S'mores Charcuterie Board

A S'mores Charcuterie board is the perfect way to take your summer entertaining to the next level. Make one to wow your kids, or impress your friends with your incredibly creative tastes!

If you invite me to a party and it has a chartreuse board, I am instantly impressed. There is something about having an assortment of goodies to pick from at snack time that makes it feel special. Calling it a Charcuterie board instead of a platter of any sorts? Watch me swoon.

Well, we might not be doing a whole lot of entertaining these days, but I wanted to wow my kids over the 4th of July holiday. S'mores seem to be the key to their hearts this summer. So this s'mores Charcuterie board was the perfect way to make the day seem so much fancier.

I used an assortment of our favorites to create this board. That is the beauty of it. You can use what you like the most and make the offerings super special.

This post uses affiliate links.

In this Charcuterie board you see graham crackers, regular marshmallows, smash mallows, Oreo cookies and an assortment of chocolates and truffles. The key is to start in the center, working your way out and filling in all of the spots on a large dish. Offer this to your family or friends with an assortment of roasting sticks and a small campfire. You have an instant most memorable and delicious s'mores bar!

Pros and Cons of Moving to Singapore with Children

Singapore is listed among the world’s top economies, meaning that it is a country with many job opportunities. The Singaporean government is committed towards economic growth, giving major trade incentives for various industries. The finance industry is particularly doing well and over the recent years it has attracted expats from all over the world. 

There are a lot of reasons why foreign expats prefer staying and working in Singapore. First of all, the Singaporean government does not bar foreigners from rendering their professional services in Singapore. Moreover, Singapore boasts a tropical climate, attractive sites, and multicultural ethnicity. This makes Singapore a popular destination for holiday visits. 

If you are planning to move to Singapore with children, you have to factor in the quality of education, level of healthcare systems, and whether the children will adapt in a new environment. In this article, we look at the pros and cons of moving to Singapore with children. 

Pros

The advantages of moving to the city state with children include:

Family friendly

This is perhaps the main reason why Singapore is one of the top tourist-attracting countries. It boasts museums, shopping centers, and restaurants, all of which are welcoming to children. Your family can also visit the Singapore zoo, various parks, and educational centers for fun. If you want to move to Singapore, you can apply for your visa online at https://www.singapore-visa.net.

Quality education systems

The education level in Singapore is considered to be one of the best in the world. There are plenty of school offering an international curriculum. These schools will also enable your kids to quickly settle in and make new friends. 

International schools will help the children maintain consistency in their education. If your switch to Singapore is for a long period of time, then you can enroll your children in public schools, which are incredible and also require lower fees. 

Better healthcare systems

The Singaporean government has invested heavily in the healthcare sector. Once you are in Singapore, you will be assured that your family is in good hands in case a health issue arises. Once you become a permanent resident, you gain access to subsidized public healthcare.  Find top rated NDIS supported speech pathology in Singapore.

Cons

The following are some of the cons of moving to Singapore with children:

Cost of living

This is the greatest challenge that expats who move to Singapore face. A lot of things are costly, even basic stuff like groceries. On top of that, you receive high monthly bills and the luxury of consuming alcohol will not be available if your income is limited. 

For the past couple of years, Singapore has been constantly ranked as one of the most expensive countries to live in. This should be a major consideration before you decide to move to Singapore with a family. The majority of the income is spent on education and accommodation. 

Weather

Singapore boasts a tropical climate, but unfortunately, this does not last all year long. For the better part of the year, the weather is hot and humid, which can sometimes be unbearable. During the hottest months, stepping outside even becomes difficult. One of the major health risks that your family can face is sunburn and dehydration. 

Conclusion

Singapore is a family-friendly city. Once you move in, it is easy for your family to integrate with the residents. On top of that, you do not have to worry about the education of your children as there are a lot of reputable schools. You are, however, advised to start looking for a school for your children as soon as possible because of competition for places in the classroom.

Find more travel posts here.

Sheet Pan Shrimp, Potatoes, Carrots and Asparagus

Sheet Pan Shrimp, Potatoes, Carrots and Asparagus is the perfect easy summer meal. It is packed with veggies, only takes a moment to prep and the whole family will love it.

School has been out for well over 120 days now. It has been pretty cool having the whole family home for months on end. We have been swimming in the pool. Staying up late, sleeping in a little. Walking the dogs a lot. And eating every stinking meal at home, *almost* every day. 

Dishes are now the enemy. I have no shame in admitting I want to wash less! It feels like I am always washing dishes, and as soon as I finish, I find a few more here and there. The kids do this cool thing where they use every dish in the house. So, sheet pan meals have become my favorite dinner option.

This recipe couldn't be easier.  It is lightly seasoned and bakes to perfection in minimal time. I do want to note that depending upon the shrimp you use, your bake time will vary! Keep this in mind as you prep your meal. If your shrimp are thawed, or are smaller in size, you may need to adjust your temp and time.

Ingredients:

1/2 pound asparagus, trimmed

2 cups of carrots, I used a colorful medley of organic carrots

1 pound of baby red potatoes, quartered

Peeled and de-veined shrimp

Garlic, crushed, to taste

Olive oil

Salt and pepper

*optional crab cakes as pictured

2 tablespoons of butter

Directions:

Layer trimmed asparagus on a sheet pan

Layer carrots on sheet pan, I cut the really round ones in half

Layer quartered baby red potatoes on the sheet pan.

Place shrimp and optional crab cakes on the sheet.

Drizzle carrots and asparagus with olive oil lightly.

Add a little crushed garlic all over the sheet pan.

Salt and Pepper as desired.

Place a few small pats of butter on the potatoes, shrimp and crab cakes.

Bake at 375 for 20 minutes, or until the veggies and shrimp are tender.

Button Tower STEM Activity

Button Towers are an awesome way to spend the afternoon for stem loving kids! This activity comes together with only two supplies to keep the kids entertained and building all day long.

Now more than ever, creative exploration is important for kids.  Mine have been out of school for over 3 months already and we are not sure what the new year will hold. We have been staying at home, and seeing what we can do with the things we have on hand. This Button Tower Stem Activity has been a big hit with both of my kids, and all of the other kids in the neighborhood too! 

You only need 2 supplies to pull this off. Kids will love seeing who can build the biggest tower and what methods work, as well as which ones don't work!

Supplies:

Buttons in assorted sizes

Play Doh

Directions:

Roll an assortment of play doh balls in various sizes.

Offer an assortment of buttons and instruct the children to build a tower.

My kids opted to alternate balls of doh and buttons to stack them up.

They said the key to making them stand was how you press the button into the doh.

Sometimes the towers tumble over on the second or third button; sometimes they stack easily. Either way it goes; it is loads of fun and presents an enjoyable challenge that kids of all ages will love.

I love that this was as simple to set up as digging around in my craft supplies. Some of the best activities really are simple in design.

Be sure to supervise little ones with this, as buttons can pose a choking hazard.

Find more fun ideas for kids here

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Seashell STEM Towers

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Summer Slim Down Guide

So, how did spring quarantine treat you? 

I gained weight. So much weight that I am in SHOCK still. 25 pounds? Yes, easily. None of my clothes fit and I am miserable. Out of necessity, I am making an effort to walk more, eat less and drop all 25 of those pounds by the time fall rolls around. If I don't, I am likely to roll into fall at this rate.

I thought I would share with you some of my favorite products for living healthier with you, as well as what efforts I am making to drop the weight I have gained during covid. Samples were received and affiliate links have been used.

First, I stopped buying FAMILY SIZED BAGS and instead started buying multi-packs in bulk for all of our snacks. While it might cost a little bit more to buy a 40 pack of little bags than it does to buy a few family size bags, but it really helps with portion control on snacks. 

I started buying bigger bags of vegetables at the grocery store. If I buy it fresh, I will find a way to use it because I despise food waste. This leads to bigger servings of veggies with dinner and less room on my plate for extras.

I fast.

From 10 pm to 12 pm, I do not eat or drink anything with calories. Although I sometimes waver around 10 am with an iced coffee. I try to keep my calorie intake under 50 calories during my fasting period, so I keep that in mind when adding a splash of creamer, to keep my calories down. I think it is too early to tell if this is effective for me, but 6 days in, my pants feel looser. I will update you on this later.

I stopped weighing in daily.

I was feeling discouraged the first week I started trying to cut back. I saw no movement on the scales, and then that made me feel like, why am I denying myself anything? I am now hungry and overweight.  Instead I now weigh in two times a week, in the morning. I have seen my weight drop by 3 pounds, which is a wonderful start.

I started switching out for better snacks and higher quality meals. 

I know from personal experience that lifestyle changes come in steps. We usually dine out 3 times a week, so I reduced that to two meals out the first week.  I started adding more healthy proteins like salmon to my meal plan, and I started looking for lower carb options. 

Some of my favorite healthier snacks are Good To go Bars. These are great because the flavors are light and the texture of the bars is unique and pleasant. These are one of my favorite things to toss in my bag for in the car snacking without the guilt. Order them online, at about $24 for 9 tasty bars. I love vanilla almond and the blueberry cashew flavors the most.

When you think about cutting back and getting healthier, you probably imagine saying buh-bye to cookies. But, Made Good has a line of soft baked mini cookies that are perfectly portioned for an indulgent treat minus the guilt. I love that they are organic and offer a ton of nutrients in a sweet snack. Find the store locator to get snacking with Made Good! They also have awesome granola bars. 

A diet that leaves out treats, is a diet that is likely to fail. I have been treating myself to The This Line from Blissfully Better. I love that these tasty treats are portioned perfectly for a sweet to share, but also, they have minimal ingredients for a better product that tastes like real candy! I couldn't pick a favorite, because they are all noteworthy, indulgent and several are even low glycemic. Order them online  at Amazon or Blissfully Better in 4 or 10 packs.

I have never been an energy ball person but, I am a snacking person who likes real food. These energy bites from Metaball are actually really tasty and perfect for after a long walk with my dog when my appetite is peaked. I loved the cinnamon apple crisp balls! So good! Order them from Metaball for about $15 for a trial box to try them all.

Being more active means I need to keep hydrated. After a long walk, I like to wash down my healthy snack with a Greater Than Sports Drink. These are packed with electrolytes and have no added sugars. They have a great line to try, including watermelon and chocolate. Order a variety pack from Greater Than for about $44.