Homeschooling can be an incredibly empowering experience for both you and your child, but getting started and navigating the requirements can sometimes feel overwhelming. Here’s a helpful guide to begin your homeschooling journey in New York State (NYS):

Recently, I had the pleasure of spending quality time with my niece Lauren and together we did a fun activity with my 4-year-old son Cuba, along with his cousins, 6-month-old Eva and 1.5-year-old Ethan, by doing some painting. We used washable paint with six colors, nothing too complicated, and allowed the children to explore their creativity. As a mom, it was an opportunity for me to have some adult time with my niece while also bonding with my son and sharing a creative experience with him. We all had a blast holding a paintbrush, mixing colors, and rinsing brushes in the water.

Painting birdhouses is a fun and engaging activity for all ages, even children as young as 1.5 years old. It provides a great opportunity for them to: explore colors and textures, stimulate their imagination, and develop their fine motor skills. But it's not just about the art - painting birdhouses can also have holistic health benefits for both children and adults.

Steel cut oats, also known as Irish oats, are a type of whole grain oatmeal that has been minimally processed. Unlike other types of oats, steel cut oats are made by cutting the whole oat groat into small pieces using steel blades. This unique processing method gives steel cut oats a distinct, chewy texture that many people find appealing. But did you know that steel cut oats also have a number of health benefits that make them an excellent choice for breakfast?

One of the main benefits of steel cut oats is their high fiber content. Fiber is an essential nutrient that helps keep our digestive system running smoothly. In particular, fiber helps to promote healthy bowel movements and can prevent constipation. Steel cut oats are also a good source of protein, with one cup of cooked steel cut oats containing about 5 grams of protein. Protein is important for building and repairing tissues, and it can also help to keep us feeling full and satisfied for longer.

Another benefit of steel cut oats is that they have a low glycemic index. The glycemic index is a measure of how quickly a food raises blood sugar levels. Foods with a high glycemic index can cause blood sugar levels to spike and then crash, which can lead to feelings of hunger and fatigue. Steel cut oats have a low glycemic index, which means that they release sugar into the bloodstream more slowly and steadily. This can help to prevent spikes and crashes in blood sugar levels, which is particularly important for people with diabetes.

To incorporate steel cut oats into your diet, try making a warm and hearty bowl of oatmeal for breakfast. Here's a simple recipe to get you started:

Whether you breastfeed for 2 days or 2 years, I applaud you. Breastfeeding is WORK! It is sacrificing, time consuming, and can be exhausting YET it is nourishing, beautiful, joyful, fulfilling and life changing! Here are some breastfeeding encouragement tips to support any mama or soon to be mama that would like to breastfeed.

1. Remind yourself of the benefits of breastfeeding! It is liquid gold! A nutritious and complete meal for babies. It protects babies from so many infections and diseases like obesity, and diabetes. It also helps babies go to sleep and lowers the risk of ovarian and breast cancers in mothers.

2. Breastfeeding WILL get easier! The beginning is the worst. Don’t give up.

3. Use nursing props! Nursing pillows and silver nipple cups are great for comfort.

4. Find support from fellow breastfeeding mommies. Support is key to success and it will build your confidence which helps a lot on this journey!

5. Remember you are your baby’s #1 caregiver, you must keep yourself happy and hydrated to stay stress-free. These hormones are no joke! Whatever you are feeling goes straight to your baby when you are breastfeeding. Therefore, most importantly do what makes you happy because mama knows best!

Just For Today by Author Unknown.

Just for today, I will let go of anger.

Just for today, I will let go of worry.

Just for today, I will give thanks for my many blessings.

Just for today, I will do my work honestly.

Just for today, I will be kind to my neighbor and every living thing.

Just for today, I will take responsibility for everything that happens to me.

Just for today, I will take some action that will move me closer to my dreams.

Just for today, I will take 20 minutes for meditation, prayer, and/or reflection.

Just for today, I will focus on the journey instead of the destination.

Just for today, I will not put junk food in my body.

Just for today, I will be kind to myself.

Just for today, I will remember that everyone is doing the best that they can.

Before you begin... A Blessing For Yourself

Before you begin your practice bless yourself.

Bless all of your past, your mistakes your triumphs, all the decisions you have made to get to this point.

Bless the times that you fell to your knees and the times you rose above yourself.

Bless all of your present.

Bless this moment pregnant with possibility, hope and openness.

Bless yourself for showing up here to practice, to learn, to grow and evolve.

Bless yourself for trying no matter what the circumstances are - you are doing your best.

Bless your courage, your strength.

Bless all of your future. The lands & experiences that lay before you, the relationships that you are yet to have.

Bless all the outcomes of all the choices you make today, knowing that you are being guided and looked after.

Bless all parts of yourself, all the sweetness, all the struggles.

Bless yourself for being you!

Source: The Language of Yin, by Gabrielle Harris

Yoga is you. Yoga is alchemy. It is transformation at its highest form; you showing up for yourself. 

Yoga is an inner thing. No one has to give it to you. You don’t need a mat, and you don’t need anyone else to do it with. No equipment necessary. Yoga is literally just you. 

 Yoga is about showing up and doing the work. Creating a spiritual practice that involves opening ourselves up to improvement and new ideas, rather than remaining stuck in the closed loops of deep subconscious patterns. Yoga is a lifestyle. It is spiritual wellness and all about cultivating inner contentment.

As life cycles and progresses, twists and turns, we could all use a tool to help us amplify the love inside. When we feel drastic energy shifts due to crazy life changes it’s a great time to be close to Rose Quartz, for its abundant love vibes and power to create a harmonious atmosphere. Crystals may seem modern age, but our ancestors have been using these tools to elevate themselves for centuries.

Goddess Aishat is the Ancient Egyptian Goddess of love, healing, motherhood, fertility, magic, and the moon. Most known by the Ancient Greek name given to her, Isis, she is seen as the greatest example of a loving faithful wife and mother. Her love for her husband, Osiris, being so strong she used her magical powers to resurrect him after he died. Rose Quartz gently, but powerfully helps us heal our hearts. Its high vibration opens up the heart chakra; making Rose Quartz perfect for connecting with every type of love: platonic, romantic, family, community, the Earth, the Universe, the Divine, and knowledge of self-love.

Our first travel experience was when our son, Cuba, was 3 months old. We flew from NYC to ATL, a 2.5 hr trip. The rest of our vacation consisted of us traveling on a plane from ATL to Fort Myers, FL and then another plane from Fort Myers back to NYC. So altogether within 1 trip we had an adventure of 3 plane rides with our infant.