How Xfinity Can Support Your Home During the Pandemic

Remember back in March when many of us thought we'd be back to our normal routines before we knew it? Well we are a solid eight months into this global pandemic and many of us are still facing new challenges and changes.

As a mom and small business owner, I feel like I'm spinning the plates even more these days. My youngest is at home doing virtual learning for school, while my college sophomore is fortunate enough to be living on campus and attending a hybrid semester of classes. Besides supporting them and running my household, I work part-time with a local non-profit and also run a small home-based business. That's a LOT of stuff going on and I know I'm not alone in this!

Last week, I had the opportunity to sit down with some of my favorite local influencers and some wonderful folks from Xfinity to talk about how they are helping small businesses and families during this pandemic. While this post is sponsored by Xfinity, all opinions are my very own, so please read on to see how Xfinity may be able to help you and your family during this pandemic.

Keep Family Traditions, Even When Your Oldest Goes off to College

We are entering a new phase or season of our family life . . . we are about to send our first-born off to college next fall. I can't believe how quickly we got to this point. It seems like only yesterday we were taking him to the zoo and stopping in at our local fire station on a weekly basis.

I began to realize rather quickly that this year would be filled with last "firsts," like the last "first day of school picture" and the last "first fall lacrosse league game," as well as first "firsts," like our first senior portraits and our first college application. Needless to say there are a lot of highs and lows and emotions are running all over the place for all of us.

One of the things I've been thinking about a lot lately are our family traditions and how this shift in our every day will affect those traditions in the year (and years) to come. We aren't sure where he will land at this point, but at least all the schools he's looked at are less than a 3-hour drive away. So I can breathe deeply knowing that unless there's bad weather, he'll be home for the major holidays.

What to Expect When Your Teen Starts Driving

It seems like only yesterday, he was sitting behind the wheel of that old fashioned car that drives along a track on the Ocean City Boardwalk. But in the blink of an eye, he's sitting in MY driver's seat of MY car, with a learner's permit in his hand. I have to admit, this milestone took me by surprise and I was NOT ready to help my teenager learn to drive. To help prevent that from happening to you, I'm here to share what to expect when your teen starts driving.

First of all, the laws vary by state, so as your teen celebrates their 15th or so birthday, it may be a good idea to find out what the laws and requirements are where you live. In our state of PA, you need to be 16 to get a learner's permit. What I didn't realize was that you needed a doctor's exam as well, and our annual well visit crossed paths with our 16th birthday celebration. My bad.

Spreading Kindness This Holiday Season With Stonyfield

I have always emphasized kindness to my children. I tell them often, that we may not be the smartest, richest or best looking person in the room, but there is no reason that we can't be the kindest.  Unlike wealth, good looks or intelligence, kindness is a choice.

When I told them that we had the opportunity to be kind and spread some holiday cheer with someone who needs it this holiday season, they didn't hesitate to get on board. I explained that because of the generosity of Stonyfield and my relationship with them this year, we had received a gift card to be used to pay it forward this holiday season. We brainstormed on how and who we could help, finally deciding to select two stars from the Wall of Kindness at Owen's elementary school.

Tips for Packing the Perfect Lunch

With the start of school right around the corner, (and for many of you, already underway) you may have started thinking about packing lunches. Truth be told, it is not our favorite parenting gig here at Casa Chybinski. In fact, while I am the one that plans the grocery lists and oversees the shopping, my husband is the one that actually puts the lunches together and packs them.

We are team "night before" when it comes to packing school lunches. I am all in favor of an organization system that allows for more time in the mornings and less rushing around. Therefore, we are pretty firm on backpacks and lunches being put together the night before.

Everything You Need to Know About Backpacks

Perhaps nothing signals the return of kids to school like the backpack. I don't ever recall carrying a backpack, loaded with books, to and from my own school as a kid. But since the day my oldest was born, I've been scouting the perfect back-to-school backpack.

Where did this obsession with backpacks come from? I can't recall anyone carrying a backpack when I was in school (ok - it was the 70's and 80's). According to this fantastic article by Lee Hale from NPR, the backpack craze as we know it launched itself firmly in 1982, when LL Bean featured their Book Pack. It quickly became the company's top-selling product, and is still one of the top sellers in backpacks today. By the late 1980's every kid was carrying a backpack.

A Parents' Guide to Pokemon Go

When I was a kid, there was a product, probably a toy, with the slogan, "the sensation that's sweeping the nation" - I have long since forgotten what the amazing product was, but the slogan has managed to stay with me all these years and I was reminded of it after last weekend's Pokemon Go craze. If you haven't caught the fever, I'm willing to bet your kids have, or know kids that are already collecting. You may have even seen them yourself - kids roaming the neighborhood or cars pulling over suddenly.

While Pokemon has been around for more than 17 years, in a variety of formats, Pokemon Go is the newly released mobile App from Niantic Labs in collaboration with the Pokemon Company (of which Nintendo owns 32%) . Despite launch problems and criticism, the App added $9 BILLION to the Nintendo Market Capitalization. That's Billion with a "B". So despite what you may think about Pokemon, the craze is real and it's not just for kids based on the number of my adult friends claiming their obsession with finding all the Pokemon in their towns.

Why You Should Volunteer at Your Kids' School

Earlier this year, I volunteered at our elementary school for our annual spring book fair. This is one of my favorite school volunteer opportunities, and I typically clear my calendar for the entire week to help out - from set-up to take-down and all the selling days in between. Why do I enjoy it so much? First of all, it's books, so duh. Secondly, it's just plain fun, and I know it's good for both me AND my kids. for me to be present in their schools.

No matter what grade your kids are in, volunteering is a great way to show your kids that you take an interest in their education, and it sends a positive message that you consider school a worthwhile cause. Parent volunteers offer a huge resource and support base for the school community, while showing kids the importance of participating in the larger community. Even if you haven't been involved in the past, it's never too late to start!

Kids and Yoga

We've been hearing for a while now, that yoga is good for us. In our quest for a healthy lifestyle, we should include yoga in our routines. Yoga has been found to increase our flexibility, help us lose weight, improve respiration, vitality and energy, and provide many more mental and physical benefits to our bodies and minds.

What is yoga? Yoga is formally defined as: a Hindu spiritual and ascetic discipline, a part of which, including breath control, simple meditation, and the adoption of specific bodily postures, is widely practiced for health and relaxation. But more often, yoga is defined as an ancient science of mind, body and spirit. 

The Latest Video Game Craze - Yo-Kai Watch {giveaway}

“This post was sponsored by Nintendo as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central. I received complimentary products to facilitate my review.”

I don't know about your kids, but my kids love video games. We have been a Nintendo family for a long time. My husband and I had a Nintendo 64 back in the early 90's and indulged in some crazy, pre-kid Super Mario Brothers marathons. These days, we still enjoy the family-friendly feel of Nintendo and their gaming systems.

Video games get some bad press these days, but as the mom of two active boys, I think they can be a great way for my kids to unwind and enjoy some downtime. In fact, I'd rather they actively engage with a video game, than mindlessly watch a television show. But it's all a balancing act, and every kid and family is different. Differences are what's so great about Nintendo, because they have something for everyone, no matter what your interest is. Take the new Yo-Kai Watch game, for example.

Finding the Best Summer Camp for Your Kids

Summer is only about 12 weeks away. Sorry, I don't mean to scare you, but it is. So if you are a working parent, or one that likes to have their kids actively engaged during the summer, you may need to start thinking about summer camp.

Summer Camp. I always think about all those TV programs and movies about summer camp, mostly the sleep-away variety, where there is rarely an adult to be seen, and the kids have the summer of their lives. In reality, summer camp can be a necessity for working parents, and can look like anything from sleep away camp to a few teenagers overseeing a group of kids at the local playground.

Here's a little secret. . .summer camp isn't just for your kids . . .it's for you too. So how can a parent find the right summer camp for them AND their kids??

The Tired Mom's Guide to Afternoon Tea

Being a parent is exhausting. As my kids get older, I realize that it doesn't matter what their ages are, just the emotional stake in parenting and raising kids is exhausting. Throw in some play dates, after school activities and hours of homework, and you end up with one tired mama!

I am a work at home mom, and both my kids are in school during the day. While that makes some things easier for me than for some of you mamas with small kids at home trying to work your hustle, we all need a break during the day. A habit I've gotten into lately, is enjoying an afternoon tea break.

Classic Afternoon Tea is a light meal served in the afternoon, typically between 4 and 6 pm. Research says that the custom originated among the wealthy classes in England in the 1840s. It's a tradition that has definitely made the leap across the pond, as you can enjoy afternoon tea in many hotels throughout the United States. But I am a tired mom, and I like to enjoy my afternoon tea in my living room or home office at about 2 pm.

A Safer Alternative for Kids' Hair Care

Let's take a minute and talk about kids' hair. I can clearly remember strongly disliking my mom brushing my hair each morning. I was the girl with the tight ponytails. As the mom of two boys, I feel the need to confess that when they were younger,  I let them leave the house without even combing their hair. I'm not sure how it happened, but since they are boys, I guess I wasn't thinking about doing their hair.

Fast forward to the tween and teen years. Now my bathroom is filled with hair products and the boys spend time each morning styling their hair to get it to look just so. So when Piggy Paint offered to send me some samples of their new, natural line of kids' hair products I said YES! Rock the Locks products are infused with organic ingredients, free of sulfates, parabens and other harsh chemicals, and packaged in a revolutionary non-aerosol spray can. Sounds cool right?  

What to Know About the HPV Vaccine

I share a lot of information on this blog about parenting and healthy living. Keeping ourselves and our families as healthy as possible is important, but not always easy.  Making sure my kids are guarded against disease and illness to the best of my abilities, is one of my priorities as a mother. But it's not easy.

Why isn't it easy? There are so many reasons. Sometimes health information is hard to find from a reliable source. Personally, I tend to start with the CDC and move on from there. Sometimes the language that health information is presented in, can be difficult to understand (again, that's why I start with the CDC). Health can be a personal decision, one we don't necessarily want to share with the general public. And sometimes, it's a topic that no one really wants to talk about!

Why I Gave Up Fighting About Coats and Pants

Today is the first chilly day, with temperatures in the unseasonable 50s. Both of my children went to school today in shorts. Judge me if you will, I used to be that mom. But no longer - I gave it up. I no longer fight with, argue with or bribe my children over coats or pants. After all, I'm not the one that will be cold.

There's a saying that there are three things you can not make a child do: sleep, eat and poop. They will do them all when they are good and ready, and not a minute sooner, no matter how much you nag or plead. I add wearing coats and pants to that list as well. I can remember the days, when my boys gleeful wore what I suggested or helped them pick out. Not only were these outfits adorable, but they matched and were perfectly seasonably appropriate.

Are We Raising Tyrants? 5 Tips for Keeping Kids (and teens) Kind and Resilient

In our quest to keep our children happy, could we be turning them into tyrants? This thought crossed my mind the other day as I got a simple request for a bagel. That's fine - it was the semi-order to not cook it too much or make it too light, that got my thoughts churning (and my blood boiling a bit if I'm honest).

I recently read a quote - and if it belongs to you - please comment because I would love to give you proper credit!

"There's a difference between tragedy and burnt toast." 

Ironic in light of the bagel conversation - right? But it's become the mantra of the summer in my parental development. I struggle with perfectionism, which makes me difficult for my family at times. I admit it, and it's something I work on (thank you Joy and Release). As I see perfectionist traits pop up in kids, I want them to remember this quote. I don't want to be a tyrant, nor do I want to raise them.

Giving the Gift of Wisdom this Graduation Season

This post was sponsored by author T. A. Barron and was inspired by his gift book “The Wisdom of Merlin: 7 Magical Words for a Meaningful Life.” All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.

Graduation season is upon us. All over the United States, kids are graduating from pre-school, kindergarten, Eighth Grade, High School and College. Caps and gowns, pretty dresses and ties are all being discussed. Blogs and Pinterest are full of graduation gift ideas for that special grad in your life. Around here, we are celebrating an upcoming 8th grade graduation. It seems such a right of passage, leaving childhood behind for his first big steps into the "real world." It's both exciting and a bit scary.

I remember my own eighth grade graduation, and high school and college . . . they were times of great joy, but also a bit of apprehension of what was to come. Whether you're moving from one school to the next, or moving from college on to the rest of your life, it's a big step with changes and new responsibilities and challenges. Wouldn't it be awesome if we could give them a gift they could use every day for the rest of their lives?  Something powerful and nurturing; what if we could give them the gift of wisdom?

According to the dictionary, Wisdom is "the quality of having experience, knowledge and good judgement." There's no reason why you can't give the gift of wisdom to your graduate. Or at least a little bit of wisdom, passed on from you to them. I've decided that I'm going to get this quote printed and framed for my own graduate this year - it's something I want him to think about and remember.

Thinking about the graduate(s) in your life, how could you provide their future with some wisdom and inspiration? Maybe a Pocket Compass to lead them on to success?

Or this pretty Dream Achieve Believe Bracelet?

My graduate is a reader, and I'm leaning towards a good book that he can dive into this summer (besides required summer reading) to get ready for high school. I was introduced to the latest book by T. A. Barron and I'm thinking it may be a perfect choice.

T. A. Barron's new book, "The Wisdom of Merlin: 7 Magical Words to a Meaningful Life", features 8 key principles for leading a meaningful life and is appropriate for all ages. This book is the wizard Merlin’s answer to the question “What is the meaning of life?” Surprisingly, the answer has only seven words, but they are the most powerful words of all. A teacher I know, picks one book each year as her standard graduation gift - this book would be a great choice!

Inspiring our future leaders is a wonderful gift we can give from our hearts, every day. What's the best piece of wisdom or advice you ever received?

catch you soon -

Is It a Boy or a Girl? Share Your News In Style With Panorama™ Prenatal Screen

It's been a while since I carried the secret of pregnancy. Typically when a woman finds out, she is the first and only one to know - if only for a brief time, before sharing the news with her partner or spouse. It can be a time of turbulent emotions too - both joy and fear coming at you. It truly is one of life's best miracles.

These days, social media has really upped the game of pregnancy and gender reveals, so when the people at Panorama™Prenatal Screen asked if I'd be willing to share my story and how times have changed in a sponsored post, I agreed. We found out the gender of both of our babies before they were born. I always knew I wanted to find out, because if I was having a girl we were going all PINK - not some mint green and yellow stuff. In they end we were blessed with two healthy boys, both of whom came home from the hospital to blue rooms, moons and stars. But we had to wait a long time to find out the gender, and even then it was luck and technician skill that gave us an answer.

I remember bringing my first ultrasound picture (before we knew the gender) to surprise my mom with our big news after we were 12 weeks along. This was WAY before pregnancy and gender reveal ideas on Pinterest! In fact, no one I knew did anything special for revealing the gender of their baby to be. Times sure have changed right?? Look at these great ideas for revealing your baby-to-be's gender on social media!

I don't even know which one of these I would choose if I had to do it all over again with today's technology! Having a baby was one of the most exciting and scary times of my life. With my second baby, I was "older" so genetic testing was recommended by my doctor.  My husband and I did the research and decided that it was better to go through with it, then not to, but it's a difficult and personal decision for any couple.

I couldn't believe it when I heard that with Panorama™ Prenatal Screen, you can get a glimpse at your baby-to-be as early as 9 weeks! Panorama is a DNA screening test that can tell pregnant parents important information about their pregnancy. Like the amniocentesis I went through for my second pregnancy, Parents can find out if their baby is at risk for having Down syndrome or other chromosomal abnormalities. Panorama is non-invasive and highly accurate, with the lowest rate of false positives of any prenatal screening test. You can visit the Panorama website for more information.

Who needs a Panorama Test? It's very common for women to be worried about the baby's safety and have concerns about the health of their baby. I used to keep myself up at night with what ifs and worries. If you have concerns, you should talk to your healthcare professional. Some women may choose to have the non invasive prenatal test to help them decide if they want a CVS or amniocentesis. Why choose Panorama? The Panorama screening test is a non-invasive prenatal test and is safe for you and your baby. To have the test done, your doctor just draws a sample of blood from your arm.

So if I had to do it all over again today, there are so many changes, I'm not sure what I would choose. I do know I would still want to know the gender of my baby before it was born. I'm also pretty sure that I would want to do one of those fancy gender reveals.

Have you done a gender reveal?

catch you soon -
This is a sponsored post. However, all thoughts and opinions are my very own.

Lacrosse for Moms

For years, we have been a Baseball Family. From T-Ball to Majors, each spring we headed out to enjoy the Great American Game. Last year, our teenager came home form school and said he wanted to try Lacrosse. The Middle School was starting up a team, and he wanted to give it a try.

We try to be supportive parents, and encourage our kids to try new things (within reason of course). So of course we said, sure - go for it! And he did. Not only did he join the team, but he fell in love with the game, made some great new friends, and developed a new interest. A total win in the parenting book - right?

Here's my dirty little secret . . .I know NOTHING about lacrosse. Not. A. Thing. In my mind (and clearly my imagination) it was a cross between field hockey and tennis. Imagine my surprise at the first game?! So I sat in the stands, and watched, trying to figure it out. I didn't know many of the other parents - a new sport for your child, often means a new crowd of parents for you as well. I wasn't sure when to cheer - or what to say. I was a baseball mom. Luckily some other parents helped me out, and truth be told, when they cheered for my son, I mimicked them until I felt more comfortable.

We now have one season under our belts, and this year he is playing at school and also in a local league. Over the winter, we acquired all of our own equipment in preparation. Again, I didn't know anything about what he needed, so I started learning and asking questions.

I know many of you are more knowledgeable of lacrosse than I, but today I am sharing some FYI stuff for any moms (or dads) new to the sport:

Equipment
The equipment for lacrosse is all about safety. Even so, with advances in materials, players are dressing light, with equipment that gives them more flexibility and less bulk.

• Shoulder Pads
• Helmet with face mask
• Stick
• Arm Guards/Elbow Pads
• Gloves
• Running Shoes/Cleats
• Mouthguard

General Information
Lacrosse is a high-scoring, high-action game. It's been referred to as the fastest game on two-feet. No wonder my oldest was drawn to it! To be successful, a player needs to work hard and hustle.  Lacrosse is different from other sports in that there is a community-type atmosphere.

Positions
Attackmen - need good shooting ability because they are the ones that put the ball in the net. Attackmen often stay in the game the whole time. There are both feeders (set up scoring players) and finishers(deliver goals), but many attackmen players do both.

Midfielders (middies) - need speed as they play both offense and defense. Middies are crucial to the team's transition offense and defense. Midfielders can come in and out of games and some only play during a specific time, such as during a face-off.

Defensemen - need toughnessto stop the opposing team's attackmen from scoring.

Goalie - needs quick reflexes, even temperament and leadership qualities.

And don't forget the Creasemen. They hang out by the goalie and take advantage of any opportunity for a fast break (an offensive situation). I am still not 100% where the actual "crease" is, but the coach shouts about it a lot!

History of the Game
Field lacrosse got it's start with the Native Americans. It was usually a way to settle disputes between tribes or to celebrate and honor religious rituals. The name lacrosse came to be when French explorers first witnessed the sport, because the French believed the stick looked like the staff of a bishop (la crosse). 

So this lacrosse thing can be confusing and it's really fast-paced. Since the kids are all in full protective gear, it can be even be difficult to tell which kid is yours. Relax, it's all ok. Lacrosse is a big team team sport, and you are there to support your child and his team. Sit back, have fun and enjoy the action. When in doubt - shout "Go Blue!" (or whatever your team color is)

Have no fear, I still get to be a Baseball Mom as our youngest chose to play baseball again this spring. So I will be spending my spring carting kids to games and practices, and cheering them on.

Are you a lacrosse parent, player or fan? What's your best tip??

catch you soon -

16 Movies You Loved as a Kid That Are Entirely Inappropriate For Your Own Kids

What was your favorite movie as a kid? I remember my dad taking my cousin and me to see Grease in the theater . . .I was 10 years old. I didn't know what a hickie from Knickie was at the time, nor did I realize Rizzo had a bun in the oven, but I adored all that singing and dancing and I wanted to BE Sandy.

Would I let my own kids see that movie at 10 years old? Probably not. We recently watched Back to the Future . . .my kids counted 22 swear words, and it got a little uncomfortable when Biff was "having his way" with Lea Thompson. Granted, I was 17 when that movie came out, but it is rated PG (not PG-13).