Posh Nails Magallanes

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After all the last minute shopping for gifts, meeting up with friends and family reunions that I did last December, it was really such a treat for me to experience the pampering treatment at Posh Nails Hand & Foot Spa - Magallanes

When I entered the spa, I immediately felt relaxed for it was painted in soothing shades of of white, pink and lilac. The place looks so feminine and comfortable, especially with its soft couches and plush pillows.  The chandelier at the center of the room also gave the room an added touch of fancy.

I just love the quatrefoil pattern on the divider - certainly added to the chicness.

"Posh Nails Magallanes offers ultra luxurious pampering packages for both hands and feet. Among the most in-demand services include the hand spa, hand and arm scrub, foot scrub, foot and leg mask, foot spa, reflexology, Posh spoiling, Basic Refresh, Green Tea pedicure, Coffee pedicure, eyelash extension, Paraffin dip, nail art and waxing.

Posh Nails is the first spa chain in the Philippines to offer themed manicures and pedicures such as Green Tea, Coffee, Chocolate lovers, Margarita, Cremee Brulee and Citrus. Themed manicures and pedicures differ for each month to keep clients excited and up to date with nail salon services all across the globe. Posh Nails Magallanes also offers cocktail drinks, coffee, tea, hot cocoa along with the themed service."

The first thing I noticed as soon as I took me seat on the couch, was how immaculately clean the place was.  My attendant made sure to sanitize her hands before she started my treatment.  She said that all the instruments were sterilized with a disinfectant after every use.   She also shared that should you have the desire for instant pampering, and finding yourself dressed inappropriately (read: skinny jeans), Posh Nails Magallanes also offers the use of shorts and robes so you can avail of their services comfortably. The staff of Posh Nails Magallanes are very friendly and well-trained.  My attendant made my experience even more comfortable by offering a robe and drinks.  

After washing and soaking my feet for a few minutes, my attendant rubbed a mixture which looked and felt like a brown sugar scrub.

 

Once it was all washed off, she began to apply this peppermint mask.  

 

I had the hand and nail treatment, so I felt like a princess for close to an hour.  Thanks so much Posh Nails Magallanes for this luxurious treat!

The nail spa offers an all imported nail polish selection.

Check out the affordable rates below!

Like Posh Nails Hand & Foot Spa -Magallanes on Facebook

Posh Nails Hand & Foot Spa -Magallanes
3/F Unit 308 The Gateway Center, 

Paseo De Magallanes, Magallanes Village, 

Makati

Phone (02) 703 6517

Hours Mon - Sun: 10:00 am - 8:00 pm


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Lemon Water

One of the recent things I have added to my family’s routine is to make lemon-infused water available during breakfast and dinner.  Now that my kids are all older, I have stopped giving them milk in the morning, and have instead alternated mornings between honey-infused warm water and lemon-infused warm water.  They still get their daily calcium fix from yogurt and chocolate milk taken after their swim training.

 

Lemon-infused water is super simple to do and the benefits are just too good to ignore. Water and lemon, that’s it.!Since I am making a batch for my entire family, I simply just fill up a pitcher with warm water and squeeze one lemon.  This makes enough for my family to drink in the morning, before we eat our breakfast.  

Three times a week, I make warm lemon water in the morning, which we all drink before we take in anything else.  Come dinner, I also serve an icy, cold lemon drink that is infused with ginger, tarragon, and cucumber.  Lemons by themselves are acidic and they only have an alkalizing effect once they are digested by our bodies.  I want to be cautious and not serve this everyday/too much to protect their teeth from the natural acids of the citrus.

 

According to my sister-in-law (who told my husband, and who in turn told me), mixing lemon with water that is warm will provide the most health benefits.  On the contrary, mixing lemon with cold water reduces the digestive benefits of lemon.  I have searched it up on the net, and it does say that warm water allows for the release of the full enzymatic properties of the lemon.  But, drinking fresh lemon juice at any temperature is better than not drinking any at all.

What Are the Lemon Water Benefits?

• Boosts immune system.  Lemons are high in Vitamin C and potassium.  A great combination for my kids as Vitamin C makes sure that their bodies are well-equipped to fight infections/colds; and potassium stimulates nerve function to avoid muscle cramps during swim training.  Potassium also helps C control his blood pressure. 
• Balances body’s pH level. Lemons are an incredibly alkaline food. It is true that they are acidic on their own, but once it is metabolized inside our bodies they start to have an alkalizing effect. 
• Good for stomach. Lemon water has excellent digestive properties because it helps loosen toxins from the digestive tract.  It eases constipation, heartburn, bloating and other digestion problems, especially when mixed with warm water.   Lemon juice acts as a liver tonic and helps you digest your food by helping your liver produce more bile. It decreases the amount of phlegm produced by your body. In large doses, it is also thought to help dissolve gallstones.
• Cures Throat Infections Lemon is an excellent fruit that aids in fighting problems related to throat infections, sore throat and tonsillitis as it has an antibacterial property. Warm lemon water  offers relief from cold and flu symptoms while providing some much needed Vitamin C.

Icy Lemon Water infused with ginger, cucumber and tarragon
Ingredients
1/2 cucumber, washed thoroughly and sliced thinly
1 inch ginger, peeled and sliced thinly
a handful of fresh tarragon leaves ( you can also use mint. I just use tarragon because I have a wild bush of them in my herb garden that needs to be tamed )
1 whole lemon, washed and brushed thoroughly, sliced thinly
1 pitcher water
 

Directions
1. Peel and slice ginger. Clean tarragon leaves. Brush the outside of the lemon and clean thoroughly. Wash cucumber thoroughly.
2. Pour hot water over the ginger and let steep for 5 minutes, depends on how you like the flavor of the ginger to come through.
3. Add tarragon to the ginger water and let it steep addition 5 minutes.
4. Add slices of cucumber and lemon. Add enough water to the brim of the pitcher.
5. Let it sit inside the refrigerator, to allow flavors to meld.
6. Serve icy cold.
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Mother-Daughter Date at Manos Nail Lounge

I have a pre-teen who just loves having her toe nails done; so when there was a lot of long weekend breaks last August, I decided to take my two girls out on a date, just the three of us.  The boys had their own movie date.

Manos Nail Lounge had a promo at one of the group buying sites; and when I saw the serene-looking photos of the place, I knew it was a good deal for the price.   I bought the Mother-Daughter Pampering Package, (package inclusions:  spa pedicure for the mom, and a Las Manitas (for kids 13 years old and below) mani-pedi with specialty top coat upgrade for the daughters).  

Unlike other nail spas with feminine touches all over, Manos is decorated in a classy Filipino minimalist manner.  Taupe and coffee, with accents of mint decorate the place.   What sets Manos Nail Lounge apart from other nail spas is that it promotes locally sourced products while allowing customers to enjoy ultimate pampering.  There is a small nook near the entrance which displays various eco-friendly local enterprises. 

After J's birthday spa-celebration, this is just B's second time at a nail spa.  Here she is deciding on whether she'd rather have glossy, matte, shatter or glitter for her top-coat.  You have to love how she meticulously pored over her choices!:) seryosong-seryoso!

She finally settles for the glittery one.

this is the cozy seating arrangement directly in front of where we were seated

Our toe nails looking happy!

Manos Nail Lounge
Unit 2-I Crescent Park Residences, 30th St. corner 2nd Ave., Bonifacio Global City
(02) 4784057
Business Hours: M-F 11am to 8pm, Sat & Sun 10:30am to 7pm


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I Choose MARCA LEON Corn Oil

Because we, wives and moms, always try to make discerning and informed choices for our family, we make sure to serve our family healthy food and try to give them a balanced diet; we encourage the family to engage in fun sports activities……But did you all realize that good health essentially starts with the kind of oil that we use to cook in our kitchen? 

What are the most commonly used cooking oils?

• Canola Oil is the most widely used oil by consumers and has the reputation of being the “healthiest oil” because it has the lowest saturated fat level.  But what people don’t know is that canola oil is made from rapeseed, a genetically modified substance (read:  artificially created).  And in my book, anything that has been genetically modified is a potential threat to my family’s good health.
• Corn Oil  is a healthy oil because it helps lower cholesterol with its naturally occurring omega 3 and 6.  Check the label to make sure the corn oil you are buying is non-GMO.  I always use Marca Leon Corn Oil to grease my grill pan when we cook steak at home.  
• Vegetable oil is usually coconut or palm oil. This type of oil is ideally best used for frying.
• Coconut oil is great for frying, taste good. Its healthier than palm oil since even though high on saturated fat, it is medium chain fatty acid, which means burns faster compared to  palm has long chain
• Olive oil is great for sauteeing, as a salad dressing; but it is not the oil to use if cooking on high heat because olive oil turns bitter if exposed to high heat.

There are a lot of options available that it can get confusing… vegetable oil, corn oil, olive oil, canola oil, palm oil, soya oil, etc.  How do we decide what's best to choose for our family?  

There is no singular correct answer to that.  I choose the oil that I use depending on the cooking process,  but I prefer to use "traditional fats" from animals and plants.  Olive oil, coconut oil, corn oil... for the simple reason that they have been used for centuries. 

Personally, my preferred corn oil brand is Marca Leon because the Quality and Freshness of their products are guaranteed because the company has direct control from start to finish.  It is the only edible oil producer in the Philippines who grows its own corn in its own plantation.  The good corns are chosen, and goes straight to production. 


According to Marca Leon, their Corn Oil is winterized; this simply means that the oil is subjected to a temperature to harden all the unwanted waxes and impurities.  These are then filtered out, so the final product does not solidify even in cold temperature.  For us consumers, this means no "sebo", making it ideal to use with salad dressing, marinades, and when used on cakes, they remain soft up to 5 days.

If you want to know more about the nitty-gritty on oil, read this info-brochure from Marca Leon.  

To know more about Marca Leon and the right oil to choose for your family's kitchen, visit their webpage right here.  

Fro product updates and promos, like Marca Leon on Facebook.

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Baked Eggs on Avocado

We just happen to be the very lucky recipients of a basketful of avocados harvested from the tree of C's aunt.  Wonderful, because avocados happen to be a favorite ingredient in my kitchen.  My kids wouldn't mind having this everyday.  They're delicious as a power-packed dessert smoothie - blended with milk and sugar; but, they are also a scrumptious vitamin-packed savory treat.  

Avocados have a lot of healthy fats, dietary fibers, and vitamins.  The avocados' high protein content also makes it a good meat substitute; and unlike animal fat, the fat of the avocado is not saturated.  And when you scoop out that buttery and creamy flesh, make sure to scoop out right to the skin because research has shown that the greatest concentration of carotenoids in avocado occurs in the dark green flesh that lies just beneath the skin.

I have shared with you in this previous post how I made yogurt and avocado iced-popsicles...

and in this previous post, I also shared with you my recipe for making home-made avocado ice cream.

But for now, let me tell you how I enjoy it as a heart-healthy and appetite-stoking breakfast provision.  This is a new and delicious way to enjoy avocados for breakfast. An easy-to-make,  protein and vitamin-packed breakfast treat that's filling enough to keep you going all morning!

Baked Eggs in Avocado 
ripe avocado, split in half
2 eggs
freshly cracked pepper
sea salt flakes
freshly grated cheese of your choice 

1. preheat oven to 175c/350f
2. with a small kitchen knife, slice avocado in half and take out the pit
3. take out some of the avocado flesh to make space for the egg, estimating how much to take out depending on how large your egg is.
4. crack egg open in small bowl, and carefully pour egg in the cavity.
5. put in a generous sprinkle of pepper and salt. Top with grated cheese.
6. place in pre-heated oven and cook till your eggs are done in the level you desire, 7-10 minutes, more if you want your yolk set.

I just also have to share how much I am loving Lock & Lock's new Boroseal line for its kitchen versatility.  This bakeware easily transitions to a serving plate.  No mittens needed to handle the hot plate; simply add/clip on the red silicone handle once you take the plate out of the oven.

Enjoy!

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Tipco 100% Juice + TripAway GiveAway

I remember buying my first pack of Tipco 100% Juice several years ago.  I saw the 32 Vegetable variant at the grocery aisle and immediately bought two packs to try, one for my mother-in-law and the other one for my kids.  Since then, we have become regular Tipco 100% drinkers, each one of us having our favorite juice variant - Aloe Vera, Brocolli, 32 Veggie, and Goji Berry among them.

You must have one eyebrow raised... because seriously? Brocolli? And 32 veggie? 

But because I try to be discerning with the choices that I make when doing my grocery shopping, I make sure to check the labels. And there you have it!  Although the main ingredient in the brocolli juice IS brocolli juice, there's also kiwi, tomato, grape, apple, orange, and pineapple thrown in.  All naturally sweet fruits!  Tipco 100% is made without any preservatives, flavorings, colorings or sweeteners - just the natural fruit and vegetable taste.

When I got an invite to know more about the Tipco 100% brand, I could not say no to learning about the company behind one of my kids' favorite grocery items.  

With blogger, Mrs. Martinez, and Transaxion director, Mona Chua

Group shot of the mom-bloggers

Tipco 100%, the best-selling juice brand in Thailand has actually been delighting Asian consumers since 1976.  It actually started out as the Thai Pineapple Company, hence the name TIPCO.  The brand has been on our shores since it was brought in last 2005 by Transaxion Unlimited Corp., and is available at leading supermarkets nationwide, with flavors that include Tangerine Orange, Purple Carrot, Pomegrante, Aloe Vera, Cranberry, 32 Veggie, and Broccoli among many others.

Now, Tipco 100% rewards all its fans in the Philippines with all inclusive trips to Bangkok, Cagayan de Oro, Puerto Princesa and Boracay.  Every single-recipt purchase of three 1-liter packs of Tipco 100% is equivalent to one raffle entry.  Visit their facebook page to know more about this promo.

Thanks to the Transaxion Unlimited directors for hosting this event.

Click here to join Tipco Juice prom.

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Welch's: Grape is a Fruit. Not a Flavor.

As a home-maker, I am very picky when it comes to what goes into my grocery cart.  I conscientiously make an effort to keep sugary treats, chips, canned goods out of our pantry.  And since the kids are into a sport which puts primary importance on endurance training, I have learned how to choose and serve foods that are not only filling and tasty, but those that nourish and replenish, as well. 

And to ensure that my kids' bodies are hydrated enough, I make certain that they drink enough fluids during the day.  Although water is our first choice of refreshment, the kids also enjoy a cold glass of 100% fruit juice from time to time. 

One of their favorite juice brands is Welch's.  I try to be a conscientious grocery-shopper, I take time to read the labels of the items I put in my cart.  I am happy that Welch's is 100% fruit juice, made from the Concord grape that is found only in the Americas.   What's more, it contains the antioxidant vitamin C to help support a healthy immune system.

 

They like their Welch's served in a tall glass with lots of ice cubes.  And clearly, what I love about Welch's is that Welch's 100% Grape Juice is made with whole Concord grapes—skin, seeds, and all—Welch's makes it easy to squeeze more purple fruit into a healthy, daily diet.  I am assured that every glass of delicious juice serves up 2 servings of fruit. 

A few  weeks ago, when I was invited by the Philippine distributor of  Welch's 100% Grape Juice for an intimate brunch, I knew I had to squeeze it in my schedule.  With us were the local distributor of Welch's, Erika Rodriguez; the brand head of Welch's for Southeast Asia, Sammy Mow; and a handful of mom-bloggers.  

The Welch's team
Photo courtesy of My-Mom-Friday

Photo courtesy of My Mom-Friday

One more reason why I love serving Welch's to my kids is because there's absolutely no sugar added to their 100% juice products. The grams of sugar we see on the labels actually refer to the naturally occurring fructose and glucose found in the grape fruit.  And because Welch's is 100% juice and does not contain preservatives, I make sure that the juice bottles are refrigerated after opening. Ideally an opened bottle should be consumed in 7 to 10 days, but it does not really last that long in my household. :)

 "Welch's - Grape is a fruit. Not a flavor." 

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Silken Tofu with Crispy Dried Scallops

Being a busy mom, I am always on the look-out for meals that are quick-cooking and yet healthy and flavorful.  Early evenings are the most hectic time of the day in my household, so weekday meals are usually less elaborate.  But less elaborate doesn't mean giving up on nutrition, flavor and presentation.

This silken tofu dish meets all those requirements, with the least amount of effort. Tofu is one of the favorite foods of health buffs because of its low calorie count, relatively large amounts of protein, and has zero saturated fat.

 

 
Silken Tofu with Crispy Dried Scallops 

2 blocks silken tofu (I used the round tubes available in the nearby grocery)
4 tbsp dried scallops, broken down into small pieces and fried (can be prepared in advanced)
4 cloves garlic, minced
3 tbsp light soy sauce (or make your own by mixing equal parts soy sauce/water) 
few stalk of scallions, chopped 

To make Crispy Dried Scallops:

 1.  Rinse dried scallops and rub off any white film on the surface.  Wash and place in bowl, covered with hot water overnight.
2.  Drain scallops, reserving the stock.  Shred scallops by hand, discarding the hard muscles.
3.  Lay flat on a baking tray, and bake on a preheated 175 degrees celsius oven till crispy.  Set aside for later use.

INSTRUCTIONS:
1.  Heat tofu in hot water, with packaging intact.
2.  Heat a wok, put some oil, fry dried scallops until golden and crunchy. drain away as much oil as possible with a kitchen towel.  Set aside.
3.  With oil in wok, fry minced garlic until golden. Drain garlic on kitchen toweland set aside.
4.   Cut open tofu packaging and slice tofu into 1/2"-3/4" thick.  Put on a serving dish.  Pour light soy sauce on the base of the tofu.
5.  Top tofu with crispy scallops, scallions and garlic bits.   
6.  Serve to your family and enjoy at once. 

There!  The garnish makes it look like you slaved away in the kitchen, when all it really took to prepare this dish is 30 minutes from prep to serving. :)

 

* If you have left-over scallions from this dish, you can read how I extend the shelf life of scallions for upto two weeks right here.

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Bubee Lunch Jar

As a mom to young athletes, I am always conscious about the nutritional intake of my kids.  Bacon, sausages, hotdogs, canned goods rarely, if at all, make an appearance on our dining table  I always try to serve food that is as close to the natural food source as possible.  

When J and her dad attended a nutritional seminar late last year, what the nutritionist discussed was a reinforcement that we were on the right path.  Yet, we needed to make a few alterations still.  For instance, even if the kids were eating the right kind of complex carbohydrates, we still needed to change how much of it they needed to consume, and at what time of the day. 

At the start of this year, knowing what I now know, I took it upon myself to implement a few changes starting with how to properly space the kids' meal (how much and when to eat).  And with the need to properly space their meals, come the need for an appropriate food container which can make hot foods hot, and cold foods cold for hours. 

 It is a relief and with perfect timing that the Bubee Lunch Jars were introduced to me.  One set of Bubee Lunch Jar includes two jars and a carrying pouch.  It is made of thick, food-grade stainless steel which is double layered.  It claims to keep cold foods cold and hot foods hot for up to 5 hours.  I have not tested this for hot lunch, since I only use these containers to carry their breakfast and afternoon snacks, which only takes about an hour from food prep upto the time the kids eat it.  

If I use it to hold fruits, I simply flash freeze the container by putting it inside the freezer for 10 minutes.  I also make sure that the fruits have been placed in the refrigerator prior to slicing.  When I take out the container from the freezer, I just dump all the cold, sliced fruits and then cover. 

But if you intend to use this as a container to hold their lunch, you can try pouring very hot water into the lunch jar and letting it stay for about 5-10 minutes. Then pour out the water and simply put in the hot meal, and quickly cover it. This way, your kids should get warm lunch to enjoy. 

The lids are leak-proof so there is no concern over spilled sauces or liquids.  My older kid can easily open it for herself. While my two younger ones still need assistance as their hands are too small to cover the entire lid.

With the recent concern about BPA, nothing comes into contact with plastic with these containers.  As an added bonus, they are also very easy to clean, none whatsoever of the greasiness even with just one washing - something that your helper will absolutely thank you for.:)

Moms, you will be very happy to know that this is available locally and it is cheaper than Amazon, where it retails for US$49.99.  This simply means instant savings of at least P500, and that is not even counting the shipping charges.

For product inquiries, please visit shopsueystore on e-bay.ph or Shop Around on Facebook.

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ASCOF Lagundi: All-Natural and Effective Cough Remedy

Must be due to the weather, I noticed that a lot of the kids seem to have coughs and colds.  In my own family, the kids have been suffering from coughs one after the other.  Like any other mom, I worry for them whenever they get sick, and I want them to get better at the soonest possible time.  

When my kids were younger, the pediatrician used to tell me that the best way to take out cough and phlegm is to drink a lot of fluids because water is the best mucolytic.  Now that the kids are older and have a lot more activities, getting sick can mean a not up-to-par sports performance and/or missing endurance training. 

I got a package in the mail form ASCOF Lagundi the other day, and it could not have come at a better time because at the first sign of coughing, I always give my kids ASCOF Lagundi.  Unlike other cough medicines, ASCOF Lagundi is made from all-natural lagundi leaves, which is one of the 10 herbal medicines endorsed by the Department of Health.  Lagundi is a natural, herbal medicine with proven therapeutic value.  I feel better knowing that the cough medicine I am giving my kids is effective and not loaded with chemicals which might actually do more harm than good.

It has been clinically proven effective in treating not just cough but also bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis and pharyngitis. Moreover, the Department of Science and Technology has performed numerous studies on Lagundi – these studies have shown that Lagundi has been clinically validated to inhibit the release of leukotrienes, which makes it effective in controlling asthma, as well. Some doctors even prescribe Lagundi to assist in the treatment of asthma, as regular doses reduce the severity of asthma attacks. Aside from having no side-effects, herbal drugs are less expensive than their synthetic counterparts.

ASCOF-Lagundi is commercially available in Ponkan, Menthol, and Strawberry-flavored 60-mL and 120-mL syrup variants. It also comes in 300-mg. and Forte 600-mg. tablets.

They are also running a promo right now, giving away 200 pieces of ASCOF-Lagundi capsules to TEN winners each day from January 30 to February 14, 2012.  Go to their Facebook page to know more about their brand, and to join the promo.

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Teaching Children About God

Just a few weekends ago, I was talking with some mothers, and somehow, we got around to talking about school since exam week just passed by.  We were initially discussing about how our kids found Filipino as a tough subject, and then one mom pointed out that Christian Living was also a struggle for her son; dumbfounded as she was when her son asked her "Who is God?"

That night, I couldn't help but ask myself if I had taken every opportunity to teach my own kids about God.  I mean, sure, we go to church on Sundays, we say our night-time prayers daily; but does my kids know the Lord in a personal way?

It's just perfect timing that I stumbled upon this blog post today where it gives 10 tips for teaching children about God.  I am re-posting it in full right here:

10 Tips For Teaching Children About God:

by Stephanie Carmichael

Teach all the time: Young children live in the moment. Help them to learn in the moment by making the most of opportunities as they arise. Talk about God in the day-to-day things you are doing.

Teach at a special time: Try to set aside a special time to read about God. Prepare for this time. If you are going to read the Bible, think about what you will read and how to simplify and explain it.

Questions and answers: Listen to your children's questions, and give quality time to answering them. But also ask them questions about what you've been trying to teach to check they have understood.

Teach through your life: You are a living example (or visual aid) of someone who loves God. Set a faithful example of dependence on God and let them see you reading the Bible for yourself.

Be prayerful: Like adults, children need God's help to grow in Christ and they can learn to pray. So pray for them and pray simple prayers with them (e.g. "sorry God that we...", "thank you God for...", "God, please help...").

Be simple: Young children are not abstract thinkers so be literal and concrete. Use real examples where possible (eg. God made this flower). Use simple vocabulary that they can understand. Avoid jargon.

Be specific: Move from the specific (God loves Ben) to the general (God loves everyone). Use lots of familiar examples so that they can understand.

Repeat and repeat again: You might get tired of saying it, but remember young children thrive on repetition.

Be thankful: Approach God with thankfulness. Model to your children how we can thank God in various situations and what we can thank God for.

Be visual: Young children learn through their eyes as well as their ears. Use pictures, visual aids, picture books etc.

The author of the tips , Stephanie Carmichael, is also a published author.  Her books offer many examples of these tips in action...

Some days everything seems to go wrong and everyone feels grumpy. And sometimes, not even a hug from Mum can fix things up. This beautiful story contains a wonderfully clear message about the disappointments of life and the goodness of God.  You can enjoy the FREE e-book right here.

It's Ben's birthday, but when he falls out of his new wagon and hurts himself, Emily has to think of a way to make the day special again. This lovely story is about families and looking after one another, and about the God who loves us all.  You can enjoy the FREE e-book right here.

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