on some new families. I got names of families through a friend and have worked with three new families for a month now! It has been really fun, and such great experience having some babies again.

Since I’ve been with my families for so long now whenever I see them it’s like seeing family. It is so comfortable and easy. To say I was a little nervous to start all over again with new families was a given. I’ve been lucky to have enough work with my network of families for the last few years. BUT I wanted to form new relationships with some sweet new little kiddos. The families I’ve been working with have been so great! The kids are amazing and so fun, and the parents have been really nice and easy to get along with, which is something so important to me.

However the first day I nanny for the first family I got there, exchanged phone numbers, they gave me the daily run down, and then they were off! Thank goodness for modern technology and cellphones because I had a lot of little questions I forgot to ask in the morning rush. So that inspired me to come up with a little checklist or information to get from families the first time you watch their kids! I even created a printable, Notes for the Nanny, you can bring with as well 🙂

1. Exchange phone numbers (including work numbers). This seems like a dumb one, I know, but sometimes you may forget to think that their office phone would come in handy. Say there’s an emergency and they aren’t answering their cell phones? It’s a long shot, and hopefully never needed, but good to have in case.
2. ALLERGIES! I am so bad at remembering this one because I have no allergies and neither have any of the kiddos from my families I work with. BUT this is so important in case one of the kiddos does. Make sure you ask what exactly they are allergic to and what meds to give them in case they come in contact with it.
3. Ask about screen time. This one can be so different from family to family so it’s always good to ask. Some don’t care and others limit it to a show a day. Whether you believe one way or the other always go with the parents rule. It’s not fair to the child or the parents if you change it up on the days you’re there.
4. Ask about their favorite foods. This way you will have a good idea of what to make them for lunch or dinner without having to try and figure that out from the little one or guessing. Also ask if there is anything they really don’t like. That can help too when it comes to meal prep
5. Ask about snacks. A hard moment for me is when the parents leave and then an hour later the kids ask for a snack and I don’t know if the parents let them have them whenever. Just ask right away. Ask what they usually have for snack and the timing. Most people have a snack shelf or drawer 🙂
6. Wifi password 🙂 while this is more for the sake of the nanny during nap time, it can also come in handy in case any device in the house falls out of sync during the day! No one wants a sad toddler just because you told them they could watch Micky on the iPad and the signal is signed out.
7. Random things it helps to know! Garage code (in case you leave), where the stroller is (in case you want to head outside), favorite activities (if you are searching for ideas), where the craft supplies is, nap time routine (if they need their nook or lovey), and any other little thing that puts your mind at ease!

Never be afraid of asking too many questions. Better safe than sorry is my belief. It also makes you look prepared and serious about your job. If you feel comfortable and prepared for your day ahead with the kiddos it will make you less stressed and keep them calm. Attached to this blog post is my link to Notes for the Nanny, which is a printable I created to easily get all the main information I need in case of emergency and for the day ahead! Enjoy 🙂

xoxo Kelly

© The Nanny Guide 2017

 

Fun Pumpkin Art!

Happy Wednesday everybody! It’s almost the weekend woohoo! And I’m sure it going to be a fun weekend for you and your kiddos with Halloween just around the corner! I can’t believe October is almost over! Time flies. As a mentioned in my last post on all things fall, pumpkins are a fall/Halloween staple. With Halloween so close it’s time to get those PUMPKINS ready for their big day! Personally, I hate carving pumpkins haha I have always been grossed out by the guts and goop inside. It feels weird, gets everywhere, and is hard to scoop out. Also it sucks that your kids just have to sit there for the 30 minutes you take to carve it or be far away given all the sharp tools. Because of that I’ve put together some of my favorite ways to decorate pumpkins, with kids, WITHOUT carving them! Still a little messy but as we all know with kids comes mess 🙂

 

How I do it these days 🙂

ME when I was a toddler!

The Nanny Guide’s Keys to Pumpkin Decorating

1. Use a dot paint marker! Place the pumpkin on parchment paper or a placemat and let your kiddos go at it. The could do random dots, patterns of dots, or even make a face out of them. You could also get a circular foam paint brush (at Target or Michaels or wherever) and then dip in paint and dot away! Practical benefit: This is good for kids to practice hand eye coordination.

2. Glue on pom poms, googley eyes, or foam pieces! Basically take some glue and fun materials and let loose. Think feathers, leaves, beads. Whatever you can get your hands on. I suggest finding a really sticky glue or permanent glue so the stuff you glue on will last. I know this isn’t as kid friendly but my suggestion, and what I have done before, is to ask the child where they want to put their object and I put a dab of glue and have them place the object on it. You can also use elmers glue and they can practice using that, but be prepared for the mess and that some of the stuff might not stay as well.

3. Color with sharpie or permanent markers! Again you may not think this would be very safe with young kids but with proper supervision of the child it’s easy peasy. Last year Ruby who was 3 years old at the time ws able to use the permanent markers without any issues. We talked about the rules beforehand AKA not putting in mouth, only use on the pumpkin, don’t draw on yourself, etc. Then I sat next to her and opened the color she wanted and let her go. She just scribbled on it, but she was so proud and excited to show her parents when they got home. Older children could draw faces, doodles, or whatever their little heart desires 🙂

4. Paint the pumpkin! This is same idea as using markers. You can paint whatever you want on the pumpkin. A fun thing you can do with paint that you can’t do with markers is paint the pumpkin a completely different color!  Who wouldn’t want a rainbow of beautifully painted pumpkins at their house!

5. Write their name on it! Personalize their pumpkin. You (or if their old enough, your kiddo) can write their name big or small on the pumpkin in sharpie or permanent marker. Then let them decorate it any of these other ways! Having it say their name just adds another element of fun and makes their pumpkin unique and theirs!

6. Do a little bit of each! Paint it first, draw when dry, glue feathers on for hair, dot paint marker eyes, and write their name of it!

These are just some ideas I had, but the main point is just be creative! Let your and your kiddo/s imagination let loose. Who knows what fun you could create 🙂 Also if pumpkin carving is your jam more power to you! Carved pumpkins look super cool and are fun to do if you know what you’re doing 🙂  If anyone has tips on how to make pumpkin carving easy let me know! And if you have any other ideas of decoration send them my way! Happy pumpkin decorating!

xoxo

Kelly

© The Nanny Guide 2016

10 Kid Friendly Fall Activities

Happy fall everybody! I don’t know about you but I LOVE fall. Everything about fall… the chill in the air, apples 24/7, pumpkin spice and everything nice, apple and pumpkin scented anything, and leaves turning beautiful, gorgeous colors! Naturally, I share my love of fall with my nanny kiddos, but it turns out they have a great time doing the fll activities as well. So I decided to put together a list of my favorite fall, kid-friendly, activities!

The Nanny Guide’s Top 10 Kid Friendly Fall Activities

1. Go to an apple orchard!

Last year me and my boyfriend took Ruby to a local apple orchard, and it is a day she still talks about 1 year later. We all had SO much fun! The local one we went to had apples, apple cider donuts, hay pile jumps, tractor rides, and even more fun things for kids to play on! We went on a cloudy cold day and because it was so much fun forgot all about the cold. Another fun local (aka Minnesota) apple place is Jim’s Apple Barn. I can’t call it an apple orchard because its big draw is that it is Minnesota’s largest candy store haha still a great place for a family outing! They have apples, baked goods, candy, rooters, beef jerky, and a million other fun snacks!

2. Head to a Pumpkin Patch! 

Take the kiddos to a pumpkin patch! Usually this can be combined with an apple orchard trip but I thought it deserved its own line 🙂 This is a great place to take your family Christmas card at if you’re looking to get that crossed off your list early! It’s also just a fun time to let the kids explore. Kids are fascinated with all the bumps, lumps, sizes, and colors of pumpkins. Once you’ve picked some out, bring them home to decorate! You can go the traditional route of carving pumpkins which if you know what your doing is fun. However I’m not a big fan of pumpkin carving… Too much mess, slime, and really hard to do right. I love decorating the pumpkins with marker, paint, pom poms, and any other arts and craft decoration. I also have found that this is easier for kids to be included in this way. The knives and tools involved in caring are not so kid friendly, but to each their own! 

3. Make a leaf pile and play! 

This one is pretty self explanatory. Rake up the fallen leaves in your yard and jump on in the pile! Kids find this so fun! I have some great memories as a child of jumping into leaf piles. It’s an easy and free way to have some good old fashion outdoor fun. I also used to take leaves and make houses out of them by making lines on leaves for rooms. Kinda hard to explain but my point is let your kids imagination go wild with the leaves!

4. Make a bonfire

If you have a bonfire pit or access to one, this is fun way to stay warm on the chilly fall days. A fun learning experience is to have your child find different things in nature (think leaves, sticks, pinecones, etc) then you can throw them in the fire pit and listen to the different sizzles! After you’ve had enough time hanging around the fire you can always add to the day by roasting marshmallows and making s’mores 🙂

5. Walk through an area with trees!

You can go anywhere whether that be a forest, nature reserve, or neighborhood. As you walk talk through the trees spend some time talking about the different colors your child sees. This helps practice color recognition. If your children are older it can be interesting to stop and tell them about the different types of trees they see and what colors each tree turns.

6. Go to a Football Game!

This does not have to a NFL game! I actually suggest you don’t go to an NFL game haha. This is because the fans can be very aggressive and shouting profanities. My suggestion is to go to a local college football game! This can still be just as satisfying for your kids as an NFL game. They can cheer on the team and spend some quality time with you, all while being a less expensive day out for you 🙂

7. Walk through a corn maze

Once again this might be able to be accomplished at an apple orchard, but sometimes you need to go elsewhere. A local Minnesota one, Seever’s Corn Maze, provides hours of fun! Kids learn trial and error when getting stuck trying to find their way out of the maze.

8. Bake something fall with them! Pumpkin pies, apple crisps, anything! 

It’s always fun for a child to be involved in baking something sugary and sweet! When children are involved in the process they feel a sense of accomplishment, and they can physically see what they helped create. Baking with your child also enhances their math skills by counting cups and tablespoons. It also helps enhance gross motor skills with stirring or rolling. When I was little we used to make pies every year with my mom! I always include Ruby when baking anything, and she loves it! It’s a great bonding time. Because patience isn’t usually a child’s strong suit, when Ruby and I bake I usually plan it so the food bakes while she naps! However if you want to practice patience then do it during play time! You can turn on the oven light and they can watch the bread grow or muffins puff up.

9. Taste test some caramel apples 🙂

Carmel apples are my favorite fall treat. Anytime I have an option to get one I do! I think they all can taste a little bit different too. Pick up various caramel apples from local grocery stores or caramel dips and have a taste test! Other places such as Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory make really fun gourmet caramel apples with chocolate, peanut butter, M and M’s, and so much more. So you can always get even more creative! You can ask them before which one they think might be the best and write that down. Then after they test them all, ask again, and see if it changes! To keep this from your kid taking in too much sugar, cut the apples into slices and try each one with just that one slice.

10. Have a fall family or nanny night in!

Cook a fun fall meal (maybe chill or chicken apple sausages), make some warm apple cider, have a yummy fall treat for dessert, and cozy up on the couch and watch a movie! This is a great way to spend quality time with your kiddos and catch up on life with them. If you are a nanny you can do this in the morning or afternoon with them! Instead of dinner, you could make a snack (maybe apples, or pumpkin bread), have some apple cider, and cozy up and watch a movie then!

I hope you all enjoy theses activities and have some great fall fun with your kiddos! This is just my list of fall fun, and I would love to know your families favorite fall activities!

xoxo

Kelly

© The Nanny Guide 2016

Goodbyes are not the end

Hello and happy Tuesday to all the lovely mommies, nannies, and caregivers out there! The Nanny Guide has been on a bit of a hiatus… Crazy end of spring and summer! Loss, love, and laughter all included in 5 months. BUT now I am back and plan to be much more consistent as the fall air and routine sets back in!

With the new school year beginning my little Ruby is off to PreK, and I’m back full time at school and working as a teacher in a local daycare for a little different experience. As sad as I am to be closing my chapter as Ruby’s nanny, I know she will always have a place in my life and I will always have a place in hers. As my old friend Dr. Seuss once said “don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” #rubyworld This is one thing that is very important to me when it comes to leaving a nanny family.

If possible maintain contact with the family and their little ones. If you have worked with them for a year or more, you have become part of their family or at least an integral part of the children’s lives. If you just disappear and never come back that can be very hard on a little one and can leave them feeling hurt and sad. Now I know this isn’t possible in every circumstance (they/you move, bad experience with family), I think it is important to try to make time for them if you can. That said here are some of my favorite ways to spend some special times with all my past nanny kiddos.

• Have a nanny date night! Take them out to dinner somewhere fun and catch up with them. Ask them about school or sports or life in general. The best part is this doesn’t have to be some fancy, exciting restaurant. Most kids grin ear to ear if you mention going to McDonalds! Another date night idea is to take them to a fun movie in theaters. This was always a hit with my older nanny babies. We have even found an inexpensive local movie theater where tickets are just $2.50.
• Give them a framed picture of the two of you. I love doing this for my kiddos, young and old. If you have a fun, cute picture you love of the two of you (or all of you if you have multiples) frame it and give it to them. You can pick up a nice, inexpensive frame at Target or Michael’s Craft store. If you have a printer and a good deal on ink, I suggest printing at home because you are just printing one picture. However, if you don’t have access to a printer at home check out your local Walgreens to see what there deals on photos are right now. Usually you can find a good coupon on there for 40% off 4 by 6 prints or prints for 10 cents, etc. Then send in your order and you can most likely pick it up that day. Walgreens has a super easy to use app that makes this process even simpler.
• Plan something special for the 2 of you around their birthday. Instead of just getting them a present or card, I like to plan a special outing for the 2 of us so we can spend some quality time together. I try to think of fun special things that parents wouldn’t easily be able to do with their kids. One time I took an old nanny baby to get a pedicure and she about died! She felt so grown up and I relished in the smiles and giggles. Other things I’ve done include taking one of the boys out to a local baseball game, and taken a girl out to tea at the American Girl Place. I’ve done the American Girl Place multiple times now with different kids and it’s always a MAJOR hit! I highly suggest this if you live near one.
• Send them mail! Most little kids rarely get mail and if they do it is the greatest thing ever. Clarification: THIS IS NOT AN EMAIL (most young kids don’t have an email anyways haha) Go the traditional route and mail them a handwritten card or letter. This small gesture is minimal in cost (think paper, envelope, stamp) and means a lot to the children and the parents. If the child is old enough you could even write down a few questions for them in your letter so they can write you one back! Pen pals have never been so cool 🙂
  

  
• Ask the parents if they want to go on a date night and you can babysit! I have heard from a lot of parents that they don’t want to ask you to babysit too often because they don’t want to burn you out. While that may be the case for some, for me I would spend every weekend babysitting if I could 🙂 Shoot one of your families a text every so often asking if they want a night out any weekend in x month. All the families I’ve worked for have been more than happy to pick a night and go out and do their thing! Quality time + a little bit of cash never hurt anybody.

Finding time for old families is something that is so important to me. Each and everyone of the kids I’ve watched has left a special mark on me and I hope I have left one on them. Maintaining our connections and bonds are natural and necessary for me. I have been so lucky to have great relationships with all the families I’ve worked with, I hope you all are just as lucky!

xoxo

Kelly

PS: Here are some of my favorite memories with all my babies who I don’t see every day now 🙂

3 of my “babies” 🙂

Valentine’s Day classmate cards on a budget and minimal time!

Hello all! With Valentine’s Day just around the corner that means school Valentine’s Day parties are just around the corner! That means valentine’s cards for all 30 classmates, candy for each, and some way to get those together. Ain’t nobody got time for that! haha but seriously all of that takes a lot of effort and cost money. Money and time a lot of parents and nannies could spend doing other things on their never-ending to do list. You need to go to Target to buy the cards and candy, which anyone who has gone to Target knows ends up being at least a 30 minute trip. Then you have to assemble them all, write everyone classmates name down, and sign each one. All in all this can take awhile.

However if you are looking for an inexpensive option where you don’t have to leave the house, this may be your solution. All you need is an Amazon Prime account. If you don’t already have an Amazon Prime account I highly suggest you get one. I know this may sound like a promo for them but really it’s just because I find it so helpful and worth the money. For only $99 a year (aka $8.25 a month, or the cost of 2 Starbucks coffee drinks a month) you get free 2 day shipping, access to their video streaming and music, and the best part AMAZON PRIME NOW. Prime Now is the world’s greatest invention. You can order something from Amazon (Say candy for valentine cards) and get it delivered to your front door in 2 hours or less.

Given our crazy schedules (between Ruby’s mom and mine) Valentine cards for Ruby’s classmates got lost in the busy days. So last night, with 4 days till Ruby’s Valentine’s Party, Amazon Prime Now came to the rescue and at an extremely low cost! Lindsay ordered a set of 32 My Little Pony Valentine Cards for $1.36 and 2 bags of candy for the price of one (promo right now). Shipping is FREE. So all in all 32 Valentine’s with candy cost $4!!! The $4 purchase showed up in an hour right to the front door. From there she looked in the craft closet and found glitter sticker hearts Ruby and I had used on projects this summer. She did the added touch of putting them in cellophane sleeves, but she already had them from her office. Use what you have!! If you have mini cellophane bag use those or just do the old school tape the candy on the Valentine 🙂 Assembling took the usual time of writing and sticking, but she saved a lot of time and money by using Amazon Prime Now.

Something that could have been stressful and time consuming, turned into a quick, easy, inexpensive project. PS. 3 year old Ruby spent the time to sign each one herself!! We were both soon proud! (and we made sure to tell her. Positive reinforcement is key in raising a kid!).

SO save some time, money, and stress wrinkles, Amazon is here to save the day! Stay inside tonight and spend some time with your kiddos while Amazon does the heavy lifting. Wait for your things to arrive and have fun assembling them together! Or if you want to get them done quickly while your kids asleep (because we all know helpful kids are a blessing BUT sometimes make things harder) wait till then, have a glass of wine and TA DAH.

xoxo Kelly

© The Nanny Guide 2016

The Giving Season: My Holiday Gift Guide on a Budget

Hi all! Happy Tuesday! With Christmas right around the corner I thought I would put together a list of my go-to gifts for kids, family, friends, nanny bosses, etc that are all budget friendly:)

Christmas is my most favorite time of year! I think it is magical and perfect in every way. Giving someone a gift that they will love and use is very important to me. Now that I am spending my own hard earned money (that could go to groceries & gas) on gifts for everyone on my list I’ve tried to get a little more thrifty. When buying gifts for my family I am willing to spend more so they are less of a concern. My main problem comes to buying gifts for all my tiny humans I like to make feel special this time of year! With 8 kiddos I like to buy for I have had to find ways to keep my spending under control. While it may be tempting to buy your kid the new latest and greatest LEGO set, with my college nanny budget $50 for one gift is not going to fly. This time of year it can be hard to buy for others as well. Those including cousins, friends, aunts /uncles, and nanny bosses. Those people who are important to you add up. I have found instead of ignoring those groups of people all together set a small budget like you do for the kiddos are stick to that. These are some of my go-to gifts and helpful tricks I use to make holiday shopping easier on the budget and mind 🙂

 

My Tips to Stay on Budget 

Check the Target Cartwheel App. I am not a loyal user of this app because I don’t think you save that much. BUT recently I’ve realized if you look, you can find great deals on things you may be interested in buying for gifts. Last week Disney Princess costumes were 50% off. I’ve also seen LEGO sets on sale. They have books, movies, toys, crafts, and other things that may be on your list. It is definitely worth checking it out before you go make you gift purchases.

Keep eyes open for toys/gifts on sale year round. This is something I do mainly for gifts I am going to buy my nanny kiddos. Throughout the year when Target, Toys ‘R’ Us, and other kid stores have things on sale I buy them then and then save them for Christmas. I found a Cinderella Barbie carriage for Ruby in September for $20 (originally $40). This can work for friends and family too. If you see something in July you think your friend Rachel will love, get it! Bring it home and just put it somewhere you will remember!! You don’t want December 22nd to come and have to tear your house apart to find it 🙂

Shop at the Target $1 spot or $3 spot. This is for kids especially (nieces, nephews, nanny kids, stocking stuffers, cousins, friends kids)! Kids can’t tell whether something they get was only $1. These days the $1 spot at Target has some great things! Everything from Minions to Disney Princess to Elmo. Take advantage of this area and use that as small little gifts to go with a bigger one, or buy a few of the little things and that can be their gift! It is the fact that you thought about the kid and something to get them that matters.

Set a budget for how much you want to spend. And stick to it! If you only have $10 to spend on each person, that is okay! Don’t feel pressure to go overboard because others are. You can get some great stuff for a small amount of money these days. Take advantage of sales, shop around to make sure you are getting the best deal, check out your local Dollar Store, or make something! These days handmade gifts (like candles or cocoa mix in a bag) are just as special. Just make sure you take your time and make it nice by adding little details, like ribbons.

Here are some of my go-to gifts for kids, friends, nanny bosses, and family!

Gifts for kids 

• Melissa and Doug Sticker Books $5
• Mini Lego Sets $5 – $10
• Fleece Tie Blankets: This is particular one of my favorites. I gave one to a girl I have watched for a long time a couple years ago, and she still sleeps with it every night 🙂 Something as simple as a blanket can mean so much to a child because it reminds them you love them. If you look out for sales on fleece at your local fabric store this can be an inexpensive gift! It just takes some time to make.
• Framed picture of the two of you: You can embellish the frame to with stickers and jewels.
• Hot Cocoa Mix in a Bag: All you need is cellophane bags, cocoa powder, sugar, powdered sugar, and a pinch salt. Here a link to an easy recipe! Pour desired amount of mix in cellophane bag. Add mini marshmallows to the top and seal with ribbon!
• Fun outing with just you two: Kids love to feel special and celebrated. Give them the gift of your time. Tell them to pick a fun thing to do and restaurant to go to together. Then do it around Christmas time. Maybe buy something special while your out to remember your happy day together.
• Scrapbook: This is very time consuming and costs more than the others, BUT it is one of the most thoughtful and meaningful gifts you can give. I handmade one for Ruby at the end of our summer together. She and her parents love it! It makes me so happy to look back at them when I am there on Fridays now. It’s a physical reminder of your time together. While I took the long route of making each page by hand, there are now much more efficient options online. Check out Snapfish or Whalgreens!

 

Gifts for nanny friends/cousins 

• Anthropologie coffee mug with letter $8: I give these out a lot and sometimes add homemade hot cocoa in a bag to put in the middle of the cup. It makes for a nice yet inexpensive gift!
• Bath and body works deals: There are usually tons of sales at Bath and Body works. They have the buy 3 lotions get 2 free a lot so take advantage of that! You can get 5 gifts for friends/family for the price of 3!
• Lush Bath Bomb $5 – $9
• Framed picture of you two (embellish the frame)
• Homemade spa stuff: There are lots of recipes of these online. I received some form one of my cousins last year and it was amazing!

Gifts for nanny boss

• Handmade art by their kid (mistle toes, handprint)
• Candle: Easy to find at Target, Bath and Body works, etc
• Personalized ornament: Head to your local mall and get an ornament personalized with all the family members names on it. This is an easy, meaningful gift that parents enjoy.
• Ornament in general: If there is a special ornament out there that you think would be meaningful to the parents get that! This year Ruby, I, and her mom were 3 Disney princesses for Ruby’s birthday. So I decided to get Ruby and her mom an ornament of each princess we were to forever have that memory.
• A calendar full of pictures of the kid: I highly suggest this gift! I made one for only $13 with shipping and Ruby’s mom LOVES it. Right now on Snapfish you can make one for $8!! It is a very thoughtful and meaningful gift. I got all of the pictures of their family from Facebook and pictures I had of Ruby so it was a fun surprise for her mom. It is pretty easy to do these with helpful websites like Snapfish or Shutterfly or Whalgreens! More often than not they have sales going on so make your calendar and then order while there is a sale! Check all 3 to make sure you’re getting the best deal.

In the end what really matters when giving a gift is the thought you put into it. You don’t need to spend $100 to show someone you love them. I hope you find this list helpful! Merry Christmas to all of you 🙂

xoxo Kelly

 

The Giving Season: Love Your Melon

I am going to do a few gift giving ideas this holiday season, each with it’s own tie to helping kids in need. I started with American Girl and now up is Love Your Melon.

Love Your Melon is an amazing company started by Minnesota college students. Their mission is to put a hat on every child battling cancer. When you buy a hat, they donate a hat. It simple. Buy one, give one. These beanies and hats are super cute and affordable hats. They have a few different style of hats they sell. Some will keep your ears warm in the freezing cold winter, and others will provide shade from the sun on the hot summer days. The also have shirts and accessories on their site.

They come in a wide array of colors as well. These make perfect gifts for anyone on your list. They are super popular with college kids- I see them all over my campus. I have one and love it! I am planning on giving some as gifts to my cousins and friends this holiday season. Parents: They are a perfect gift for your nanny this holiday as well or your children! Nannies: they are a perfect gift for friends and family members! Who wouldn’t want to buy a cute, nice gift and help a sick child at the same time? Sounds perfect to me. Also ALL of their products are made in the US. Another added benefit to buying something from them. They keep it all within our borders and provide jobs for people in the US.

A little more on Love Your Melon… Besides On delivery day local college kids who work for the company deliver hats to children in the hospital in superhero costumes! Which is such a great idea to brighten the lives of these sick children. They are a business run mainly by students on college campuses who want to make a difference, which I think is remarkable. It is so great to see college students working together, across the country to make a difference in the lives of sick children.

Check out their website here. Order yours today and make a difference in the lives of children!

xoxo Kelly

© The Nanny Guide 2015

Photos from: loveyourmelon.com and pinterist

Be Thankful

Being thankful is something every kid (and adult) can sometimes need a reminder of. I know I try my best to remember how lucky I am for the life I have but life gets crazy and hard sometimes, so I forget. Kids are busy bodies with a million thoughts going through their heads every second. It is easy for them to forget to be thankful as well. While it is good to be thankful year round, Thanksgiving is a good time of year to take a second out of our busy days and remember why/what we are thankful for. It is a good time of year to reflect on your year and life and remember all the things you are lucky to have. It is important to do this with your children as well! Here are a few simple way to break out the gratitude and thankfulness in your little one 🙂

• List off all the people who are a part of their life who love them. This is simple and can be done quickly. Ruby and I have done it a few times on longer car trips. I say who loves Ruby? and she starts listing off mommy, daddy, Kelly, grandma, grandpa, etc. After we have listed off a lot I make a point to tell her how lucky she is to have so many people who love her and who she loves. Then I remind her that she should be thankful to have so many people on that list. It always boosts her mood and puts a smile on her face. I then follow that up with “next time you see _____ you should tell them how much you love them.”
• Make a craft relating to Thanksgiving and being thankful . There are so many options with this, and it is a great way to teach kids the wide range of things they have to be thankful for. It is easy for kids to list off concrete examples like my blankie or my train track, but it’s harder to list of the more abstract ideas like family, friends, education, etc. While doing the craft you can teach them about the more abstract ideas. After they name their first few then you could say something like “well aren’t you thankful for having a nice friend like Abby?” A question like that will prompt their little minds to start thinking of things along that realm. Keep that discussion going! Here is a great list of 7 crafts that can teach kids about being thankful!
• Remind them how lucky they are to be healthy and have full bellies. A lot of kids don’t know on their own that these are things some people don’t have. It is am important life realization to have because it is part of our reality. You want to be age appropriate in how you describe that there are kids who are sick and in the hospital or that there are kids who don’t always get to eat dinner. If you make things seem too bleak it may not register with them, but they are smarter than you think and can handle a version of the truth about health, food, and wealth. I leave that discretion to you, the nanny or parent. You know your child the best and how you think this discussion should go.
• Donate food to a local food shelf. Tell your kids that since not everyone can buy all the food they want (or need) you guys are going to help them out! Bring your kids with and ask them what they want to buy. I have done this with Ruby and she usually gives some of her favorite foods. It a good learning moment because it causes her to reflect on what she likes and that well maybe another kid would like some Easy Mac as well! It teaches compassion and social awareness. Have them help you bring the food in to the donation site. Afterward celebrate their charity work with a fun snack or trip to the park. Let them know how proud you are of them, and that they just helped make a lot of people happier.
• If your kids are old enough- volunteer! I have gone with school groups and my parents since I was young to Feed My Starving Children. At FMSC you pack meals for people in countries all over the world in dire need of food. They present the need for food in age appropriate ways, so you don’t need to be worried about it scaring you child. I have very fond memories of going there as a kid! It’s usually an upbeat environment with lots of laughter and good feelings. If there isn’t a FMSC near you, look for other local places that pack meals for the hungry. They are all over!

A few things I am thankful for this holiday 🙂

• All my tiny humans!
• My sweet, loving boyfriend
• My amazing family
• My education
• The ability to travel
• My best friend (even though she lives 1,000 miles away!)
• The little opportunities each day brings to make a positive difference in people’s lives.

One of my “babies” not so baby anymore!

My human 🙂

RUBY!

Travel

My biggest supporters!

My best friend 🙂

My extended support system.

3 of my “babies” 🙂

Being thankful for things we have isn’t something that is something that we explicitly say everyday, but hopefully there is a moment each day where you think about it. This is an important thing to instill in your kids. Learning to be thankful teaches kids humility, the importance of giving to others if you can, empathy, love, and a bounty of more skills. It will help them develop into compassionate, helpful, grateful humans.

On that note, I hope you all have a safe, fun-filled Thanksgiving! I leave you all with one of my favorite quotes that isn’t directly related to being thankful, but something I have learned as a result of being thankful.

 

Toddler Fashion on a Budget

Move over Crewcuts and  Jack and Janie, there is no need for you in today’s toddler fashion world! Thanks to stores like Target and Old Navy I can find just as fashion forward and adorable clothes that you sell for more than half the cost! My little toddler fashionista Ruby loves clothes, especially dresses! Everyday getting dressed is her favorite time. Usually we end up getting dressed 3 or 4 different times in new outfits 🙂 While usually a child with a love for fashionable clothes comes at a hefty cost, we have found ways to avoid that cost! All of her clothes come from Target, Old Navy, The Children’s Place, Khol’s, Gap, and TJMAXX. She gets compliments everyday on how cute her outfits are and people ask where we get her clothes. Every time I respond with Old Navy or Target people are usually surprised. Attention everyone: Target and Old Navy have the cutest clothes for little ones and at an affordable price point!!

Sweater Dress: Target $19 Leggings: Old Navy $4 Boots: Old Navy $15

One of the cost struggles of having a child is the amount of money spent on clothes for them, because they are constantly growing. If you don’t have a sibling or family member close in age, hand-me-downs are out of the question. Then comes the struggle every season to make sure their clothes fit and if not get new ones. Instead of dreading going shopping for your kiddo because you think cheap clothes equate with ugly and low quality, think again. The majority of Ruby’s closet consists of clothes from the stores listed above. Every piece lasts through the whole season and we always find fashion forward pieces.

Vest: Target $15 Jeggings: Target $7 Tunic: Target $15 Boots: Target $13

We rarely ever buy anything when it is full price. Every store below always has a sale. These are our shopping tips for each store listed below.

Our favorite stores:

Target: Use cartwheel! They usually feature brands, such as Cherokee or Carter, each week for a certain percentage off. Buy your clothes then. Stock up. It may feel like you are spending so much one time, but in the long run you will be saving money. Also take advantage of their text message sales. The day we got the vest, tunic, leggings, and boots, they were having a sale where if you texted a number you would get a coupon for $10 off every $25 spent. That will save you so much! Especially when buying winter clothes, because those are always more expensive. The main point here is stock up when these sales are on because in the end you will spend less money overall. As always check the sale racks too. You can usually find some good stuff there as well.

Shirt: Old Navy $12 Shorts: Target $5 Sandals: Target: $15

Old Navy: They always have on trend clothes there! If you are looking for nice dresses and coats, or basics like leggings you can always find those here. You can usually always find these items on sale as well. Recently all toddler and infant clothes have been 40% off. Ruby went on a shopping spree last week because she had grown out of all her 2T winter clothes
and we needed some new ones. Getting 40% off sweaters, long sleeve dresses, shoes, and pants is AMAZING! She got multiple pairs of leggings for $4 each. Shirts, like this cute one in the picture, for $5, and the pink sparkle leggings for $4 as well. Her pink boots in the pictures on the top were $25 originally, but we bought them on sale and saved a bunch! Once again my main point here is stock up when the sales are on. We did the same thing this summer when buying new shorts and dresses. The savings add up over time.

The Children’s Place: Once again with this store always buy when on sale! We usually end up at the mall once a week (going to the play place there) and each time we’ve walked by in the last few weeks, they have been promoting 40% your entire purchase. These savings were on top of other sales going on in the store. All fleece jackets were on sale for $20 and then you got 40% on top of that, so the cheetah print, cozy jacket we got Ruby was only $12. Once again stock up and take advantages of these sales. We got her a Christmas tutu dress, leggings, jacket, and headband for $30.

Kohl’s: This store as well always had tons on sale. You have to be willing to dig through all of the clothes on the rack, but you can usually find some  good stuff. We got a lot of cute summer stuff back in the springtime when it was on sale.

Gap: I was hesitant to put this one on the list at first. Their clothing is more expensive, in general, than clothes from the other shops. I worked at Gap for a few months and what I realized is that something is always on sale in that store. One week it may be pants, the next t-shirts, and the next dresses. My tip for this store is only buy clothes from there if it is on sale. There is no need to spend $30 on a dress when it could be on sale the next week, or you can find one just as cute, for less, at another store. The one things I can attribute to clothes from Gap is that they can be higher quality fabric and materials then other stores.

All in all buying clothes for your toddler should not be something to be dreaded anymore. There are so many inexpensive places to buy cute clothes these days. Make sure to be vigilant of sales and stock up when you find a good one.

Jacket: Target $20, Tutu: Babies R Us $15, Jeggings: Target $7, Boots: Target $12

Shirt: Old Navy $4 Vest: Old Navy $10

Shirt: Kohl’s $5, Shorts: Target $5, Shoes: Target $15

The Importance of Reading with Kids

Lazy days (like Sundays 😊) are the perfect days to cuddle up with your cutie pie and read books on books on books! There are so many benefits to reading with and to your little one. Books inspire kids to imagine and dream about things and places you’re reading about. The simple act of reading a book aloud to your child helps them develop in multiple way. It develops their memory skills, especially if at the end you ask them what their favorite part was. In relation to memory, it helps kids work on their attention and patience by having to sit still, for a prolonged period of time, and attend to the words and pictures. Lastly it helps in language development. When reading books kids are exposed to so many words and pronunciations. There are a million more benefits to reading, these are just a few. Given all these benefits make reading a part of your daily life with your kid! It’s easy and it’s fun. This goes for kids of all ages! It doesn’t matter if they are 1 or 12 or 50, reading is always beneficial.

Ruby (the little girl I nanny) is 3 so she can’t read any words yet, but still loves when I read aloud to her. This is how me and Ruby have made it apart of our daily life. Every day when Ruby wakes up her nap, we lay in her bed and read 3 or 4 books. She can be a little grumpy and still sleepy when she wakes up, so this is my way of getting her past the “I’m still waking up phase” to the playful Ruby phase. She usually passively takes in the first couple books, but by the 4th book she is super engaged, asking questions, and talking about the pictures. She loves it.

Below are some books we recommend, places we recommend getting them at, and a fun art project! 

Some of our favorite books that we recommend you checking out are:

For the older audience (3 and older): 

Ellie by Mike Wu, a heartwarming story about how everyone is talented in their own unique way. Told with beautiful illustrations and adorable animals!

Pinkalicious by Victoria & Elizabeth Kann, a sweet story about a girl who loves pink and being herself no matter what. Perfect for any pink loving little kiddo. (we also suggest Aqualicious and Purplelicious)

The Berenstain Bears by Stan and Jan Berenstain, a personal favorite of mine from when I was a kid! With a wide range of stories about everything from becoming a big sister/brother to telling the truth to eating too much junk food, your kids will always come away from these books learning a good lesson.

For the younger audience (3 and under): 

Duck and Goose by Tad Hills, this is a series with multiple books covering many learning domains such as counting, empathy, holidays, colors, emotions, opposites, and many more. Each one is short and simple, but filled with tons of things for kids to learn. Plus they are the cutest little guys!

The Wonderful Things You Will Be by Emily Winfield 
Martin, a eloquently written, beautiful book telling the story of something all parents will find meaningful. Every parent (and nanny 😊) wonders about their tiny humans will become one day.

Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae, a quirky, cute story about a giraffe who wants to dance even though he isn’t exactly made to. It shows kids you can do whatever you put your mind to.

You can find all these books and more amazing ones at the LIBRARY! Ruby and I love the library. Our local libraries have fun places to cozy up and read, blocks to play with, and toys to imagine with. It is always a fun morning when we head to one of them. After Ruby got her first library card this summer we decided to make a special library book bag to store and carry all her library books in! Such a fun, easy, practical art project. Directions are below!

What you need: 

1 canvas bag (we found ours at Michael’s craft store for $3)

3D Fabric Paint in favorite colors (found at Michael’s)

Pencil

How to do: 

1. Place some cardboard inside the bag to prevent the paint from going through to the other side.
2. Use a pencil to sketch out your design. Draw lightly incase you want to erase and start again 🙂
3. Gently squeeze the 3D fabric paint over the pencil lines.
4. Let dry for at least 3 hours!! This is the hardest step for kids to obey. We did ours before nap time so there was no temptation.
5. Use and enjoy your new personalized book bag! We take ours with overtime we go.

Since Ruby was a little to young to use the paint I had her color on the other side of the bag with fabric markers. This made her feel like she did some too. She also helped pick out the colors and decided which words were what color. If your child is old enough to use the fabric paint let them create their own unique design!

If you like to buy your books to keep them around enroll in Barnes and Noble’s Kids Club! It keeps track of how many books you buy and allows you to enjoy special perks! For every $100 you spend on kids book you get a rewards certificate to redeem in store. They have other fun promotions you can take part in. The store itself is always a fun place for kids to visit too. They have a Lego Duplo area to build for free and a fun storytelling area.

I hope this post encourages you to make reading an important part of you and your kiddos life! I leave you with this quote by a familiar friend