Moms

Free Websites for Kids to Play (Fun and Educational)

Sep 10, 2019 by Lynelle 4 Comments

I really enjoyed putting together this list of free websites for kids. First, because I was able to discover new sites and share them with my daughters.

Second, I had the “excuse” to play these online games while working on this list for you. As a busy Type-A mom, I rarely give myself the opportunity to play since there are always things to do. In this case, this post allowed me to do both at the same time.

Quick notes before accessing these online games

For this post, I reviewed many websites and only considered those websites that I would feel comfortable sharing with my own kids.

While evaluating a website, if I noticed too much violence and/or sexual messages or images, I simply moved on to another website.

However, keep in mind that each family has different rules.

Therefore, double-check the website to make sure it is appropriate for your child to play on, and as always, don’t forget to monitor your child while playing online.

Most of these free websites only require an updated version of Adobe Flash to start playing. The majority of these websites let you access their games instantly while some may require a quick registration process.

List of Free Websites for Kids

ABCya

On this website, games are organized by grade level. My daughter loves playing on this site, especially cooking her own pizza. But there are a lot more games available such as Math Bingo where your child can practice addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

In addition to math, you can find games that focus on skills and strategies. Here, you can also find several typing games including a ghost one which is helpful and entertaining…but my little one gets scared of the ghosts.

Boomerang TV

This site brings back childhood memories because it has games based on classic characters such as Tom and Jerry, Bugs Bunny, Looney Tunes, The Flintstones, and Scooby-Doo.

You can find modern characters too, like Talking Tom, Taffy, Oddbods, and The Zhu Zhus.

Cartoon Network

Here you can find the Power Puff Girls, Teen Titans Go, Unikitty, Craig of the Creek, and Ben 10, among many other popular characters from the Cartoon Network.

There are different ways to start playing: select your favorite character, a featured game from the top section, a popular game from the middle section, or just check the list of all the games.

CBC Kids

I’m glad I found this website because it has a wide variety of entertaining games for different ages. Their games include Foosball, Animals Crush, Alien Bridge, Burger Now, and Baby Cat Adventure (which quickly became one of my daughter’s favorite games from this site).

Find games by choosing between easy or hard games, puzzles, adventure, animals, sports, racing, and more.

For educational games, click on science, math, and word games. They also have Match the Flag games which help kids with social studies. That’s not all, you can find popular characters such as PJ Masks, True, Daniel Tiger, and many others.

By the way, I saw several games for you too, including Klondike Solitaire, Jumper Frog, hockey games, and Word Hunter.

CBeebies

These games are for little kids. Preschoolers can play with puzzles, coloring pages, memory, matching games, and more. Even though this site doesn’t have many games available, your child can still have a good time and master important skills.

Cookie

This site has games for kids from Pre-K to first grade. You can search for games by grade or by categories such as language, science, and math.

Some of the games that I saw were sight words, US maps, short vowels, compound words, opposite adjectives, rhyme time, ABC words, and the human body.

In addition to educational games, they have fun games like the hungry frog, pop a balloon, and jumping monkey.

The only thing that I would change is the voice of the man who provides the instructions for the games. In my opinion, the voice is not scary but a bit too serious for a site dedicated to little kids.

Related article about little kids: List of Sight Words for Kindergarten

Cool Math 4 Kids

As the site’s name indicates, this educational website focuses on math games for kids from Kindergarten to sixth grade.

These games can be sorted by grade or topic such as addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication.

In addition to games, this site has lessons, quizzes, brainteasers, and a few more resources to help your child succeed.

Cool Math Games

Cool Math Games is a sister site of Cool Math 4 Kids. This website has all types of games based on strategy, skill, logic, and more.

There’s also a numbers section where you can find games related to math.

My kids love playing their games, especially the series of Papa’s businesses such as Papa’s Cupcakeria, Pizzeria, Pancakeria, and Bakeria. Papa’s games give kids an idea of how to manage their own business by preparing orders as requested, providing good customer service, and making money.

Disney Jr.

This is another website with games from characters that kids already love.

At this time, the site only has six games, but they are still fun for kids. It includes PJ Masks, Muppet Babies, and a Super Arcade with different characters. No registration required.

Disney LOL

Disney LOL has several games that your child can play. Click games at the top and choose between, Disney Junior, Descendants, fashion, Frozen, and arcade games.

On this site, my daughter loves to play Tangled Double Trouble, Isle of the Lost Rush, and Frozen Rush. There are also quizzes and coloring pages available.

Education.com

This website has many online games for kids to play. These games are intended for Pre-Kindergarten to 5^th grade.

In addition to typing, math, reading, and writing, they have coding games that are not common to find online! All their games are free; however, you have to register in order to play.

Fisher-Price

This site has games for preschoolers and younger kids where they can practice their ABCs, shapes, colors, numbers, and more.

It also includes popular characters that little kids like such as Little People, Imaginext, Power Wheels, and Laugh & Learn.

FreeKI Games

On this website, the games are pretty much categorized into action, sports, strategy, puzzle, learning, and games for girls. I find their games interesting and entertaining.

I really enjoyed playing cinema panic, natural selection, and street race, even though I kept getting out of the road and hitting the car against the buildings! At least, I did better on the Ice Cream Racing game 😊.

Like other websites mentioned on this list, this site contains some ads too. The difference is that sometimes those ads were shown to me while playing the games. So, make sure to keep an eye on little kids because it can easily take them to a different page.

Fun Brain

My oldest daughter grew up playing on this website and now my little one is a regular user too.

Everything is grouped by grade which makes it a lot easier to find games to play. Your child can always move to the next grade if those games fit him or her better.

This website doesn’t require registration.

Happy Clicks

This website help preschoolers and younger kids to develop important and necessary skills.

You can find different types of games such as mazes, puzzles, coloring, memory, drag and drop, and more. Click on each category to see which games are available.

Kidzeyes

This is an online research panel for kids ages 6 to 12 years old with a section for kids to play games that you can access after registration.

Some of the games are for entertainment purposes such as soccer, dress up, and driving a wild taxi with the arrow keys.

There are also educational games such as memory and a math line where the kid needs to pair numbers to equal ten.

They also have the ghost typing game mentioned earlier which is helpful but be careful because your child (like mine) may get scared of the ghosts.

Kiloo

Kiloo has a variety of games for different ages. Here, you can find tap the frog, cut the rope, nail doctor, ninja action 2, flappy ball, and many other games.

If you are a mom with little kids, be cautious because several times, I saw some ads that may scare them. I suggest checking out the site before sharing it with your kids, just in case.

Knee Bouncers

This is such an adorable and colorful website perfect for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers.

It has a variety of free, entertaining, and educational games to choose from. There you can find games such as peek-a-bouncer, funny numbers, holey moley, cupcake catch, dino parade, among others!

Learn 4 Good

This site is tailored to young kids and all the way to pre-teens. This is one of those sites where you can find all types of games.

You can check the latest games, top 100 games, top new games, or the top games by country.

It also has more than 35 categories to choose from including memory, cars, adventures, matching, space, pet, and educational games.

Learning Games for Kids

This site has a wide variety of games related to the school’s subjects.

You can find games focused on vocabulary, spelling, science, math, social studies, and geography. There are also different typing and brain games.

Within the brain games section, you can find popular games such as Pac-man, Tetris, tic tac toe, and space invaders, in addition to mini-golf, eyesight challenge, jumping arrow, and more.

Lego

My youngest daughter is a Lego Friends fan, so she was super excited when she learned about their online game. Shortly after, both of us were having fun playing Heartlake Rush.

They also have The Avengers, Harry Potter, Batman, Star Wars, Jurassic World, and others.

Math Playground

Another educational site to help kids with their math skills. It has games focused on first to sixth graders

Despite their name, this site also has spelling games and animal adventures like Run Panda Run, Fox Adventurer, and Duck Life.

From their site, you can also access Puzzle Playground which has puzzles and other games too.

Mattel Games

Since the Fisher-Price website is oriented for infants to preschoolers, these Mattel games offer games for bigger kids who prefer Barbie, Hot Wheels, Monster High, Bob the Builder, and Ever After High, among others

Finding these games is a little bit tricky but it’s still easy to do. When you get to the site, click where it says “more” in the top right. Then, choose your child’s favorite character.

Memozor

Who doesn’t need a little help to boost those important memory skills? This website is full of memory games for kids (and adults, including games for seniors too!).

They have the typical memory games, Simon games, and other types of memory games. The games for kids include characters that kids like such as Snoopy, Thomas and Friends, Smurfs, Finding Nemo, Barbie, Frozen, and more.

The Simon games section contains the regular Simon game and other types like mushrooms, iPhone keyboard, emoji, and haunted house.

National Geographic

This website has a lot of free games that pretty much fall into three categories: quizzes, funny fill-ins, and action and adventure.

I liked their games so much that I kept playing Bug Bash instead of working on this post 😉.

Just keep in mind that these games may be too difficult for little kids. This site doesn’t require registration to play either.

PBS Kids

This is a popular website among kids especially those who are familiar with PBS kids’ characters like Wild Kratts, Pinkalicious, Cat in the Hat, Nature Cat, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, SciGirls, and many more.

There are all types of games based on the character and tv shows and you don’t need to register to play. However, if you do, you can play exclusive games and access member-only parts of the site. They have tons of games plus they add new games often.

Poki Kids

It has a combination of regular games with popular kid characters such as Doc McStuffins, Power Puff Girls, Lightning McQueen, Hello Kitty, Rapunzel, Zootopia, My Little Pony, Elena of Avalor, Lego, Littlest Pet Shop, Toy Story, and the list goes on and on.

This is another website with a wide variety of games including Disney, Marvel, Transformers, puzzles, cooking, car, and pet games.

Puzzle Playground

This website has more than puzzles. They have many other fun games under the categories of skill, action, strategy, and classic.

It also contains ads that are normally played before starting a game. Even though the ads I saw were kid-friendly, it did take me to the ads’ website, which in this case was Lego games.

Scholastic

It has plenty of games for kids to play. Their games are targeted at kids ages 3 to 7 and include popular characters such as Clifford, Word Girl, and The Magic School Bus.

Here you can find matching games, mazes, I spy, sketch pads, design studio, scramble games, and many more!

Splash Math

Great for kids from kindergarten up to fifth grade. Select a topic or a grade to see the variety of games that you can choose from.

It has more than 15 math topics available. In addition to multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction, these topics include time, fraction, place value, and algebra.

Turtle Diary

It’s a website full of educational games for kids. In this case, you can search by type of game (newest, highest rated, most popular, alphabetical), by subject (math, language arts, science, and more), or by grade (preschool to fifth grade).

Unlike other sites, it includes assessment tools and reports that are completely free of charge. There are also games labeled as “multiplayer” which allow your child to play with other kids using the site.

Also, there is a five-star system where kids can see how many stars each game has received and the number of reviewers.

Just so you know, this website contains a few ads even though I didn’t see anything inappropriate while exploring their website. However, if you want to, you can eliminate those ads by becoming a paid member for less than $5 per month. And, according to its website, you can cancel the subscription at any time.

Universal Kids

This website is suitable for little kids. Especially those who are fans of Floogals, Nina’s World, and Ruff-Ruff Tweet, and Dave.

In this cute website, kids can find objects with Nina, pass the chipper challenge with Ranger Rob, Feed the Floogals, be an Animal Detective with Dot, and more.

Plus, it doesn’t require you to register.

UpToTen

UpToTen has a section for kids up to 6 years and another section for kids age 6 to 10.

The little ones can find puzzles, coloring pages, dress-up games, hide and seek, shapes, and spot the difference.

Bigger kids can find games under four sections: puzzles, races, mixed bag, and coordination games.

Final thoughts on these free websites for kids

Now, you have many free websites for your kids to play and learn! I hope your child enjoys these games as much as my daughters do.

Additional articles about kids

Best Tooth Fairy Ideas: All You Need to Know to Succeed

Jul 12, 2019 by Lynelle 6 Comments

Recently, I was in a rush looking for last-minute tooth fairy ideas. This wasn’t the first time that the tooth fairy would visit us, but due to the big age gap between my daughters, I felt like I was starting all over again.

Since I was completely unprepared, I wanted to find out how much things had changed during the last years, especially moneywise. After seeing an increase in gas prices and groceries, I was wondering if the cost for the tooth fairy increased too.

The tooth fairy sharing her ideas with moms

After doing the work, let me help you save time and get ready for the tooth fairy!

Contents

What’s the tooth fairy tradition?
How many teeth will fall out?
How much money does the tooth fairy leave?
Does the tooth fairy bring toys?
Getting ready for the tooth fairy
Best Tooth Fairy Gift Ideas
Final Thoughts on the Best Tooth Fairy Ideas

What’s the tooth fairy tradition?

The tooth fairy tradition has been going on for many years and it varies among countries. Here in the United States, the child places the tooth under the pillow for the tooth fairy to get during the night.

After the child falls asleep, the tooth fairy flies to the child’s bedroom and gets the tooth for her collection. That’s also when she leaves a quick surprise for the little one.

It’s not a secret that the tooth fairy loves baby teeth but the reason behind her collection is still unclear. Here are some of the top three reasons that I have heard:

Tooth fairy uses good, healthy teeth to build her white castle, houses for the fairies, and additional places around it. She uses the bad teeth to build the pavement
She grinds the teeth to create magic pixie dust.
The teeth are given to babies without teeth.

The truth is that nobody knows for sure the real reason behind the collection which makes it more magical for kids. And, a quick reminder for good dental hygiene.

How many teeth will fall out?

Kids normally get 20 baby teeth that start erupting when they are around 6 months old. All twenty baby teeth usually fall between the ages of 6 to 13.

To be ready for the multiple visits of the tooth fairy, check out below the permanent eruption chart from the American Dental Association. It gives you an idea of when to expect the permanent teeth to erupt.

As always, use the chart as a reference but keep in mind that the kids’ age may vary. However, I find the chart very helpful and informative. Plus, my daughter lost her first tooth (lower central incisor) when she turned six which matches the age on the chart.

How much money does the tooth fairy leave?

I recently had this question too. As I mentioned before, it wasn’t the tooth fairy’s first visit to our house, but after a long absence, I didn’t know how much it had changed.

Especially, taking into consideration the inflation and increase in prices everywhere.

As you know, there’s not a specific amount set for each tooth. And, because of that, the amounts vary. Based on the information that I found, some fairies have given $2, $3, $5, $20, and more per tooth.

Did I confuse you more? I know, with so many variations, it’s hard to decide what to do. However, here is something that will give you a better idea.

According to a poll conducted by Delta Dental, the current average gift in the USA is $3.70 per tooth. Even though the amount has declined in the last years, it may still sound high for previous generations that had a much lower amount.

During my research, I also noticed that some tooth fairies leave a higher pay for the first and last tooth. I understand the emotion and importance behind both.

However, it’s up to you to determine what’s best for your child and your household. The end goal should be to create a special memory for your little one.

Does the tooth fairy bring toys?

Absolutely! Even though cash is used most often, tooth fairies can bring toys too.

This happened to my oldest daughter when she unexpectedly lost a tooth and there weren’t any single bills available around the house.

Fortunately, at that time, I used to keep a toy gift box for last-minute situations. Having that box not only saved the night, but she loved the idea too! Need some ideas?

Taking into consideration the average gift per tooth, you may consider a:

A coloring book(s) with crayons
Puzzle
Small Lego box
Travel size wood games

The following suggestions are more than the average cost mentioned in the previous section but I feel that they are worth mentioning:

Dentist Barbie doll and toddler patient

Dentist barbie doll with her toddler patient who lost a tooth

Dentist with a patient lego set

Ryan’s World – toothbrush and toothpaste – If you are not familiar with Ryan, he is a successful YouTuber that many kids follow, including my daughter!

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Getting ready for the tooth fairy

Losing a tooth is an exciting experience for most kids. They can’t wait for their tooth to finally fall so they can receive a visit from the tooth fairy. But, sometimes, the loose tooth takes a little bit longer to fall.

So, here are two ways to help them cope with their excitement during the waiting period.

Tooth Fairy Books

I always like getting books for my kids that are related to their situation, experience, or season. By doing that, I feel that kids get more interested in reading since they can relate to those stories.

Add books to your tooth fairy tradition. Reading these books should help your child to prepare better for the entire experience of losing a tooth.

Here are some book suggestions:

The Night Before the Tooth Fairy

Fancy Nancy and the Too-Loose Tooth

Tooth Fairy’s Night

The Tooth Fairy (Peppa Pig)

This Peppa Pig book has tooth fairy ideas too.

The Tooth Fairy Construction Company

This book shares the fairy's construction company. Add this book to your tooth fairy ideas!

Pete the Cat and the Lost Tooth

Pete the Cat book is a great tooth fairy idea

Printables Related to the Toothy Fairy

Since kids like printables, that’s another way to entertain your child during the waiting period. Here are some helpful printables that I found.

Mama’s Learning Corner has teeth printables that include a maze, dot to dots, puzzles, and more.

Teeth math game has a teeth game that is fun and educational for preschoolers. It helps kids practice number recognition and counting.

Dentist 4 Kids has nice activity sheets to choose from. There’s a word search, crossword, unscramble work problems, and more.

Mom Junction has several dental coloring pages for kids. Some of these pages are a smiling tooth, four dental friends, a happy tooth, and even a dental tooth fairy.

My Family Dentistry has a coloring book and an activity book that you can download for your child. The activity book includes a tooth maze, a super cute connect the dots, and additional coloring pages.

Tooth Fairy Note Ideas

Ask your child to write a note for the tooth fairy. It gives the kids an opportunity to express how they feel and ask any questions they still may have. Also, these notes serve as memories that you can save forever.

Handmade Charlotte – This printable is super cute and small just like the tooth fairy! You have a note page for your child to write a message on, an envelope for the note, and another envelope for the reward.

Mouth Healthy has a variety of printables that I really liked. They include a certificate, a page full of receipts, several door hangers, nice scrapbook pages, and cute small doors for your child to cut and color.

The tooth fairy doing her magic to help busy moms succeed

Best Tooth Fairy Gift Ideas

Giving money has been the most traditional way to reward kids for their lost teeth. But there are different options for you. This section gives you different ways to celebrate lost teeth.

Money ideas (the traditional way)

Cash – can be coins or bills
Gift card – for their favorite store
A $2 bill – to make it more unique
Opening a bank account for the kid

Tooth Fairy Certificate Ideas

MomDot, more than a certificate, it’s like a report card. In addition to the design, I like it because it keeps important details that you will like to remember later such as a date, how and where the tooth was lost, and more. Stephanie also has a door hanger available.

Creative Certificates has different certificates that are customizable. This includes some templates where you can add a picture of your child. You can also find cute receipts.

Rooftop Post has certificates for every single occasion. There you can find a specific certificate for every single tooth such as the 1^st lost tooth, 2^nd, 3^rd, etc. It also has certificates for Halloween, Summer, a child’s birthday, a swallowed tooth, and even for a lost and found tooth.

Tooth Fairy Ideas Letters

Fun with Mama offers a cute pack that includes a letter and activity sheets related to math, word building, and more.

Three Little Monkeys Studio shares her daughter’s letter, which you can use for inspiration.

Tooth Fairy Receipt

I didn’t know that there was such a thing as a tooth fairy receipt. But, I love the idea of getting a receipt after such an important transaction. Plus, it makes the process even more real.

La Petite Academy has a cute receipt that you can print and use. It has a bar code at the bottom that makes it look more real.

Moms & Munchkins, in addition to the receipt, you have a record, a chart, and a door hanger. The chart helps you keep all the dates when your child lost their teeth.

Tooth Fairy Pillow Ideas

These pillows have become a popular idea. There are two options here, you can make the pillow yourself or get one that is already made. Here are some options depending on the option that you prefer:

Kit with Keepsake Notepad and Magic Glitter

Please stop here

Lillian Rose

Tooth Fairy Kit

The benefit of a tooth fairy kit is that it bundles different items for your child to make it more memorable.

Superhero

Box, pillow, letter, and receipt included

5-piece gift set

Tooth fairy idea: a kit that includes a pillow and a certified letter

Final Thoughts on the Best Tooth Fairy Ideas

There you go! Simple tooth fairy ideas to help you with the entire process. I hope that these resources can help you and your child prepare for the fairy’s visits.

Now, let me hear from you…

Have you used any of these ideas? Leave a comment and let me know how it went.

I would also love to hear any other idea not included in this post. As I said, my youngest daughter just lost her first tooth so I still have many tooth fairy visits to go!

Adorable LOL Birthday Party Ideas On A Budget

Jun 17, 2019 by Lynelle 10 Comments

Are you looking for LOL surprise birthday party ideas for your little girl? I have been in your shoes for the few last weeks. Since my daughter loves LOL dolls, it made sense to plan an LOL themed birthday for her.

My goal was to create a beautiful birthday party within a limited budget. To reduce the expenses, I knew that we had to create more things ourselves rather than buying them. So, this birthday party involved a lot of searching, cutting and gluing. Especially because those LOL dolls seemed to multiply!

I knew that there were a lot of them but I never thought that there were that many. There are so many, that I am still finding new dolls that I could’ve used. Plus, their sweet eyes and fashionable clothes don’t help much either.

The best part is that we achieved the goal. My little one had a beautiful birthday party without breaking the bank. Now, I am here to help you with yours. Make sure to pin this post because I am sharing everything I used to help you save you time. You just have to choose what’s best for you based on your birthday’s goal.

Let’s start with the decorations…

Many colorful balloons ready for a birthday party

This post contains affiliate links. Read my full disclosure for information.

Table Of Contents

LOL Doll Party Decorations
LOL Surprise Birthday Party Games
LOL Birthday Party – Food and Drinks
DIY Party Invitations
LOL Dresses for the Birthday Girl
More LOL Birthday Party Ideas Worth Sharing
LOL Surprise Birthday Party Ideas Summary

LOL Doll Party Decorations

For the decorations, I focused on colors, balloons, and the cake table area.

This section includes the details of the backdrop, cake table, entrance, and wall decorations. So, here you go:

Backdrop

I have always admired the moms who have created a beautiful backdrop for their kids. For a long time, I wanted to do the same, but I always thought that it would require a bigger budget.

Because of that, year after year, the backdrop was mostly plain. Then, two years ago, I decided to add a poster board with some cutouts on it.

This year, I thought to create a beautiful backdrop myself and I couldn’t be happier. It absolutely transformed the entire area.

This is what I did

Background wall: I used two regular wrapping papers that I found at Walmart, but you can get your own combination from any other store including Dollar Tree.

Big LOL dolls: The adorable dolls in the center are the large doll centerpiece characters from Daisy Celebrates. There were perfect for it! Each doll is the size of a regular page I also used a couple of them as centerpieces as shown later in this article.

“Happy Birthday” Banner: This is the birthday banner I got, but I also found this one and this other one.

Smaller LOL dolls: Most of the dolls that you see at the bottom of the backdrop can be found here. This site has a great variety of dolls to choose from. To give you an idea of their size, I saved them in Canva and added two dolls per page (landscape orientation). I also used some of these dolls to decorate around the house.

Quick alternatives

Don’t worry if you don’t have time to create a backdrop yourself. Here are some quick options that will surely save you time:

Cake Table

It’s important to pay attention to the cake table since it is something that guests will focus on and where most of the pictures are taken.

Here is what I used:

Table cover: The table cover helps you determine how many things you need on the table. Having a pretty table cover makes the cake table look much better instantly. At first, I just wanted a light pink table cover, but it didn’t match what I had in mind. That’s why I chose this one that was a lot more colorful. I also found this other table cover, in case it works better for you.

DIY cake stand: At the stores, I was looking for a nice cake stand that I could use for the snacks but the ones available were either too expensive or wouldn’t be appropriate for a kid’s birthday. Fortunately, Cyndy from The Creativity Exchange shows how to quickly make this chic cake stand with a plate and bowl. I ended up finding the plates at Target for a little over a dollar. They look great and I can use them over and over again!

The Entrance

I took gold and black streamers and added five gold stars over them. I, then, took the Queen Bee LOL doll and hung her on the wall, beside the streamers. This was a quick, easy, and inexpensive way to decorate the entrance.

Wall Decorations

In addition to the balloons, I wanted to add some colorful touches to the walls. That’s why I ended up wrapping up our picture frames.

For the wall decorations, I only used:

Regular wrapping paper
Banner template
Poster boards (black and white)
LOL banner – I uploaded this banner template in Canva and added the letters to it to make it more personal. Here is the same template but with different LOL dolls. Also, here, you can download a happy birthday banner and an alphabet banner too.
Number 6 – this site has all the numbers and each number has a different doll.

LOL Surprise Birthday Party Games

Pin the Bow

This pin the bow game was perfect, and we had so much fun playing it!

I wanted a game just like that, but I thought that I would have to create it myself. Fortunately, Kristen from Musings of an Average Mom had already created one.

The templates for pin the bow are available on her site and you can download them completely FREE. I printed both pages (doll and bows) on cardstock paper so it could last longer.

LOL Bingo

Printables

Since kids love printables and coloring, print several printables and keep them in a designated area or table with different school supplies like crayons, pens, and colored pencils.

Distribute the coloring pages on the table and let the kids choose their favorite printable to color.

Another option is to have a printable set ready for each kid. In that way, each kid will have the same packet of printables. You can put each set inside an LOL bag or on top of a table as I suggested before.

Here are some places where you can download coloring pages:

LOL Word Search

Since there were different ages among the guests, I wanted to include a variety of games that could still entertain all ages.

The LOL surprise word search printables were perfect!

These printables have a combination of a coloring page with a word search, include short and long words, are cute, and are free to download.

To add a little bit of excitement, we created groups among the guests and competed to see who could finish first.

You will find a good variety after a quick google search for “LOL surprise word search free printables”. But remember, that most of these printables are for personal use only.

Photo Props

Nowadays, photo props are part of birthdays, school activities, and other events. Photo props work best with a group of people. So, if a group of kids is attending your LOL birthday party, consider adding this activity. This kit of sixteen pieces can get you started.

Piñata

Last year, my daughter went to a birthday party and they had a piñata. All the kids had a good time searching for the candies and toys that were inside the piñata.

As part of the planning for my daughter’s birthday, I looked for LOL piñatas too. After all, there were too many things happening and we ended up not having one. But to save you time, here are the ones that I was considering:

Star-shaped – This was my first choice but just because it matched with the birthday party colors.
LOL dolls piñata – This one has light colors and different LOL dolls on both sides. Plus, it’s also available at Amazon which you can see here.

LOL Birthday Party – Food and Drinks

Birthday Cake

This year, I bought the birthday cake at Walmart as I usually do. I normally find the theme that I want but this time they didn’t have an LOL design.

I could order the cake online but instead, I let my daughter choose one from the ones that were already on display.

The cake was pretty and simple which was perfect to add some decoration to it. In this case, I added these cute cake toppers that I found at Oh My Fiesta in English. It has a variety of free LOL templates that you can use too.

I had never used DIY cake toppers before but I decided to give a try, and I really liked the results.

Snacks

If you are having snacks and drinks, you have to visit Daisy Celebrates! Like me, you will be able to find more cute things for an LOL themed birthday party.

There’s where I downloaded the Hershey’s wrappers and juice pouch labels. You can also get chip bag labels, water bottle labels, and more.

I have to confess that I wasn’t planning to have chocolate bars but after seeing the Hershey’s wrappers, I couldn’t resist printing them for my daughter’s birthday.

Cupcakes: Inspired by Hungry Happenings‘ cupcakes wine goblets, I decided to create something similar for this LOL birthday party. Instead of wine goblets, I found Irish glass coffee mugs that had the perfect size and shape that I was looking for. I bought them at Dollar Tree, but there are similar ones here and here too.

Brownies: In this case, my focus was on saving money. So, I bought a package of brownies at Walmart and used these round cake toppers. There are also these pink toppers plus these few pages of toppers.

Drinks: These are the exact water bottle labels that I used. It only took minutes for us to print, cut, and tape them to the bottles.

By the way, the download link is kind of tricky. It’s just a text that says, “free download” but looks like part of the ad. It’s easy to ignore or overlook but that’s the link. After clicking the link, you immediately get a zip file.

Water bottles and juices for the LOL birthday theme

Regarding the juices, here is the template I used. Since we were in a rush, we ended up taping the labels but they looked cute anyway.

DIY Party Invitations

I didn’t use a formal invitation this time, but I found so many free and beautiful templates that I had to share with you.

For most of the invitations, you just have to do a right-click on the image to save it to your computer. Then, I suggest using Canva to add the details.

Omg, it’s party time – These horizontal invitations already have different sections for all the birthday details.
Pink with white polka dots – Different templates to choose from and each template has a different doll on it.
Comic Style invitation – This template is very cute and modern
Adorable invitations – There are several templates to choose from which makes it difficult because they are all so cute!
Come join us – There are one birthday invitation and one card template. The invitation template also includes a thank you card too. (By the way, that site has other things as well.)

LOL Dresses for the Birthday Girl

Many girls like to dress up as an LOL surprise doll for their birthday party. Here are some LOL clothes that I found:

Below are additional birthday party ideas that I didn’t use but are so cute that I still wanted to share them with you.

Food Labels – I really wanted to use these food labels, but I already had too many things on the table and not a lot of variety of food or snacks.

Boxes – I found two sites where you can download different boxes to use on your cake table. Here are some boxes and another site with more boxes.

The information on both websites are not in English and Google doesn’t translate everything on the page but, you are still able to save the images and print them.

Blank Pages – These cute pages are good to prepare a notebook, to use for games, or for something else.

Bookmarks – This website has cute bookmarks, a printable calendar, and more.

LOL Surprise Birthday Party Ideas Summary

As you could see, it’s possible to create a cute LOL birthday party without breaking your bank. I hope that these party ideas make it easier for you to create yours. I would also love to see pictures of your birthday too!

Now, that this birthday party is over, I can’t wait to plan her next one.

In the meantime, comment down below sharing your best tip for a kid’s birthday party.

A girl smiling at her LOL birthday party

How to Improve Your Child’s Transition into Kindergarten

May 20, 2019 by Lynelle 2 Comments

Worried about your child’s transition into Kindergarten?

I understand because I went through it with my daughters.

When kids start Kindergarten, there’s a lot of new experiences to absorb at once. And even though they will be okay, as moms, we want to make sure our kids have the smoothest transition into Kindergarten.

This article covers ways that you can help your child to get ready for Kindergarten as well as how you can make this transition easier for them. You will also find resources to help you out.

This girl is enjoying her cupcake before going to Kindergarten.

This post contains affiliate links. Read my full disclosure for information.

How can I help my child transition into Kindergarten?

The following areas are a foundation of how quickly your child can adjust to Kindergarten.

Go through these areas and determine how prepared your child is in each of them. Identify the area or areas where your child needs more reinforcement and focus on those first.

Let’s get started…

Wait for their turn

Overall, this may be hard for kids to adjust to. There will be many times when kids will have to wait for their turn in Kindergarten.

Kids must wait for their turn to go to the bathroom, to use a swing on the playground, or to answer the teacher’s questions.

The good news is that there are situations that should make this transition easier for Kindergartners.

That includes kids already attending a pre-school program or a structured daycare. That’s what I did with both of my daughters and I feel that they have benefited from it.

So, what can you do to help your kids wait their turn?

Here are some tips:

Make them aware: Whenever your child interrupts during conversations, let him or her know what is expected.
Play traditional board games: It’s a good way to have fun while it teaches kids to wait until it’s their turn again.

Follow instructions

Kindergarten is more structured to prepare kids for higher grade levels. Throughout the day, kids must follow several instructions to complete the tasks.

In my daughter’s school, following instructions is so important that it is part of the daily evaluation.

For example, my daughter has a folder that she brings back home every single day. That folder has a calendar that lets me know how she behaved that day.

Ways to reinforce this strategy at home:

Playing games: Every game has directions that need to be followed to play. That’s why playing board games or any type of game will be beneficial for this too. In addition to the games suggested above, other games can help your child following directions too.
Activity books: These books normally include activities with instructions that the kid needs to follow. Plus, activity books such as color by number, help kids with other skills.

Listen to others

Developing good listening skills is something needed in Kindergarten and at any point in life too.

Plus, listening is also related to kids following instructions. For example, a kid that didn’t listen to the teacher’s instructions will probably have a harder time understanding and completing their work correctly.

It’s also important to listen to other kids’ points of view whenever they are working in teams or just having a normal conversation.

Tips to improve kids listening skills:

Eye contact rule: Ask your child to make eye contact during any conversation. But, for this to work, every family member needs to do it too. Leading by example will help your child implement it faster.
What was said: Since kids get easily distracted, asking them what was said help them pay attention next time. I still practice this one at home. Sometimes, my daughter realizes that she wasn’t paying, and I need to say it again, but I have seen her doing much better. Plus, rephrasing helps her put the information in her own words which is another skill they work on in Kindergarten.
Red light, green light: My daughter loves to play this game. And it helps them with their listening skills as well as following instructions. So, that’s a win-win situation. Here is a great list with more fun game ideas.

Work well with others

Nowadays, Kindergarteners do more projects that involve working as a team. As you can understand, it is as hard for kids as it is for adults.

But, kids need to learn how to work together regardless of differences in personalities, interests, beliefs, etc.

That also includes sharing things with other kids. Because even though kids are asked to bring school supplies, they don’t last for the entire school year. At that point, kids need to share things like scissors, glue sticks, crayons, and pencils.

I also want to include helping others in here.

Kids should help each other no matter if it’s in the classroom, gym, or playground. It could be helping other kids clean up, getting up if they fall, or making them feel better if they look sad. And that’s why I like this book because it focuses on that.

How to be a better team player:

Sports team: This one is the most common way to encourage working with others. If this is not an option, try the next one.
Neighborhood Park: I often see kids playing football or soccer in the park or around the neighborhood. That’s an opportunity for kids to work on those social skills while playing.
Help around the house: Kids always want to help. Involve them with any quick project or task in the house. Doing this has different benefits. They have a new experience, feel proud of themselves for helping, strengthen the relationship, etc.
Siblings working together: As you already know, each of your kids has a different personality. Ask them to complete tasks together where they can get used to working with each other. You can even come up with a game where they will have to work together to succeed.

Respect others

No matter if a child is going to school or not, I feel that it’s important to teach our kids to respect others.

Several times, I have been in shock listening to my daughter’s stories about how some kids have responded to school personnel.

Normally, kids are reminded to respect their teacher. However, kids need to understand that respecting others applies to other school staff members.

When school starts, kids interact with their teacher as well as the principal, assistant principal, teachers, cafeteria workers, office managers, librarians, front office personnel, nurses, other teachers, and even substitutes.

How to encourage this behavior:

Open communication: Let your child know every time he or she has good behavior. Or, a behavior that could improve.
Get some related books: Read some books that cover this topic. I read this book with my daughter and she liked it. Discuss what happened in the story. Anything good? Bad? Any suggestions?

Quick Tip: Add these areas in a visual chart like this one and keep it in an area where your child can remember what is expected.

Click here to download the flashcards

How can I make my child’s transition into Kindergarten easier?

Know what to expect

Give your child an idea of what to expect. That should make them feel more comfortable with the change and excited too.

Consider sharing good and funny memories of when you were in Kindergarten. How was your teacher? What was your favorite time? How did you make your first friend? Did you wear a uniform?

And if you have pictures, share them too! They will have fun learning about you and seeing you as a kid.

Develop a routine

As I mentioned earlier, Kindergarten provides a more structured environment for kids. Set different routines or schedules at home so they can get used to it. These routines can include times when they get up, eat, and go to bed.

It doesn’t have to be perfect and it’s understandable that it may vary some days, but overall, following a similar routine will help your child adjust faster.

Attend school activities

I know that you are a busy mom but try to do this one for sure.

Normally, schools like to have some activities before school starts. That allows your child to get familiar with the school, teacher, staff, and even their future friends.

In my kids’ school, they have activities such as Kindergarten Roundup where the parents have a better idea of what to expect during the school year and how to partner with the teacher.

There’s also a Meet the Teacher which was the perfect time for my kids to start building a relationship with their teacher.

Also, check with your neighborhood. Every year, the communities around me organize activities for kids for upcoming Kindergarteners. It gives kids the advantage of already having friends whenever school starts.

Have fun getting the school supplies

I understand that you already have a busy schedule and it’s not fun to add more things to it…yet, going around buying school supplies.

But, making it a fun experience is something that will help your child be excited about the new school year.

Most of the times, I go to the stores by myself to finish faster. But when it’s time to get their school supplies, I go with my daughters. I let them choose the colors, styles, and designs that they prefer.

Make a big deal

When my daughters started Kindergarten, I had fears as you probably have them too. I needed the reassurance that they would be okay in the new environment.

After all, starting school is not just a change for kids but parents too. That’s why it’s so important to keep a positive attitude towards the transition into Kindergarten.

If they see us sad, crying, or even annoyed by the change, that’s probably the reaction that they will adopt too.

Helpful Resources for You and Your Child

Game Board Ideas:

Candy Land Game: Princess Edition

Disney Theme Park Edition of Candy Land

Spiderman Chutes and Ladders

Activity Book Ideas:

Unicorn color by number

Boy’s First Color by Number

Rewards / Behavioral Chart Ideas:

Magnetic Reward Chart (Additional supplies included)

Magnetic Stars Reward Chart

Treasure Hunt Mini Reward Chart

Final Thoughts on Child’s Transition into Kindergarten

Not only have you learned how to help your child with the transition into Kindergarten but also, you’ve learned how to make it easier for them too!

Remember, identify the areas that need improvement. After that, I would suggest focusing on one area at a time. In that way, you can determine which strategies are working better.

Speaking about strategies, which one will you implement first? Or, if you have a tip not included above, share it with us! Either way, leave a comment below.

Eating a cupcake is improving this girl's transition to Kindergarten.

Gift Guide for Moms: 35+ Ideas To Save You Time

Apr 29, 2019 by Lynelle 6 Comments

Don’t have time to look for the perfect gift? This gift guide for moms is perfect for you.

Between kids, work, marriage, house, and many other responsibilities, it’s difficult to find extra time to search for gifts.

That’s why I put together this gift guide with the best gift ideas for different types of moms.

By the way, I will be updating this post periodically so make sure to pin it for later. In that way, you can refer to it as many times as you need to.

colorful flowers in the gift guide for moms

This post contains affiliate links. You can read my disclosure for more info.

Stylish Gifts for the Fashionista Mom

1. Denim Purse

A gorgeous denim purse for a mom who loves fashion or jeans.

I chose this purse for two reasons. First, it’s a denim purse. If you have been following me, you know that I’m a fan of anything with denim.

Second, this purse includes three compartments providing plenty of space for personal items which is something that moms always need.

2. Makeup Kit, Ultimate Color Combination

With 160+ eye shadows, this makeup kit has plenty of colors to choose from!

It also includes a mirror, several lip glosses, blushes, and brushes.

Gifts for the Athletic Mom

1. Fitbit Alta HR

This Fitbit Alta HR helps track steps, distance, and calories burned. It automatically detects exercises to provide better burn calorie tracking.

It also tracks different sleep stages to help understand and improve sleep quality. And, it’s perfect for moms that need to stay connected through calls, texts, and calendar notifications.

2. Yoga Mat

This yoga mat was a must in this gift guide for moms.

In addition to being non-slip and easy to clean, it’s lightweight which makes it easier to move around or even take to other places.

It comes in cute colors and has a carrying strap for easy carrying.

3. Fitness Planner

This fitness planner helps keep a fitness log to easily track progress.

It has a calendar, goal setting, and even tips on what exercises are better based on the trouble areas.

Perfect Gifts for the Organized Mom

Even though this section is focused on organized moms, these gifts can also be great for moms who would benefit from better organization and productivity.

1. Productivity Planner

This is an example of the quarterly page inside the productivity planner for moms.

This productivity planner is actually the one I use and love!

My favorite is the classic weekly planner because of its vertical layout but a horizontal layout is also available.

The weekly pages can be easily customized to accommodate activities, events, reminders, and more.

This planner includes pages for your monthly mission board, a monthly plan, weekly goals, notes, and even a daily habit tracker.

I decorate my planner to make it more special by using thin washi tapes and adding pictures of my kids.

This year, the company launched its 360-disc planner that can be customized even more with different pages, covers, etc.

2. Planner Colored Pens

This pens set includes 18 assorted colors!!! That many colors are great especially for drawing, journaling, and writing.

And it’s also perfect for planners! It makes the pages look prettier but it also makes it easier to prioritize and color code the tasks.

3. Life Planner

Here is another great option for a planner lover like me.

What I love about this life planner is that it’s very practical.

It has pages for your vision board, goals, notes, daily rituals, and more.

It also has an envelope in the back and a convenient pen holder.

Plus, it comes with stickers!

This planner comes in a variety of colors and preferences.

4. Password Logbook

This internet address and password logbook is the perfect gift for an organized mom.

Too many sites and passwords to track? This logbook solves that problem.

With 144 pages, there’s plenty of space to keep sites, usernames, and passwords in one place.

It also has tabbed alphabetical pages which makes it easier to organize the information and find it when needed.

Creative Moms

1. Wood Art Set

This 142-Piece Wood Art Set is perfect for the artist mom who loves to create beautiful pieces of arts.

It includes pencils, crayons pastels, and watercolor paint.

I bought a very similar one for my oldest daughter who loves to draw and paint on sketch pads.

In addition to the variety of colors, what I like most about the wood art set is that it keeps everything organized.

2. Cricut machine

This persimmon cricut machine is the perfect gift for a creative mom.

The designs for the Cricut Explore Air 2 Machine can be created from different devices such as a computer, mobile phone, and tablet.

This machine is perfect for beginners and it’s compatible with iPhone and Android phones.

Cricut machines are popular to create stickers, greeting cards, scrapbooking, and many other projects!

New Moms or Mom-to-be

1. Baby Gift Basket

A red, black, and white Minnie Mouse gift basket

This Minnie Mouse baby gift basket is perfect for a new mom or mom-to-be.

It’s a cute gift basket full of great baby items such as onesies, hair accessories, diapers, pacifier, and more!

>>> Use my coupon code HAPPYCUSTOMER to get 40% OFF! <<<

2. Baby gift box

This baby shower gift box is a unique gift for new moms.

It’s a great way to surprise new parents with great baby items.

This Minnie Mouse baby gift set includes a bakery box with a mini diaper cake.

Plus, the products inside are arranged as sweets and treats.

In this case, this baby gift set includes baby items such as onesies, diapers, socks and more.

3. Garden Baby Bouquet

This garden baby bouquet is another great gift idea.

This baby gift includes two flower pots with more than 15 baby items for the new parents! And it’s unique, cute, and colorful.

Time-saver Mom

1. Ninja Blender

A ninja blender makes a perfect gift for moms.

Many of us are busy handling other responsibilities so it’s hard to find time to cut or peel the fruits and vegetables every single time.

That’s why this Nutri Ninja Pro Blender is so popular because it takes care of that.

Its blades crush through ice, seeds, skins, and stems. Plus, it’s dishwasher safe and comes with a 75-recipe guide.

2. Dual Breakfast Sandwich Maker

Busy moms appreciate how the breakfast sandwich maker can help them save time in the mornings.

This dual sandwich maker makes up to 2 sandwiches which is very convenient for moms.

Especially in the mornings when we are trying to get the kids out of the bed, prepared for school, have a good breakfast, and be ready on time.

This is a quick way to have a sandwich ready within minutes!

3. Rapid Egg Cooker

The rapid egg cooker to have breakfast faster

Now, it’s possible to cook the perfect eggs fast and easy thanks to the settings and timer included in this rapid egg cooker. Plus, it turns off automatically to prevent overcooking.

There’s space for up to six eggs to be cooked at the same time.

The best part is that it’s good for hard boiled eggs as well as poached eggs, scrambled eggs, and omelets.

4. Instant Pot Slow Cooker

The instant pot has been extremely popular, and I see why. It helps busy moms prepare meals much faster and with less supervision.

This slow cooker has 14 smart programs! Some of these programs are for rice, beans, meat, and soups.

Plus, there’s no need to worry about cold food because it keeps the food warm until it’s ready to serve!

5. Echo Dot

An Echo Dot is pretty much the assistant that every busy mom dreams of.

It’s voice-controlled like the assistant that we have in our smartphones…but better!

This Echo Dot can play music, check the weather, answer questions, make calls, and even help with the smart home devices.

6. Ring Video Doorbell

The ring doorbell is so convenient.

With Ring, it’s easy to see, hear, and talk to visitors that are at the front door, without even having to get near the door.

The system is easily accessed throughout a mobile phone, tablet, or computer. Plus, it can be combined with a screen Alexa device.

Relaxing Gift Ideas for the Overwhelmed Mom

1. Foot Massager

A foot massager is a great way to relieve stress after a busy day.

It has a heating function, adjustable height, it’s portable, and easy to operate.

The best part is that you don’t even have to bend to turn it on. Just use your toe!

2. Cordless Electrical Wine Bottle Opener

Another way to relax is by spending time with family and friends. Because of that, here is this cordless wine bottle opener.

It’s modern and stainless steel with a blue LED light at the bottom which makes it look elegant.

The best part is that it has a built-in rechargeable battery that can open about 30 bottles before it needs to be recharged again.

Beautiful Mugs for Moms who love Coffee (or anything else)

1. No ugly children funny mug

This mug has the purpose to help moms feel better about life 🙂

In addition to the message, I like that the message is printed on both sides. So, the message can be seen regardless of how the mug is held.

2. Don’t speak funny mug

Often, people don’t realize that Moms need some alone time in the mornings to get ready for the day. Well, this funny mug clearly lets others know when Mom is available.

3. Mom, I love you mug

This love you mug speaks by itself. Since it’s something that our kids say the whole day, any Mom can relate to it 😀

4. Long-distance State Mom

This is such a great gift idea for Moms who live in a different state. This long distance mug has a sweet message in the front and the back is customized with the states where you and the gifted mom live.

5. Coffee Maker

This coffee maker comes in different colors.

There are three reasons why it is great for coffee lovers and busy moms. It automatically turns off after a couple of hours which saves time and gives peace of mind.

Its brewing time is less than 1 minute which is perfect for moms that don’t have time to sit and wait for it to be ready. Lastly, it has a removable tray that allows the coffee to go straight to the mug which saves time and reduce spilling!

Great Books for the Avid Reader

1. The 1% Rule

The 1% Rule is perfect for moms who are ready to take action in order to achieve massive results and succeed.

2. Thinking, Fast and Slow

Thinking, Fast and Slow is a New York Times Best Seller.

In this book, the author explains the two systems that drive the way we think and shows us different techniques that we can use to do better and stay out of trouble.

3. The Overdue Life of Amy Byler

The Overdue Life of Amy Byler is a story of a single mom who takes a break after feeling overwhelmed and underappreciated. During this time she risks losing herself to the new life or going back to the life she escaped from.

4. The Art of Decluttering and Organizing with Marie Kondo

You may not recognize this book by its title, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying up, but you have probably heard a lot about its author, Marie Kondo.

This book is extremely popular! It has over 14,200 reviews on Amazon, it’s a New York Times Best Seller, and was the inspiration for a new Netflix’s original show.

This book helps with decluttering and organization through the KonMari Method which includes identifying which items in the house sparkle joy or not.

5. Audible

Another option is to give the gift of Audible.

Audiobooks keep growing in popularity due to its convenience. It’s not rare for a busy mom to listen to an audiobook during lunchtime, while running errands, or waiting at the doctor’s office.

The Perfect Gift for Any Mom

Amazon Prime

Many moms shop at Amazon nowadays so why not give them the gift of Amazon Prime.

Being a Prime member has many benefits such as a free two-day shipping, unlimited reading, unlimited photo storage, prime wardrobe, free same-day delivery, and many other things that make a mom’s life a lot easier.

Gift Cards

Don’t know which gift to choose? Then, consider giving these gift cards. It’s easy, practical, and something that moms can definitely use.

Magazines

Magazines are faster to read and give many ideas for your life, family, or home. You can choose from the top fall fashion magazines or from the wide range of other categories offered.

Over to you

Now, you have a great list of gift ideas based on their personality or lifestyle. Don’t forget to pin this gift guide for moms so you can have it handy whenever you need it.

By the way, which type of mom am I missing in this list? Let me know in the comments section!

pink flowers for great gift ideas to save you time

11 Online jobs for your 14 year old to make money

Mar 26, 2019 by Lynelle 12 Comments

If as a mom, you are tired of seeing your teenager laying on the couch texting and watching videos, it’s time to put those skills and time to good use with these online jobs for 14-year-olds!

Many things change when kids turn into teenagers including the number of money requests!

If it hasn’t happened to you yet, keep reading and be prepared.

All of a sudden, I feel that I turned into a personal ATM to cover the expenses of my teenager’s active social life:

Movies
Quinceañeras and Sweet 16
Dances
Sport games
Dress up days
Concerts
Mall visits
Eating out

and these social activities never stop!

In the beginning, I didn’t have much of a problem because she is an amazing daughter who has done great at school.

But even though all that is good, it doesn’t help reduce the additional and continuous expenses.

Trying to make money as a 14-year-old is kind of difficult. They are still not allowed to drive in most states. Plus, most of the jobs for teenagers are reserved for 15 to 18-year-olds.

The good news is that there ARE plenty of online jobs that your 14-year-old can do from the comfort and safety of your home.

What are the basic requirements for a 14-year-old to make money through online jobs?

The beauty of working online is the flexibility that it provides and how easy it is to get started. But, there are still some basic requirements that your teenager needs to meet:

Computer and, in some cases, a phone
Good internet connection
Extra time to complete the tasks

That’s in addition to the most important requirement which is the willingness to do the work.

Benefits of teaching teenagers about money

If you still think that your son or daughter is still too young for online jobs, here are some benefits of teaching teenagers about money:

Value money better

Kids don’t value money in the same way when you just give it to them than when they work for it. When they earn it, they understand that making money is not as easy as they thought.

Learn about responsibility

This experience makes them be more conscious and responsible about their spending habits. I had seen my 14-year-old daughter look for discounts and think twice before buying something. You may also notice an interest to save more. If so, that’s a great opportunity for them to open a bank account and learn some basic financial skills that are not taught at schools.

Understand how to make money

It helps teenagers better understand how the process of getting money really works. At an early age, they are able to learn that there are many ways to make money.

Quick tips to help your teenager succeed with these online jobs

Consistency is important

Consistency applies everywhere in life. It could be good grades in school, learning a new skill, better health, etc. We have to be consistent with our actions, in order to see the results we expect.

Apply to different online jobs

Applying to different online jobs increases the number of surveys or tasks that they receive. For example, some research companies send surveys often while other companies only send invitations when the member’s demographics match the client’s needs.

Set clear boundaries

It’s better to create a schedule that states clearly when it’s okay for your teenager to be doing these online jobs. That’s because it may be pretty tempting to spend hours making money instead of doing homework, chores, sleeping, etc. A schedule is a good way to set boundaries but allow some boundaries based on the amount of homework, commitments, or day of the week.

Good time management

Having good time management is necessary to handle homework, activities, and these types of tasks. Following a schedule and focusing on one task at a time should reduce distractions and improve results.

School is a priority

This is something that I tell my kids regularly, especially to my teenage daughter. I believe that education is always important and should always be the top priority for kids.

Pros and cons of these online jobs for 14-year-olds

Before we go over the list of online jobs, you should know that these types of jobs have several pros:

Easy online jobs

These jobs are very easy to complete.

Work can be done from home

You know exactly where your child is and, most importantly, that is safe!

Ability to start immediately

Most of the jobs are set up to start shortly after registration.

Zero costs

These jobs are free to join. And, as long as you have the basic requirements mentioned in a previous section, there’s no cost involved.

But, some of these online jobs have cons too:

Pay is low

Keep in mind that some of these jobs have no waiting period, are very easy to complete, and doesn’t require major skills. As a result, the pay is low.

But, even though it’s low, remember every penny counts! That’s why it’s important to register with different companies and be consistent. That increases the number of tasks available.

Takes time

Sometimes, it takes time to complete the tasks, especially in the beginning while the person is still learning. The best solution to reduce the time is to focus on the task and reduce unnecessary distractions.

Legit online jobs for your 14-year-old to make money

Here is the list of jobs that you are looking for…

Prize Rebel

Prize Rebel has been around since 2007. They serve 7+ millions of users from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.

Their concept is simple. Your teenager receives points for completing online surveys.

They provide different options to redeem the points. Choose PayPal, direct bank payment, or one of their many gift card options which include Starbucks, Ulta, iTunes, Nike, Xbox, PlayStation, and Target.

Prize Rebel also has a Facebook page where they, from time to time, share codes to earn more points.

Slice the pie

Slice the pie provides the opportunity to review songs, fashion items, and accessories before they are released.

To review a song, your teenager needs to listen to at least 90 seconds of the track and submit a review. To review a fashion item, your child needs to look at the pictures and provide an honest opinion about the product that it’s shown.

According to Slice the pie, the payment per review is based on the quality of the review. Therefore, high-quality reviews receive better payment.

The company normally process the payments on Tuesdays and Fridays. They have the option to send the earnings to a PayPal account as long as there’s a minimum of $10 in the balance.

Even though, Slice the pie is still a popular company, I want to mention that several people, including my daughter, have complained that it takes a long time to write a review for their low pay.

It seems like it’s not uncommon to get only one cent for a detailed review.

GrabPoints

GrabPoints has been in business since 2014. In this case, a teenager gets points for watching videos, downloading apps, taking surveys and completing offers from companies.

The offers are normally free-trials offered by different companies.

Teenagers earn points by completing tasks. They claim that most of their active members earn from 10,000 to 20,000 points a day.

There’s a minimum of $3 to redeem the points for gift cards or PayPal cash. Most of the time the reward is sent within 24 to 48 hours.

To help teenagers succeed, their website includes articles to help boost earnings.

For a gift card, GrabPoints has many options that are perfect for teenagers. There are gift cards for popular companies such as Apple, Starbucks, Spotify, and Netflix.

They also have gaming gift cards available for Fortnite, Roblox, Xbox, among others.

Panel Polls

With Panel Polls, teenagers can do a variety of things to make money. It could be taking surveys, participating in online communities and virtual focus groups, and testing apps and games.

Kids from 2 to 14-year-old can participate with parental consent. In other words, you as a mom, need to register and approve your child’s participation through your account.

Once your teenager turns 15, he/she can have their own account just by emailing Panel Polls.

By the way, as a parent of a child under 18, you are able to participate and make some extra money too!

Like other companies mentioned in this post, they give points for every survey or study completed. Panel Polls claims that every activity is worth at least $1.00, while many others pay $5, $10, or even more.

Once you reach the minimum of $10, you can request an e-gift card or a check if you have $20 or more in your Panel Polls account.

And, if you live in New York City and Los Angeles, I have better news for you!

Living in those two cities also gives you the opportunity to participate in in-person focus groups. I know that this post is about online jobs for 14-year-olds, but according to Panel Polls, these groups could receive a bonus payment of $100 or more.

iRazoo

There are different ways to make money with iRazoo. They have surveys, games, offers, and videos.

iRazoo is another company that pays with points that you can redeem into PayPal cash or a gift card from several companies including Amazon.

Similar to Prize Rebel, there’s also a chance to earn extra points through easy tasks such as entering promo codes, reading their blog, checking their emails, or even using the iRazoo search.

They also have the great benefit of sending the rewards every week.

Insta GC

Insta GC pays teenagers to complete online jobs such as completing surveys, watching videos, and shopping online.

Even though the minimum age is 13-year-old, anybody under 18 needs parental consent.

Insta GC is another company that gives points for every task completed.

They offer four different options to redeem the points: PayPal, instant gift cards, eCheck, and direct deposit.

However, instant gift cards are the only option without a redemption fee. The other options have a fee between $0.15 to $0.25 per redemption.

One Opinion

One Opinion is all about conducting surveys on behalf of market research companies.

A 14-year-old can open an account with parental consent. That’s if the teenager lives in one of the following countries: United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Netherlands or Australia.

Their registration process is very modern and interactive. It’s in a chat or text format where a virtual representative asks basic questions such as the first name, last name, email address, etc.

The representative even reviews the policies during the registration process! But don’t worry, that initial process only takes about 5 minutes or less.

Like other companies, One Opinion gives points for every completed survey. They have virtual gift cards available as soon as member’s balance reaches 25,000 points.

Survey Junkie

Teenagers can join Survey Junkie as soon as they turn 13 years old. The company is open to participants living in the United States, Canada, and Australia.

According to Survey Junkie, the surveys take approximately 15 minutes to complete and members can do as many surveys as they want.

They also use a points system with a minimum requirement of 1,000 points before redemption.

Members from all three countries can redeem their points for PayPal cash. But only members living in the USA can request a direct bank deposit or e-gift cards.

Additional online jobs for 14-year-olds (that pay good money)

Sell your services at Fiverr

Fiverr is a large marketplace for digital services that it’s available for 13 and up. Signing up is completely free and every seller keeps 80% of the transaction cost which is not bad at all.

Services can be offered for as low as $5. Plus, each seller can offer three different versions of the service at three different prices.

Fiverr has over 100 categories and pretty much any service can be offered within those categories as long as it’s legal and follows the terms of the company.

Some of their current services are writing, translating, converting files, video editing, online lessons, e-commerce marketing, and among many others.

The earnings remain in your account which you can withdraw to your bank account, PayPal account, or Fiverr Revenue Card. There’s also a direct deposit option but it’s only available for those living in the United States.

Keep in mind that every option, except for PayPal, has a withdrawal service fee.

Open an Etsy Shop

Etsy is a well-known global marketplace for handcrafted and vintage items. It provides a great platform for buyers to find unique items and for sellers to reach a huge community.

Even though Etsy is primarily known for its crafts and vintages, there are other categories available such as shoes, toys, books, printables, electronics, jewelry, pet supplies, and many more.

Your 14-year-old can set up an Etsy account, but will still be considered a minor until their 18^th birthday. During this time, Etsy requires you as a parent or legal guardian to supervise your child, monitor the activities, and manage the finances.

Make sure to check Etsy’s minor policy for more details.

Opening an Etsy shop has many benefits. It’s a well-established company, receives millions of visitors, and the startup cost is extremely low. It only takes $.20 cents to post a product listing. In other words, it only takes twenty cents to start selling on Etsy.

Once the sales start rolling, the earnings can be sent to your bank or PayPal account.

This online job is a good way for your teenager to gain more experience and exposure to the selling process. Once the business grows, I suggest buying a domain name and to open a Shopify store. It provides more flexibility and ownership.

Become a social media influencer

A social media influencer is a person who is able to attract a large number of followers who are loyal to their content. This content can be pictures, videos, or posts.

Achieving the “influencer” status opens opportunities like working with brands, bigger influencers, and publishers.

The most common social media platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, allow 14-year-olds to join and use their platforms.

Becoming an influencer takes time and a lot of work compared to the previous online jobs but the compensation and opportunities are a lot higher too.

In summary

As you noticed, this post gave you different job options for your 14-year-old to make money online:

Easy online jobs – such as surveys, products reviews, and online communities. These jobs are easy to complete, have short or none waiting period, but their pay is low.
Intermediate online jobs – such as Fiverr and Etsy. These job options require some time to plan and set up the page or shop. There’s a small learning process but there are also better opportunities to make more money than the previous category.
Advanced online jobs – such as becoming a social media influencer. It takes longer to learn the concept and to see results. But if done right, the income can be very rewarding.

Also, as a reminder, make sure to take the necessary precautions while your child is online.

Here are three quick tips to keep your teenager safe online:

Know where your kids are

Many experts suggest knowing where your child is at all times. It’s something that applies to the virtual world too! Make sure to know which social media platforms your child is using and who they are following or interacting with.

Encourage open communication

Get involved in your teenager’s life. Once they start an online job, follow up with them. Ask them how it is going, what they have achieved so far, what they need help with, etc. Try to answer any question they may have and motivate them to reach their goals.

Don’t be afraid to be a parent

Make sure to pay attention to the type of pictures and comments that your child is posting online. Are they appropriate? If they are not, remind your child about the importance and consequences of such actions.

Below is a great video from Howcast with additional tips on how to keep your child safe online:

Let me hear from you!

I hope this list can help your child get started.

If you know of any other online job for a 14-year-old that was not included on the list, share it with us! I would also like to know, which job option will work best with your teenager? Leave a comment below.

List of Sight Words That Your 5-year-old Should Know Now

Mar 11, 2019 by Lynelle 15 Comments

Has your child memorized the list of sight words for Kindergarten, yet?

Desk image with a free list for moms to download the sight words for preschoolers

As soon as your child starts Kindergarten, you will hear their teacher talk about sight words.

That’s because sight words help your child in different ways.

In this post, I will answer three common questions from moms:

What are sight words
Why are sight words important
How do I teach my child sight words

I will share the same strategies that I use at home to help your child succeed.

Plus, the good news is that you don’t have to wait for the teacher.

If you are a mom who likes to be proactive, keep reading because I will give the exact list of sight words that my daughter got from her Kindergarten teacher so you can get a head start!

Table Of Contents

What are sight words?
Why are sight words important?
How do I teach my child sight words?
Additional tools to learn sight words in a fun way
What are the basic sight words? (FREE list – instant download)
100+ sight words kindergarten printable
Final Thoughts about the List of Sight Words

What are sight words?

Sight words are words that are frequently used in children’s books. Words like “out”, “where”, and “red” are some of many sight words included in the list for Kindergarten.

To give you an idea of how often they are used, it is said that sight words count for up to 75% of the text in children’s books. With that huge percentage, it’s easy to understand why it’s so important for you to practice with your child.

Ok, but how does it work?

It’s easy.

To work, your child needs to memorize the list of sight words. In that way whenever they are reading, they can immediately identify those words that they are already familiarized with.

These words are normally taught throughout the Kindergarten school year. But if your child is ready, you can practice before school starts. Since my daughter attended pre-K, I started teaching her when she was 4-year-old.

Why are sight words important?

It may not seem like a big deal but memorizing sight words is very important for young kids. It helps them to quickly recognize words while reading.

Here are a few benefits that I noticed after my toddler started learning her words, she:

is more confident when reading
reads better and faster
feels even more motivated to read
is more motivated to read on her own

My daughter has always loved books, but I have seen a bigger difference after she has been able to quickly recognize common words.

A beautiful girl practicing her list of sight words for Kindergarten

This post contains affiliate links. You can read my disclosure for more information.

How do I teach my child sight words?

There are different strategies to teach sight words to your child. Don’t get stuck on using only one. Feel free to use as many as you need to help your child succeed.

I use the first three strategies for every single word, but I always add the fourth strategy whenever my daughter is having a hard time memorizing one.

Here are four different strategies:

Read the sight word

The teacher gives us cards with the words already printed on them. I have re-created the entire list of sight words to make it easier for you.

You can easily download the list, print them on cardstock, cut the words through the lines, and use them as flashcards. In the beginning, I wrote the words on index cards, and it worked perfectly fine for me too.

Also, make sure that your child reads frequently so he/she can start recognizing these words in the books.

Related article for kids: 20 Summer Books for Preschoolers

Write the sight word

Writing the word is another good way to practice. When I practice with my daughter, it tells me if she really remembers how the word is spelled. Your child can use one or more of the following tools:

– primary journal: I have one for my daughter and that helps her know how to write within the lines too. This journal is very similar to the one I have.

– dry erase board: this is something that you can keep reusing and kids love using them. There are different sizes available such as a portable board, tabletop easel, and a standing whiteboard.

– manuscript tablet: it works like the notebook, but the pages can be removed easily too. This is the manuscript tablet that I bought before but I found another option that gives you a lot more pages, 500 to be exact!

Check out these tips on how to teach sight words to your child! Click To Tweet

Quick tip for difficult sight words:

If my daughter doesn’t remember how to write the word correctly, I ask her to write it several times by using one of the following methods:

– the rainbow method: In this case, your child can write each sight word with a different color or write each letter of the word with a different color. You can use crayons, markers, pens, or colored pencils.

– the sizing method: I ask my daughter to write the same sight word five times but every time she writes it to make it bigger. Or you can do it vice versa, from bigger to smaller. In the end, it should look something like this:

An example of the sizing method as a way to teach the list of sight words for Kindergarten

Spell the sight word

I use this strategy regularly because it’s easy to do and you can use it anywhere. I can practice with daughter in the car, while brushing her hair, before serving food, and so on.

It also makes her comfortable and gets her more used to spelling words, which is something that she will need in higher grades. For this strategy, grab your list of sight words or cards and ask your child to spell the word for you.

Act silly

Acting silly always work with kids! Look for silly ways to make your child remember the sight words.

Since you know your child the best, try to apply the word to something related to their life. You can sing the word like Frozen, Baby Shark, or any other song that your child likes.

To give you an example, my little one had difficulty remembering how to spell the word eight. I taught her to sing it like the song Bingo and that was it. She was able to memorize it correctly!

The good thing about the Bingo song is that you can use it for pretty much any word with five letters such as funny, every, and there.

Make sure to download this FREE list of sight words for Kindergarten! Click To Tweet

A quick tip to help your child memorize the words:

Throughout the years, different researches have shown the positive effects that moving while learning has on young kids. Keep this mind and encourage your child to move while memorizing the words. Some of my daughter’s favorites are playing with the hula hoop, jumping on one leg, singing, and dancing.

Additional tools to learn sight words in a fun way

As always, there are additional tools such that you can use to help your child learn sight words in a fun way.

Sight word games

1. Cute flies

2. Sight words pizza

A unique sight words pizza for preschoolers

3. Bingo

4. Zingo

Note: For this game in particular, you can see the pictures on the website. It has more than 1,000 reviews.

5. Pop for sight words

6. Activity book

A sight words workbook to practice writing them

Some sight word flash cards

Pocket flashcards

5 Packs of flash cards (from Pre-K to third grade)

A helpful five pack of sight words for different levels

What are the basic sight words? (FREE list – instant download)

My daughter has been working on many sight words in Kindergarten but here are the first ten basic sight words that she got from school:

me
can
a
yellow
red
I
go
see
the
be

Click here to get the complete list (instant download)

100+ sight words kindergarten printable

Make sure to download the printable list for Kindergarten. Remember that it’s exactly the same list of sight words that my Kindergartener got from her school. Even though there could be a slight difference between schools, districts, or even states, most of the words included in this list are pretty much standard.

Submit the information below if you prefer for me to send the link to your email instead of getting the instant download.

A preview of the sight words list for Kindergarten

Final Thoughts about the List of Sight Words

In summary, to help your child rock Kindergarten:

Practice the list of sight words by following the strategies mentioned above
Read often – experts recommend reading at least 20 minutes every day
Have fun and add silliness to the learning process
Have patience with your child. It may take some time, but they will get better over time

Now, it’s your turn

Have you used any other strategy not included in here? Share it with us by leaving a comment below!

a quick reminder to pin this post for later

A girl studying her list of sight words for Kindergarten

3 Keys to a Happy Life: A Quick Guide for Moms

Mar 5, 2019 by Lynelle 29 Comments

As a mom, you do so many things every day that it feels selfish or impossible to think of a happy life. But, it’s time to change that because you deserve it more than anybody else. The good news is that this post is packed with information, resources, and keys to a happy life.

But let me tell you exactly what it covers:

The top 3 keys to happiness
Living a happy life
Finding happiness every day (and for an entire year!)
A resource tool
Getting more happiness in your life
What to do when you can’t find happiness

What causes happiness?

Over the years, many studies have been conducted to explain the cause of happiness. As expected, different causes have been mentioned to be the real cause of happiness:

Great kids
Strong friendships
Happy marriage
Active lifestyle
Financial stability
Achieving goals
Good health
Career success
Strong spirituality
Travel
Genetics and more

As you can see, there are many things involved in creating a happy life which makes it difficult to determine one specific key to happiness.

But, even when happiness is something personal that varies from person to person and from situation to situation, moms can still benefit from the following top three keys to create a happy life.

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Top 3 keys to a happy life

Even though there are many keys to happiness that we can mention, I consider the following three to be the top ones for a busy mom. So, let’s talk about them…

1. Identify what makes you happy (+ happiness goals)

What exactly makes you happy?

It’s a simple question that we continuously fail to ask ourselves. The problem is that we often complain about our lives, without taking the time to find out what things makes us happy.

Things usually make more sense when they are in writing. Because of that, start by making a list of all the things that bring happiness to your life. While working on your list:

think of what truly makes you happy
don’t pay too much attention to how big or how small it is
include things that are present in your life as well as things that you would like to have or do

To make it easier, here are a few guidelines that you can follow:

Identifying what makes you happy is a good way to start but don’t stop there.
Find out why each of the things you listed makes you happy.
Look at your list to see how many things from your list are already present in your life.
Now, take it a step further and identify what is NOT bringing happiness to your life right now. If your goal is to achieve a happier life, then you must know what is reducing your happiness.

At this point, your happiness list should already be giving you some clarification or directions in your life.

For example, you may notice that you are not doing most of the things that make you happy. Or, that your unhappy list is longer than you thought.

No matter how your list turns out, don’t be discouraged by it. There might be things on your list that you can address quickly such as going to the park more often. However, others, such as searching for a new job, may take you longer to fix or improve.

Either way, keep your happiness goals in mind and stay focused.

This post contains affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more information.

2. Train your mind to be happy

Listen to your mind since it’s a big contributor to your happiness…or unhappiness.

In case you haven’t heard about it yet, there are two types of mindsets: fixed and growth mindsets. A fixed mindset believes that a person’s skills and characteristics can’t be controlled while a growth mindset believes the opposite.

For example, a person with a fixed mindset usually gives up easily, avoid challenges, and believes that things will never improve. On the other side, a person with a growth mindset handles challenges, believes that talents can be developed, and welcomes constructive feedback.

Be conscious of your thoughts or you may end up training your mind for unhappiness.

HOW DO YOU TRAIN YOUR MIND TO BE HAPPY?

Use positive affirmations

Positive affirmations are a quick way to put your mind back to a happy place and you can use a new one as often as you need to.

While some people like to change their affirmation daily, I prefer to keep focusing on the same affirmation throughout the year. I feel that it’s easier for me to remember it and to train my mind to believe in it too.

But, it’s up to you how often you want to change it: daily, weekly, monthly, etc.

There are many great positive affirmations online to choose from. But, if you are not sure which one to choose, you can start with “I choose to be happy”. That’s always a great place to start!

Avoid negative self-talk

I love a quote from Henry Ford that says: “Whether you think you can, or you can’t – you are right”.

Be careful with the way that you talk to yourself. Negative thoughts affect your emotions as well as your behaviors.

You need to believe in yourself and in the happiness that you deserve. Whenever you catch yourself on negative self-talk, think of your positive affirmation or switch it to a positive phrase.

Practice gratitude

This is something small that will make a big difference in your life. Every day, make it a habit to write at least three things that you are grateful for. It only takes a few minutes, but it will switch your mind to a positive one.

You can write those things at any time while reflecting on your previous day. I prefer to do it before going to sleep because I feel that it makes me wake up in a more positive way. You can use a gratitude log, a bullet journal, a planner, a diary, or a regular notebook.

Welcome challenges in your life

Look at challenges as an opportunity to learn and grow. Believe that you are strong enough to overcome those challenges.

Don’t be afraid to reach out to other people or use available resources if you need to. And every time you feel as giving up, imagine how happy you will be after overcoming that challenge.

There’s another quote that says, “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone”. Many times, those challenges are just pushing us farther from our comfort zone and closer to our true happiness.

Do exercises on a regular basis

When you do exercises, you are helping yourself physically and mentally. It helps you improve your memory, relieve stress, focus better, improve your mood, sleep better, and have more energy, among many other benefits. In other words, if you want to be happier, consider adding some exercises to your life.

3. Love yourself

As a mom, you have probably heard people say that you need to take care of yourself first to be able to take care of your family. The same applies when loving yourself.

Loving yourself makes you happier not only on your own skin but with your life too. It brings different benefits including being more confident, willingness to take on more challenges, and less stress that you are putting on yourself.

Even if your life is not where you want it to be right now, we all need to start somewhere. Evaluate your situation and plan where you want to be.

And yes, there are some steps to get you started… 😊

STRATEGIES TO HELP YOU LOVE YOURSELF:

Accept who you are

The best advice here is to always be yourself. Living a life that is true to yourself will have a better impact on your happiness. Take the time, if you haven’t yet, to know yourself better and follow what makes you happy.

Be aware of your strengths and weaknesses

You may be more used to knowing your weaknesses since that’s what bothers us the most. But we all have a set of strengths too. The combination of both is what sets us apart and make us unique.

Focus on your strengths first and use them to your advantage in your personal and professional life. And for those weaknesses that bother you, work on improving them.

Ignore the annoying voice

As I mentioned before, negative self-talk can be toxic, and it only makes you feel worse. Ignoring that annoying voice helps you notice and appreciate the real you.

Create a superpower list

This is a great option to give you a little push if you still need help discovering yourself. As moms, we can easily come up with thousands of reasons that make each of our kids special, but we have a hard time talking about ourselves.

Because of that, make a list of what makes you special. Even if it feels weird at the beginning, work on it and include at least 10 superpowers on your list.

Increase your self-confidence

We tend to admire people who are leaders, achieve more, or helps others. Looking at your life in an objective way, ask yourself what you can do to feel better about yourself.

In other words, list the actions you can take to feel prouder of who you are. Remember to break that list of actions into smaller steps that you can manage without overwhelming you.

Ok, now that you know the keys to happiness, you are probably wondering how to apply that information in order to live a happier life. So, let’s keep going.

How can I live a happy life?

First, it’s important to understand that happiness it’s not a permanent place or destination but a continuous and changing process.

In other words, once you complete what you want, you will probably be ready to achieve something else. Like Robert Frost said, “happiness makes up in height for what it lacks in length”. The feeling of happiness

Those things that make you happy won’t last forever. New things will make you happy. And that’s perfectly normal because your life should change too.

Some of those changes can be:

Getting older
Having new priorities
Changing jobs, going back to work, or becoming a stay at home mom
Starting your own business
Completing school or obtaining a certification
Moving to another city, state, or country
Becoming a first-time mom or having more kids
Getting married, separated, or divorced

Changes are part of growing and being alive. Even if five years doesn’t sound like a long time, I’m pretty sure that many changes have occurred in your life during that period of time.

Because of that, each person will have a different answer to living a happy life. What makes you happy today, won’t necessarily make you happy two years from now.

So, the best way to live a happy life is to focus on being happy, regularly. And that takes us to the next question…

How do you find happiness every day? (and for a full year!)

It seems like we know exactly how to be intentional if we want to:

lose weight — be more active and watch what you eat
learn another language — practice regularly
save money — track your income and spending
read more books — block some time to read every day
drink more water — track your daily intake

But we don’t know where to start when it comes to our happiness. The answer?

Apply the same principle for anything else that you want to bring to your life: Identify your happiness, layout how you can achieve it, and go for it.

In other words, find happiness every day by:

Being intentional

To be intentional with your actions, you must know first what you want and how to make it happen. In this case, you don’t have to go big especially because you are focusing on daily actions towards happiness.

Avoiding the 3-day rule

Even when you are having a busy day, train your mind to look for happiness. Be consistent and avoid what I call the 3-day rule. That’s when you get excited to start something new. In the beginning, you put extra effort and focus more on it. Then, as the days pass by, you lose interest, focus, and end up quitting. Keep your happiness goals in mind and stay focused.

Tracking your actions toward happiness

Tracking your actions serves two important purposes. It helps you be consistent, and that consistency will eventually help you create the good habits that you want to add to your life.

It also shows us the real picture of our progress. That’s important because our minds love to trick us making us think that we are doing better than we really are.

By tracking your actions, you can see how consistent you have been throughout the process.

RESOURCE TOOL: 365 Days of Happiness,

A step-by-step guide to being happy

I know that it may be kind of hard to find something different to focus on every day especially when you still have other daily goals to work on.

The good news is that the author of the book 365 Days of Happiness already did it for you.

By the way, even though I received a copy of the book, this is not a sponsored post and all the opinions mentioned in this post are my own.

BOOK HIGHLIGHTS

Here what I like the most about the book:

A daily dose of happiness

This book is separated into daily inspirations to help you bring happiness to your life every single day. This type of format removes the guessing part out of your day and allows you to go straight into action.

Mom-friendly

This book was written with busy moms in mind. Instead of chapters, this book focuses on helping you be happy for a full year. The best part is that most of the days only take one side of the page which makes it extremely easy to read even within your busy schedule.

Supports consistency

Since everything is already separated by day (e.g. Day 1, Day 2, etc.), all you need is to get up in the morning and read one page while eating breakfast or drinking your cup of coffee. Easy enough, right?

Chatting with a friend

It’s impossible to miss the author’s passion for happiness throughout the entire book. That’s understandable because she has been leading life-changing workshops, talks, and private sessions since 2006. But, regardless of that, her approach is very casual making you feel that you are having continuous, short conversations with a friend.
I downloaded these FREE printables to increase happiness. Have you? Click To Tweet

How do I get more happiness in my life?

At this point, you know the keys to happiness, how to live a happy life, and how to intentionally create that happiness every day. Now, let’s talk about the one thing that can help you increase happiness on a regular basis…

Be present

As busy moms, we not only have many things happening around us but many of them require our attention. It’s so easy to feel overwhelmed by being a baby sitter, homework helper, boss mom, teacher, psychologist, advisor, coach, cook, home manager, storyteller, entertainer, and the list keeps going on and on.

When we try to multi-task too much, we forget the importance of being present. But don’t worry, here are some quick ideas to help you be more present in your life and the life of others.

RELAX MORE

We know that we need to relax more but we still fail to do it. It feels like there’s always something urgent to do. The following techniques can help:

Meditation and yoga

It’s not uncommon for moms to find it hard to meditate when there are other things to do too. But the combination of meditation and yoga keeps your body and mind happy.

Doing both can help improve flexibility, muscle strength, and memory, while decreasing anxiety, stress, lack of focus, and energy.

To get you started, check out James Stephenson guided meditation and Adriene’s yoga videos. If you are still not too convinced of doing meditation and yoga right now, then at least practice the next technique, deep breathing.

Deep breathing

Before, when I shared some things about me, I talked about a problem that I had with my vocal cords. Because of that, I had to take speech therapies.

At first, I was skeptical, especially when I learned that I needed to relax my mind as part of my therapy. It meant that for five minutes, I had to sit on a chair with my eyes closed thinking about something that would make me happy while taking deep breathes.

The first times were very difficult for me. As a type A person, those five minutes felt more like an hour or even two!! 🙁 But eventually, I started to really enjoy that time because I could see the difference that it was bringing to my life.

I was feeling better after each therapy. The therapies helped my vocal cords tremendously, but those deep breathing exercises helped me relax and handle the days in a better way.

In fact, several studies talk about the benefits of deep breathing which include relieving stress, calming down, improving your blood pressure and heart rate, among others.

Enjoying the moment

With so many things on our plate, it’s hard to detach ourselves from our daily to-do lists to enjoy the moment. If you want to be present, you must be intentional about your time. One of the best ways to achieve it is by reducing distractions which is exactly what we will cover next.

REDUCE DISTRACTIONS

I know, distractions are everywhere: TVs, calls, text messages, emails, social media, kids, doorbell, etc.

The problem is the time that it takes to go back to what we were doing. According to a study from the University of California, it takes more than twenty minutes to refocus on what you were doing before the interruption.

That’s a lot of precious time wasted!

But even though it may seem almost impossible to get rid of distractions, there are still effective ways to reduce them:

Block your time

All you do is literally block time in your calendar for that task or event. Time blocking helps you plan and focus better because your brain is already prepared for what needs to be done. And, since you already blocked the time in your calendar, you will be more willing to avoid other distractions.

Focus on what you are doing

If you decided to watch a movie with your kids, make sure to pay attention to the movie and avoid checking your phone every few seconds. Not only you will be able to watch the movie, but your kids will be happier to see that you are spending quality time with them.

You can also keep your phone on silent during that time to avoid temptations.

Share your schedule

Sometimes, all you need is to set specific hours and share them with others. Sharing your schedule keeps everybody on the same page.

Also, consider creating a simple command center which is a great way to keep the family informed and connected. For work purposes, a digital calendar may work best with your team members.

What to do when you can’t find happiness?

Ok, let’s say that you read this entire post and followed all the suggested keys to a happy life, but for some reason, you still feel that you can’t find happiness in your life. If that happens to you, this is what you can do:

Re-read the information

Go back and re-read the information covered in this post. Make sure that you have put into practice at least most of what we have discussed. Sometimes, we just need to get back to the information to refresh our memory or to notice helpful tips that we unintentionally skipped.

Review your happiness goals

Look at the list of happiness goals that you created earlier in this post (free happiness printables). Do you see something that needs to be adjusted? It’s always a good practice to review your list on a regular basis. Once every month should be a good start but make sure that it works for you.

Read a self-help book

Reading has many benefits including improving your memory, focus, and reducing stress. Those are great added benefits on top of the knowledge that you get from books. Those factors are enough to improve your days which contributes to a happy life. That’s another reason to grab the happiness book.

Join a mom group

Sometimes, all you need is to talk to someone. Somebody who listens to you with the best intentions to help you get back on track. You can also join a mom group where you live. These types of groups let you connect with other moms.

Moms also have the opportunity to share experiences, situations, and in some cases, even support each other. And because these groups are created for moms, kids are welcomed too!

With so many groups out there, you shouldn’t have a problem in finding the best one for you. To find a group, ask other moms, do a quick google search, or look for a Meetup group.

Talk to a professional

Don’t skip the option of talking to a professional about your situation. A professional can help you identify the reasons affecting your life and help you find the best ways to deal with any challenge or concern.

It’s your turn to apply the keys to a happy life

I hope that all these tips and resources have been helpful to you. Make sure to pin this post so you can reference it as many times as needed. And, don’t forget to get the free happiness printables if you haven’t done so already.

But, before you go, which one of the top three keys will you work on first? Let me know in the comments section.

19 Best Self-improvement Books for a Better Year (2020)

Jan 14, 2019 by Lynelle 7 Comments

Despite the tremendous benefit that we get from reading self-improvement books, they are still not part of our top resolutions for the New Year.

At the beginning of each year, we have a big desire to improve our lives. That’s why the top resolutions are typically losing weight, exercising, saving money, and traveling more. It’s okay to plan for that. I even want to achieve them too, but let’s not forget to add a few books to our list too.

And, to make it easier for you, here is a list of great books to help you have a better year and life.

Note: This post contains affiliate links. Read my disclosure for more info.

19 Self-improvement books to read this year

1. Girl, Wash Your Face

This book first caught my attention after seeing so many pictures of women reading this book. Now, I understand why. How many times do we believe things about ourselves and our lives that are simply not true? The problem is that we keep repeating those lies to ourselves for months or even years until those lies end up affecting our decisions and ways of life. This book focuses on lies that the author believed and the ways that she suggests you can use to overcome them.

2. Make Your Bed

This book is based on a very inspiring speech given to a graduating class at the University of Texas at Austin. In this case, the author shares ten important principles that he learned during the Navy Seal training. Now, the question is, do you make your bed in the mornings? I personally like to make my bed in the mornings because it already puts me in a positive mindset. I feel that it’s something simple but powerful. This book shows you how doing little things helps you change your life, or who knows, maybe the world too, as he said.

3. Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of Done

How many projects do you still have pending? Completing tasks, projects, and goals is satisfying but we still fail to do so. Many times, we want to believe that certain people have special super powers allowing them to be successful. The truth is that if we truly want to change our lives for the better, we must take action. And the sooner, the better. Fortunately, this book has different strategies to help you get things done.

4. The Slight Edge

This book shares simple practices that you can use to improve your way of thinking and eventually, your life too. And that’s the interesting part because many times, we skip those simple changes thinking that they are too simple to work. If you are ready to follow these steps, then this book can help you create the results that you want in life.

5. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up

Having things organized, definitely helps you have a better life. Because of that, here is another popular book that I discovered throughout other people’s feedback. The book is based on the KonMari Method which teaches you how to declutter and organize your home in a new and different way, using categories.

6. Atomic Habits

Because I am a firm believer of habits, I love creating, implementing, and tracking new habits that can help me achieve things in life. But, I also know how hard it is to break bad habits. In this book, the author goes over the strategies that you too can use to overcome challenges and achieve your goals.

RELATED TOOL: A pretty way to track your habits

7. The Happiness Advantage

Sometimes, we say, if I can buy that home or get that job, I would be happy. This book tells us that happiness doesn’t work like that. It’s actually the opposite way. You probably have noticed that when you are happy, everything else is better and easier. The book explains that it happens because happiness causes the rest of the positive things in your life including success. The author shows you how to retrain your brain to be more positive and how to work on small tasks to achieve your big goals. This book can be applied to your professional and personal life.

8. What to say when you talk to yourself

We are constantly talking to ourselves consciously and unconsciously even if we don’t realize it. Unfortunately, those words that come from our mouth or mind are usually infected by negative thoughts. I feel that most of us would benefit from learning how to talk to ourselves the right way. This book helps you replace the negative self-talk with a better and positive one, so you can start transforming your life.

9. Solve for Happy: Engineer Your Path to Joy

The author of this book is an Engineer and former Google executive who pretty much had what many people would wish for: high salary, great job, expensive cars, etc. Despite all that, he was still unhappy. That’s the reason why he was determined to fully understand the process of achieving happiness. After extensive research and many hours of work, he created what is known as the happiness equation something that he decided to share after the sudden passing of his son.

10. The 10X Rule: The Only Difference Between Success and Failure

This is another book that can be applied to your business or personal life. I liked how the author was very direct explaining why we fail and how to get out of it. It’s like the tough love that we all need from time to time. The book motivates you to push yourself to get results and shows you how to apply the 10X Rule to achieve massive results.

11. Habit Stacking: 127 Small Changes to Improve Your Health, Wealth, and Happiness

As I said at the beginning, every year, we have a list of resolutions that we want to accomplish. Even though we have the best intentions in achieving those resolutions, by February, we have already dropped most of them. Many times, we don’t accomplish what we want just because we haven’t been consistent in the process. This book teaches you how to create one daily routine where you can manage multiple ones. And, the best part is that the routine would only take you about 15 to 30 minutes. It’s a very small amount of time to invest compared to the benefit of completing your goals and living a happier life.

12. The gifts of imperfection

As a mom of two girls, I feel that we need more of these types of books. I always like to remind my daughters the importance of loving themselves for who they are, and not based on TV stars, social media, or popular kids at their school. This book is here to motivate and inspire you. It’s time to love yourself, accept any imperfection, and be happy with who you are.

13. The success principles: How to get from where you are to where you want to be

It’s a book that helps you have more confidence in yourself, embrace any challenge, and follow your purpose. In this way, you can be prepared to go as far as you want to go. This book was first released years ago, and due to its success, the author has published a 10th-anniversary edition with updated information including a whole new section focused on the digital age.

14. The compound effect

This book shows you a plan of action based on six strategies that are explained step-by-step, so you can multiply your success. In order to improve your life, you need to learn, understand, and implement what the book teaches. Once you are done with that, you need to be consistent with your actions.

15. Grit: The power of passion and perseverance

The author of this book started a research project because she believed that success was based on a combination of passion and perseverance, rather than an IQ score. There are always things that we want to do in life but for some reason, we don’t feel that we have what it takes to accomplish them. This book shows you how long-term perseverance can take you a lot farther and how it can change your life for good.

16. 10% Happier: How I tamed the voice in my head

An anchor from Nightline TV show kept having a voice in his head assuring him that he wasn’t good enough. After having a panic attack on national television, he realized that he needed to improve his self-talk. And, even though he was skeptical at first, he turned into meditation for help. In this book, he shares his story and journey to help you improve your life too.

17. Declutter your mind

We spend a great amount of time in our lives searching for the secret formula to success without realizing that our main problem may be ourselves. Often times, we are the ones getting in our way to reach that success because of negative thoughts, distractions, worries, etc. This book helps you understand and manage the internal and external factors that are causing the clutter in your mind.

18. The complete book of home organization

If you are more interested in how to improve your organization skills, this book can help. With more than 200 tips and projects, this book covers how to declutter, store, and organize every space in your house. And if you are like me, you will love to know that this book also includes checklists, step-by-step instructions, and even a 15-week home organization challenge.

19. Your money or your life

Since saving more money is a very common goal, I wanted to include this book to help you improve your financial skills. This book has been around for more than twenty years and due to its popularity, it has been fully revised and updated. Follow its nine-step program to improve and transform your relationship with money.

What should you do next?

Now, that you have the list of self-improvement books, it’s time to take action:

Increase the chance of transforming your life by taking notes and following up.

√ Action Step #1 – Get the self-improvement books

Determine which self-improvement books from the above list you will be reading first. Then, get the books and be ready to improve your life. With this list, you can easily read one book per month and still have a few more available.

√ Action Step #2 – Schedule some reading time on your calendar

It may sound like a simple tip, but it will help you to stay consistent. If you don’t make time for it on your calendar now, eventually you will either forget to do it or use that time for something else.

√ Action Step #3 – Take notes and follow up

We usually ask ourselves, why our situation didn’t change after reading the books. And, sometimes, we even blame the book for it. The truth is that many times, we don’t follow the strategies that we learn. It’s easy to read the books and leave it aside “for later”. To improve that, take notes and keep using them as a reference until you master the new process.

Let’s do it better this time!

Take notes and implement any strategy, tip, or suggestion that can help you improve your life and achieve your goals. And, even if you are skeptical, give it a try. After all, the results may surprise you. It’s up to you when you implement the strategies. You can wait until the end of the book or you can do it right away. But either way, make sure to do it and follow up with it.

You can transform your life

Don’t forget to be patient. We normally want our problems to be solved immediately and when that doesn’t happen, we don’t hesitate to give up. Changes take time, so give it a chance.

Be patient, work on it consistently and wait a reasonable amount of time for it to work.

Ok, that’s it!

You got all you need to get started: a list of great self-improvement books with action steps. Get ready to read, take action, and be happier!

In the meantime, which book will you read first? Is there any other book that you would recommend that didn’t make the list? Let me know in the comments!

Additional resources for a successful year:

How to Choose Happiness: 25 Solutions to a Happier life

Dec 10, 2018 by Lynelle 12 Comments

Finding happiness has been a very popular topic throughout the years since many people, including me, have been trying to find or increase happiness in their lives. It is such a popular topic that has been the focus of articles, books, TED Talks, and even Yale University offers a happiness class.

But besides all the discussion, there are still five common questions that come up over, and over again regarding happiness.

Because of that, it would be beneficial to go over those questions first.

Share it with friends and make them happy! 😀

Quick note: This post contains affiliate links. Read my disclosure for more info.

What is happiness?

I feel that the easiest way to define happiness is to talk about what it is not:

Happiness is not a one-size-fits-all solution

There’s not a simple or single answer that fits everybody. Instead, it means something different for each person.

For example, in my case, part of happiness means working from home to spend more time with my kids. While for others, it may involve riding a horse, living in the Caribbean, or starting an online store.

Happiness doesn’t mean impressing others

Even though it is usually tied to big purchases like an expensive car or big events such as getting married, that’s usually where the confusion grows. There’s nothing wrong with buying an expensive car, but if you are only doing it to impress others then that expensive car will not be the solution to finding happiness.

Happiness is not a permanent location or destination

Sometimes, people believe that they will automatically be happy for the rest of their life if they could only achieve a magic thing that they have in mind. Unfortunately, focusing so much on that magic object or event can make you overlook the real happiness that is already happening around you. A simple rule to lead by is to do at least one thing every day that makes you happy.

Happiness doesn’t have a “go big or go home” mentality

That’s another myth. It’s not uncommon to think that happiness can only be achieved by doing something big. Of course, if that’s what you want in life, it will make you happier, too. But, you don’t have to wait until then to see happiness in your life. Look around you for the small things that make you happy, daily. It could be as simple as spending 30 minutes reading a book, watching Netflix, volunteering, working on a hobby, or hugging your kids 😊.

Can happiness be achieved?

That’s an interesting question but the answer depends on how you perceive happiness and what the word “achieved” means to you.

As mentioned earlier, happiness is a continuous process. It’s not something that we can just achieve once and permanently. If you are only looking at it as reaching a milestone such as getting married or winning the lottery, then you will probably feel that it is something hard to achieve.

Something else to consider is what happens after you achieve what you want. For example, think about running a marathon. After completing a 5K, you may decide that running a 10K will actually make you happier. Or, that instead of running another marathon, now you prefer to enroll in a karate class.

It’s okay to keep setting new goals in your life, just don’t forget to be happy for what you have already achieved too.

In other words, no matter what the word happiness means to you, it’s something that you can start working on today. Right now. And, every single day.

What is the formula for happiness?

If you are trying to find a secret recipe, then the answer might be simple: the happiness formula.

As it’s understandable, many people are constantly looking for ways to become happier in life. Because of that, throughout the years, many people have been interested in understanding it more.

And even though there’s no magic solution to find happiness, some people like Mo Gawdat and Deepak Chopra have come up with formulas or equations to help us understand it better.

Of course, each formula is different. Some formulas may take into consideration your expectations, life events, mindset, temporary pleasures, living conditions, purpose in life, or even genetics.

But there are two aspects that these formulas have in common: the search for happiness and the importance given to the person’s actions or decisions. Which take us to the next section…

Is happiness a choice or an emotion?

There has been a continuous debate to determine whether happiness should be considered a choice or an emotion.

Let’s start with happiness as an emotion.

Some people consider that it’s unfair and unrealistic to even think that happiness is a choice. Some of the reasons are that it:

is based on your state of mind
doesn’t take into consideration external circumstances which can be too strong and uncontrollable
is difficult to achieve, people should focus on being positive rather than happy

On the other side are people who support that happiness is a choice. In this case, some of their reasons are that you:

can control your actions
make the choice of focusing on the negative or positive things of your life
choose how to react to your problems

I remember studying Maslow’s theory in most of the human resources trainings and college classes that I attended. Many years ago, Abraham Maslow created a theory called the Hierarchy of Needs which consists of a pyramid with five levels of needs. He explained that once a need is met, the person moves on to the next level.

But, look at the top three levels of Maslow’s hierarchy…

Those top three levels are:

love (social, sense of belonging)
self-esteem (achievement)
self-actualization (reaching full potential)

If you notice, each of those three levels involves an emotion.

So, what do you think, is happiness a choice or an emotion?

Well, I see a combination of both because you need to take action (make choices) in order to achieve what makes you happy (emotion).

I am not saying that it is easy to do. But like Albert Einstein said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results”.

In this case, if we want to see changes (be happier), we need to change how we have been doing things until now, including our habits. And the process of changing habits alone takes time and effort.

Plus, you need to take into consideration the complexity of what you want to achieve.

For example, if you want to achieve financial freedom, depending on your current situation, it may take years to be where you want to be. Even opening a home daycare may take you months since you need to prepare the area in your house, submit all the paperwork, get the permits, take the required training, pass the inspections, etc.

In summary, make the point to take baby steps every day towards your happiness. No matter what you want, there are always small steps where you can start.

How to find happiness within yourself?

After talking about choices and emotions, it is time to talk about how you can find happiness, within yourself.

No matter what you do, you always have to start somewhere. The same applies here. In this case, the best place to start is by searching for that happiness within yourself. Even though, several of the 25 strategies discussed in this article help you with it, here a few suggestions.

5 Quick tips to find happiness within yourself

Be happy with who you are

I know, we are not perfect, but you have many great and unique qualities. If you are having a hard time identifying them, think of what others like about you. Consider what your family members, friends, co-workers, supervisors, etc. have said. If you can’t think of anything, ask them for some feedback. I am sure that they won’t mind helping you out.

Always keep in mind that you are the best version of yourself

This is something that I tell my daughters to remember. There’s no one single person in this world that can be YOU better than yourself.

Take time to focus on those small things that make you smile

Schedule some time every day to do something that you enjoy. You can play with your kids, watch funny videos, do some stress relieving adult coloring books, watch a TV show, do photography, walk in the neighborhood, contact a friend, and so on.

Work on those things that you would like to improve about yourself

There’s always something about ourselves that we would like to change or improve. Identify the steps needed to make it happen and take action. This will help you be the best version of yourself. Some action steps may be reading books within that niche, taking a class, conducting research, or finding a mentor (we will talk about this shortly).

Believe in yourself and how you can change your life for the better

Sometimes, we are the toughest critics of ourselves, our lives, and our situations. Here, is when you go back and focus on the previous tips.

When finding happiness within yourself doesn’t work

Sometimes, you feel that you just can’t reach the point where you want to be even after trying hard. In that case, don’t be afraid to seek help from the outside.

First, understand that you are not the only one. Many successful people have sought help too. Just give yourself another chance, and evaluate your options:

Talk to a good friend or family member

Make sure that it’s not only a friend or family member, but someone who knows you well, that can be honest with you and wants the best for you.

Coach

You can look for an experienced coach, trainer, or mentor who can point you in the right direction. That would not only save you headaches but can take you where you want to go faster.

Counselor

Talking to a professional can help you evaluate your past, understand your current situation, and help you improve your future.

Doctor

Even though we normally try to avoid going to the doctor or leave it as the last resource, the truth is that a doctor may see something else that you are missing.

In summary, keep an open mind during the process no matter if you are finding happiness within yourself or with the help of others.

The best ways to increase happiness

After having a better understanding of happiness and how to find it, it’s time to share what I consider the 25 best ways to increase happiness in your life.

Happiness: 25 Ways to Be Happier with Your Life

1- Know yourself better

2- Find the right balance in your life

3- Practice self-care

4- Develop a positive mindset

5- Create a bucket list

6- Let go of the past

7- Choose the right people in your life

8- Organize your life

9- Feel like a kid again

10- Create a reading list that helps you grow

11- Plan something different

12- Create a bullet journal

13- Get out of your comfort zone

14- Spend quality time with your family and friends

15- Create happy memories

16- Complete a gratitude challenge

17- Get rid of your limiting beliefs

18- Simplify your life

19- Keep track of your money

20- Manage your time regularly

21- Make every day count

22- Be aware of your thoughts and actions

23- Make a daily routine

24- Create a full year of happiness

25- Visualize your future

In Conclusion

Ok, let’s wrap up. Happiness is a combination of things including your well-being and doing what you really want in life.

As I said before, happiness is an ongoing process and it is not a destination or finish line. And, of course, being happy doesn’t mean being immune to illnesses, problems, frustrations, or even failures. It is just facing life with a positive mindset.

There will always be ups and downs in our lives. But, during the not-so-happy-moments:

focus on the things what you want in life
evaluate your situation objectively
adjust your action steps, process, or approach and
keep moving forward!

It’s your turn to be happier

Here, you learned 25 ways that help increase happiness. Even if you don’t like or agree with every single strategy, you still have plenty of them to choose from.

One more tip: Don’t forget to track your progress every time you try a new strategy. That’s the only way to see the real results at the end of the implementation or trial period. Here is one of my favorite trackers that you can use.

Now, I would like to know which ones were your top three strategies? And, which one will you implement first?