Waiting for that magical gift idea to just pop into your head? Hoping that in time it’ll just click and you’ll cross paths with the perfect gift for that loved one? And then what often inevitably occurs? 1-you wait too long and just grab a gift card, or, 2-you panic and grab whatever gift you can find knowing it’s a total gamble, but chances are disappoint is going to come over the recipient’s face when they open those kitten oven mitts. While gift-giving comes naturally to some people, for others of us choosing a gift for a birthday, Christmas or another celebration can be a stressful task. If you’re someone who struggles to choose gifts for your loved ones, don’t panic – it doesn’t have to be a nightmare, it’s just a case of learning what it takes to choose a truly great gift.
With more and more people staying home due to COVID-19, people are spending a lot more time on streaming services, watching TV and finding new shows to indulge in. With more time going towards electronics, it’s easy to get caught up in watching re-runs of shows you’ve seen 100 times and can quote every line to, but you don’t have to settle for something you’ve already seen. Stargirl, which was executively produced by Geoff Johns, was recently released on DC Universe. If you like superheroes and DC Comics, this show may be something to check out. Here are descriptions of three of the top characters in the series.
1. Stargirl
The main character is played by Brec Bassinger. Stargirl is the star of the show and starts out as a normal high school student from Los Angeles who’s just minding her own business and going through life until she finds the Cosmic Staff. After finding the staff, she transforms into Stargirl and prepares for her role to lead the Justice Society of America. She’s your typical girl next door who ends up stumbling into something supernatural. Before Bassinger becomes Stargirl, she’s commonly known as Courtney Whitmore.
2. Wildcat II
Yvette Monreal plays this character who starts out as a popular, well-liked student named Yolanda Montez. However, her luck changes and she ends up getting disgraced by her ultra-Catholic parents which makes her an outcast. After dealing with this trauma, she befriends Stargirl and becomes a member of the Justice Society of America, transforming into Wildcat II. One of her valuable skills throughout the series is boxing.
3. Hourman II
Before becoming Hourman II, Cameron Gellman plays Rick Tyler. He’s a troubled teen with a hard past. He has anger issues and is a high school delinquent. His parents were both killed when he was seven years old in a set-up car accident, so he’s dealt with a lot without much guidance. He befriends Stargirl and ends up transforming into Hourman II, following in the footsteps of his late father. He too joins the Justice Society of America.
With so many shows out there to choose from today, it can be hard to settle on a series without having a family fight or you not actually enjoying what you chose. Stargirl is an action-packed series that will satisfy any DC Comic lover’s fancy. Consider adding it to your list of shows to indulge in as you stay home more often.
With kiddos learning virtually, remotely, or a hybrid combination, participating in extracurriculars online, from dance classes on Zoom to music lessons on Facetime, and then finally being able to have some downtime and “play” with friends on Minecraft, Roblox, Among Us, etc. to say their use of screen time has skyrocketed would be an understatement. The use of screen time has officially reached a record high among kids this year. And though, as parents we try our best to balance screen free time and outdoor play there are still side effects to so much screen time including, headaches, eye fatigue and strain, and a disruption in sleeping habits. Thankfully there’s a solution to help put these irritating symptoms at bay, glasses, blue light glasses!
We might not agree on politics or the way things have been handled since the pandemic hit, or even who our next President will be, but one thing we can all agree upon is the fact that the pandemic has had all of us reassess our priorities. Suddenly that promotion at work, that fancy car we hoped to impress the neighbors with, and how much time we could spend at the pub with friends seemed insignificant. Lockdowns and quarantines have really driven home the fact that it’s quality time with the family that matters most in this world. That being said, many of us are working from home, children are schooling and participating in their extracurriculars from home, etc. Screens have literally become a necessity for our connection to not only the outside world but, our lives. As parents, it’s been ingrained in our heads since the time our children were born that we need to limit their screen time. This struggle has never been more apparent and real than now. Balancing required screen time for school, extracurriculars, and downtime with games on tablets has really proven to be a challenge for us parents. The narrative has really been flipped, we used to schedule screen time and now we must schedule time to unplug and spend screen-free quality time together as a family. Unplugging those screens has also been proven beneficial for their mental health, but how can quality time with the family compete with Disney+, Among Us, Roblox, and Minecraft? By coming up with some super-appealing activities and blocking out Family Time Fun sessions that will have their heads turned.
If 2020 were a relationship it’d be a toxic one! But I can’t hate it. For as much as I despise all the epic life events and celebrations that had to be cancelled I can’t help but wonder if maybe there’s a blessing in disguise. Bear with me here. As parents we want the best for our children, we want them to live full vibrant lives, be rich in faith, have solid friendships, be well educated, etc. And if we reflect on our own childhoods, WAY back in the 80s and 90s, some of our best memories might have been at school dances, gatherings with friends, etc. But this isn’t the 80s or 90s, and quite honestly, who knows how all those events that we wanted so badly for our children that had to be cancelled would have turned out, like the school dances, carnivals, parties, etc. I get that they should have at least had the opportunity to experience them, but it’s not fair for us parents to assume that the outcome, the memories they would have made would have been positive ones. So where is all this coming from? This thought popped into my head while dancing in my front yard last night with my husband, mom, dad, brother, sister-in-law, my 10 year old daughter, 13 year old son, my Freshman daughter and two of her friends.
Raising a family is tough, raising a family during a pandemic is a full on challenge! Having kids at home learning virtually has brought about a sedentary lifestyle no parent has ever had to deal with before. Sitting in front of Chromebooks or Laptops for 6+ hour a day can not only strain children’s eyes, mess with their sleep schedule, but, it can lead to an unhealthy lifestyle. With no recess or gym and ample snacks literally feet away in their own kitchen the temptation to grab a sweet or salty snack is real. Thus, though there are many factors working against us as parents it is still possible to raise a healthy, wholesome family even during a pandemic – the key is to remain vigilant. Are you looking for ways to create and establish healthy habits in your family? The following tips should help.
I’ve been meaning to write this for some time now. It’s long overdue. But every time I escape into the computer room, open my laptop, my fingers barely graze the keys, and a silent alarm must sound altering the children that I’m about to give something else my undivided attention. For they all seemed to beacon before I can even type a word, “Mom, I need help submitting….”, “Mom, my screen froze!”, “Mom, I can’t type on my work in Google Docs”. It’s a miracle they aren’t banging on the door right now. I am currently hiding out in the bathroom, on the floor, with my laptop, fan on, so hopefully I’ll have a few uninterrupted minutes…I took this idea from the “Dad Handbook” ;), lol! So needless to say, this letter has been on my heart for some time, and it embarrasses me that I haven’t sent this sooner. I don’t know if you know this or not, but you’re such an important and significant part of my life. They say that life isn’t measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away and though, an eloquent idea, I’d add that it isn’t just the big moment in life that matters, but the everyday that embrace life’s imperfections. Looking back on my lifetime thus far most of my life’s imperfections, serious contemplations, and happy memories either took place with you or you helped me get through them, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t take this time to express just how much you’ve played a role in those moments.
If you’re a parent to young kiddos, the kind of parties you throw at your home might be a far cry for your pre-kid bashes. We’re talking glitter everywhere, obnoxiously bright layered colored cakes, sticky floors and paper plates – not exactly classy. Though loads of fun for the kiddos, isn’t it time you hosted a grownup bash, one just for the adults, a bit more upscale. To say it’s been a heck of a year is an understatement, isn’t it time to give everyone an excuse to leave their quarantine PJs at home, ladies can dust off their LBD, or slip into that over-the-top fancy outfit that still sparks joy but you never could quite decide what to wear it to, over accessorize, and toast with some bubbly? It’s time to gather (responsibly) and celebrate, celebrate all the milestones we weren’t able to celebrate in-person, make up for lost time, we’re talkin no tissue paper, paper plates, or any paper products, remember that fin china you registered for and received at your bridal shower? This is the occasion it was meant for, so unpack it from the boxes, polish the silverware, iron the tablecloths, get out the stemware, and jazz it up properly.
Is it normal to regret having a baby, children? Am I allowed to feel regret?
I came across this topic and it made my momma heart sink. Initially I thought of all those women longing to be mothers and dealing with their own infertility struggles and how they would long to simply hold a baby in their arms. And then I considered the pressure put on women by society and our culture. The pressure to have and do it all, have the career, have the baby, get the promotions, raise children, have the social status, be on all the committees, etc. And the immense pressure “at-home” moms receive, since they’re at home they should be able to do it all, the laundry, dishes, all the household work, raise the kids, and there’s this added pressure, “at-home mom guilt”, that they should be the ones volunteering for everything, after all, they don’t
Money worries are among the most common causes of stress for US adults. 2020 has been a tough year for many, and financial pressures are affecting many households. If you’re looking for ways to improve your family finances, this guide contains tips and tricks to help you get back into the black.
Mom on the go in Holy Toledo 