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How to teach kids to be Internet Awesome

Disclosure: As a member of the Forward Influence Network, I’m sharing with you some ways to teach kids internet safety, how to spread kindness online, and what to do about bullying as part of the Be Internet Awesome initiative. #ItsCoolToBeKind #BeInternetAwesome 

 

If you’ve spent more than a few minutes on social media in the last few years, you’ll have noticed how more and more online sources are filled with negative messaging than you may be used to seeing, you’re not alone. Worse still, this pervasive social adversity is greatly affecting our children and students.

Which is why it is vital that we instill in future generations the necessity of being kind to others online. That by stopping the spread of negative on the Internet, we actively seek to promote good citizenship and social skills – something that will help safeguard our children from Internet bullying as a whole.

How to teach kids to be Internet Awesome

Facts about Bullying

Is bullying a pervasive reality for children online? Absolutely. In fact, according to the latest stats, 28% of school-aged students have been bullied and 71% have seen bullying happen each school year. Behaviors that often cascade to online platforms. With 11% of students in grades 2–8, 15% of high school students, and overwhelming 55.2% of LGBTQ students experiencing cyberbullying in the past year. Making internet safety, especially for children, a top priority for parents and educators the nation over.

October is National Bullying Prevention Month

October is also National Bullying Prevention Month. A month-long initiate started in 2006 by PACER to help create a world without bullying by providing information and resources for parents, schools, and communities.  With numerous resources on their website, you’ll find a lot of great digital safety tools for both homes and in the classroom at g.co/BeInternetAwesome.

Showing parents and educators the best way to prevent bullying is to equip our kids with proactive measures to enable them to handle online bullying. starting with teaching them how to practice kindness at home. Showing them how to be good citizens, in real life, and how these actions should be carried into their online life. By doing so, we can help stop bullying in its tracks.

And that’s why I’m excited to share three ways to teach kids to be kind online and to introduce a brand new, free online program to aid parents, educators, and homeschoolers how to prevent Internet bullying.

What is Be Internet Awesome?

How to teach kids to be Internet Awesome

International Society of Technology in Education is Google’s free multifaceted program designed to teach kids the fundamentals of digital citizenship and safety so they can explore the online world with confidence. The program is available in English and Spanish and consists of an International Society of Technology in Education (ISTE) standards-aligned curriculum.

Full of ready-made Pear Decks for each lesson, Interland – an adventure-packed online game about digital safety and citizenship.

Our five areas of Internet awesomeness:

  • SMART: Where we learn to share with care
  • ALERT: Where we learn not to fall for fake
  • STRONG: Where we learn how to secure Our digital stuff
  • KIND: Where we learn that itʼs cool to be kind
  • BRAVE: Where we learn that when in doubt, we talk it out

How to teach kids to be Internet Awesome

Take a look at how this curriculum can help kids become good online citizens. Here’s how!

Set the example.

If you want your children to be kind to others online and otherwise, you must first set the example of kindness in your own home. Modeling the path to compassion, empathy, and diversity you expect children to be kind online if they don’t see us behaving in a kind manner with those in our circles in our everyday lives. Let your children see you comment positively to others. Whether that be to an everyday situation, towards other family members, to service workers, and on online platforms as well.

This is an especially useful tool when discussing current events and human interest stories with children. Instead of avoiding speaking about negative topics, speak life and hope into online reports by explaining topics to children. In lieu of avoiding heavy topics, try discussing human experiences by way of news stories. Sharing with your children better and more proactive ways that such situations could be better executed in the future. Empathizing the aspects that being a truth teller, and speaking truth to power can be done in a kind and compassionate manner.

Speak about safety.

Encourage your children to openly, and safely, comes to the aid of fellow classmates, friends, and community members who are bullied or they witness being bullies. Help them brainstorm possible responses to witnessed bullying and help them brainstorm ways to report bullying of peers. While simultaneously encouraging them to seek out positive, uplifting, age-appropriate media sources to visit online.

Explaining that it’s better to surround yourselves with sources of information that encourage you to think and grow while avoiding sites that do not. When we give children positive things to consider, we make it easier for them to spot bullying and equip them with the fortitude to handle such situations in an appropriate manner.

Show them how to thoughtful online.

A helpful resource for modeling kindness online is Be Internet Awesome, a comprehensive curriculum from Google that helps educators, homeschoolers, and parents share with students how to be good Internet citizens. This program features ready-made curriculum and class activities to teach with kids, both at school or home, how to practice the arts of encouragement, kindness, empathy, and safety. Relevant information for their tech-savvy, internet-inspired generation moving forward.

Want to make learning about Internet kindness fun? Let the kids play Interland, where they can make their way through the Kind Kingdom, a virtual environment that shows them how to make thoughtful decisions when interacting with others.

Teach your Child to be an Upstander, not a Bystander

In any situation, a bystander does little more than watch situations unfold. Including bullying. In contrast, an upstander is someone who tries to help make it better. Not everyone likes being in the position of being an upstander.  It’s hard. Often uncomfortable and awkward. But it’s a necessary stance to take. Which is why children should be taught ways to be an upstander though kindness and everpresent showing of compassion by:

  • Tell an Adult. This is always my number one rule.  Encourage your child to tell a trusted adult what is happening.  Speak with your kids about who might be a trusted adult in different situations, such as at school, in aftercare, or online.
  • Be Kind. The target of bullying needs friends. Talk with your children about finding ways to be that friend and to spread kindness to those affected by bullying. Including inviting those being bullied to hang out with them at lunch or to act as a listener to their situation.
  • Never Engage with Bullies.  Remind your child that it’s okay to call out bullying behavior without fighting back. That will most often make it worse and negate their position of compassion and kindness.

Internet Safety Tips for Parents and Guardians

A few last tips for promoting internet safety for kids includes parents and guardians setting expectations for internet use.  Starting by showing your child appropriate online behavior and what sites they are allowed to visit.  Then as your children grow, internet safety rules will need to be modified to grow with them. Here are a few tips to get started with young children:

  • Monitor your child while they are online.
  • Keep all devices in common spaces and collect them before bed.
  • Use parental controls on your browser.
  • Install mature content filtering software and add-ons.
  • Know the game ratings for games your children play (check out these game rating sheet).
  • Teach your kids internet safety basics.
  • Make a general rule of now allowing your children to shop online without you.

More Internet Safety for Kids Resources:

How to teach kids to be Internet Awesome

For me, ending childhood bullying starts with equipping children with the skillset is requires to be a kind, empathetic person into adulthood. For me, those lessons came from my grandmother. Who taught me that when it comes to dealing with others, always ask yourself the question – “Would Grandmother fell proud for the way I am speaking to people right now?” This has been a cornerstone of my adult life and I believe it is also a great way for kids to think about their behavior towards others as well. Both online and in real life.  After all, If they wouldn’t want Grandmother to hear it, they probably shouldn’t say it! Am I, right?

Friends, you can learn more about how to Be Internet Awesome at g.co/BeInternetAwesome and tell your kids’ teachers about the online curriculum so they can introduce these activities in the classroom. Now I want to ask, have your children been the victims of bullying? What are your best tips for combating this at home?

Google for Education Online:

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Making Education Heroic: Legends of Learning Site Review

Please note, this post was sponsored by Legends of Learning. All opinions expressed are my own. Thank you.

 

Legends of Learning

As the wife of a Project Lead the Way, Stem, ICT teacher, I am always on the lookout for ways to better equip our family and husband’s classes with better learning materials each academic year at school.

Particularly when it comes to finding fun ways to approach, engage, and reinforce tested subject areas including science, math, and engineering to students in the classroom. Which is why our family has loved using the Legends of Learning website this semester.

Legends of Learning

Legends of Learning is an education-based website that provides custom-built games organized by learning objectives. Teachers can create customizable objective-driven playlists, curated learning-based game, that encourage their students to access curriculum objective while engaging in fast-paced online games, all while teachers can monitor their learning progress online.

Through science-based learning games, which often included embedded learning suggestions, students are able to expand their knowledge of unit-style learning while gaining valuable knowledge of subject matter that allows students to work independently, too!

Legends of Learning

Legends of Learning stands out in the gigantic, marketplace of educational software by understanding a basic principle: Most learners are great at video games. Utilizing the pervasive nature of computers in the classroom, this site uses tech games to focus on 3rd – 8th-grade science games. All categorized by different lessons. As an added bonus for teachers, the lessons follow the guidelines set under the Next Generation Science Standards, a nationwide set of policies for K-12 science classes.

The site allows teachers to make playlists for the games they want to be included in the day’s lesson plan, as well as to create individual daily plans customized for each student based on what they’re struggling with and where they’re excelling.

With over 1,000 NGSS-aligned games and science-based simulations, Legends of Learning offers an enormous range of engaging, informative activities that students can play through, provided they have an internet-enabled device. Perfect for accelerated students, those with IEP’s, and homeschooling curriculum, too!

Another great aspect of this site is its developers contribute their own games after a throughout vetting process, to suggest changes to existing options. Thus far, the marketplace includes over 1000 games for 150+ lessons. An aspect that my long-time gamer husband appreciates greatly!

Legends of Learning

Do people actually learn from this site? Greatly! From our experience, of my husband utilizing the software, sharing it with colleagues, and testing the site our with his students, he found that the immediate result of the site was that his students and colleagues both loved the games.

My husband specifically liked that the games were shorter, making them easier to integrate into the classroom with an only minimal explanation from himself.  With students more engaged, he was allowed to spend more time monitoring classroom behavior and to be freed up to give those in need of assistance more one-on-one in-class help.

Legends of Learning

To get started, teachers can create a free account in order to see the types of games that are available. Games are broken down by earth science, life science, and physical science for both elementary and middle school levels.

Legends of Learning

Within each subject area, you’ll find categories of games related to each of the NGSS learning objectives. Teachers can pick the specific objective they’re interested in exploring based on the simulations available. Typically, each learning objective has ten games associated with each learning level.

Legends of Learning

Each learning objective will have a highlighted game, based on current teacher and student reviews. Teachers can utilize reviews to chose games to connect weekly and daily objectives in-class. Or utilize vocabulary words, suggested questions, and concept boards for each game to choose selected games.

If the highlighted game isn’t for you, there will be other options available to choose from at the bottom of the screen. All of which are still connected to specific learning objectives. Best still, teachers can also hit the Try Game button to test all of the games before students play.

Legends of Learning

Once games are selected, teachers simply add them to curated student playlists. From here, you’ll also be able to decide how much time you want your students to have available to play each game and insert assessments within the playlist as well.  Assessment comprised of multiple choice questions automatically generated based on the learning objectives.

Legends of Learning

Then after you create your playlist, teachers are given a link and a login code that you can share with students. Which can be scheduled as needed. Teachers can also create differentiated groups. Great for individual student learning plans. This also helps maintain district objectives and lesson plans while proactively incorporating students learning accommodations and ability levels.

Legends of Learning

One of my favorite features is that you can get detailed analytics pertaining to student performance. Including details on actual time spent in-game and assessment answers. All helpful in monitoring the engagement levels of students in real time.

Teachers can also access past data to study how students have done with the site over time. Data that can be downloaded into an Excel file. Making it incredibly helpful for parent-teacher and IEP meetings. Allowing educators and parents to access areas in learning where students have excelled and may still be struggling with daily tasks and objectives.

In terms of affordability, teachers can sign up for free to see if Legends of Learning is a good fit for their classroom needs. A district can buy an upgraded version that allows for custom assessments, rostering, and homework features.

Legends of Learning

Legends of Learning

Legends of Learning

Legends of Learning games are an incredible way for educators to actively engage a student in the classroom. While providing educational support and accentuate the lessons teachers are already implementing in their classrooms overall.

Coupled with an in-depth teacher and student rating system, for which educators can easily select which games will be the best fit for their classrooms all while actively collecting data that can help teachers and parents create a more customized environment to foster positive, proactive, futuristic-minded classroom learning, district standards, and beyond.

Legends of Learning

For 3rd – 8th-grade science and technology-based teachers looking for fun new ways to increase classroom engagement, Legends of Learning is a must-have for your classrooms this academic year and I encourage all educators, both traditional and homeschooling, to sign-up or a free account and try it out for yourself this year!

Friends, have you checked out the Legends of Learning site or do you plan to incorporate these games into your curriculum this year? Leave me a comment and let me know what you most like about this awesome gaming site!

Connect with Legends of Learning:

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Legends of Learning

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2018 Fall Bucket List

2018 Fall Bucket List

The time for falling leaves and hot apple cider is finally here and I couldn’t be more excited. Whether you’re a fan of carving pumpkins or creating your own Halloween porchscape, there’s something about fall that makes it a favorite for us all.

To help you celebrate, or come up with a few ways to enjoy the season at home, here’s my own bucket list of fall activities that’ll leave you eager to experience all this season has to offer:

2018 Fall Bucket List

1. Attend a football game

Nothing says the beginning of fall like the return of football season. While our teams may be different, we’re all coming together for the same reason — to witness America’s most beloved sport. So be sure to get your game day outfit ready and perfect your tailgate recipe for this classic fall event. Not into the NFL? High school or college games are just as fun. It’s all about getting into that team spirit. At our home, we’re all things Southern Miss and Saints football!

2018 Fall Bucket List

2. Decorate for fall

What better way to get in the spirit of the season than surrounding ourselves with reminders of it? Craft your own fall wreath or go on a mission to find your next fall porchscape. Maybe meet some new friends along the way? Like our obsession with pumpkin spice lattes (no judging, please), the choices are as endless. Get creative!

2018 Fall Bucket List

3. Go to a pumpkin patch

Another traditional fall activity, pumpkin patches are the reason to live for October and the ultimate reminder of our childhoods. Take yourself (and family if they care to tag along) to the pumpkin patch, pick the pumpkin you want to carve and top it off with a hayride!

2018 Fall Bucket List

4. Cultivate a fall reading list

With this week being National Banned Book week, what better time to cultivate yourself a fall-inspired reading list? Think of cozies with teeth or perhaps a historical narrative. The possibilities are endless!

2018 Fall Bucket List

5. Attend a cemetery tour

Life is always stranger than fiction. So enjoy the spooktacular Halloween season by taking in a historic cemetery tour. Each year our family takes a tour of the local Rose Hill Cemetary and stops by to see the grave of the great Gypsy Queen, Kelly Mitchell!

2018 Fall Bucket List

6. Get crafty

There is something to be said for crocheting, knitting, quilting, or even gluing together home decor decorative or a piece of wearable art. Looking for some crafting inspiration? Try your hand at making a crochet candy corn cozy to help keep your hands safe while sipping on hot pumpkin spice lattes!

2018 Fall Bucket List

7. Make an apple dessert

The only thing better than dessert is a dessert that’s home-made. And while we are in National Apple Month what better time to get baking? We love to make apple pie, apple dumplings, and lighter breakfast fare, such as Walnut Apple Pie Chia Seed Pudding. Whatever you make, your house is about to smell delicious. Save us a slice!

2018 Fall Bucket List

8. Create a fall capsule wardrobe

Now is the time to be enjoying sweater weather by creating a seasonal capsule wardrobe full of your favorite scarves, booties, flannel tops, knee-high boots, and jeans. Because when it comes to dressing comfortably, fall is on our side. So pick pieces that are as cute as they are cozy and then consider donating the rest to charity. As nothing looks as good on a gal as a charitable heart!

2018 Fall Bucket List

9. Plant Mums

There’s nothing like the beautiful hues of mums to change your mood and your home! From deep umber to burnt orange and fiery burgundy, there are mums for every color palette and porchscape. Try your hand at adding this affordable perennial to your front beds at home!

2018 Fall Bucket List

10. Pass out candy to trick-or-treaters

Little kid costumes are the absolute best — and complimenting them makes them oh-so-proud. Be sure to grab some really good candy and a few varieties without nuts for those with allergies. Then, turn on a scary movie and wit for the little monsters and ghouls to arrive!

2018 Fall Bucket List

11. Take in a sunset

While all sunsets are spectacular under southern skies, there are sights to see around the equinox in all parts of this great country. So make a point to walk around your downtowns areas. Embrace the small town charm, treat yourself to hot apple cider, and take in natures best evening show.

2018 Fall Bucket List

12. Attend a Veterans Day Parade

Here’s nothing like the brisk fall air on your cheeks as you pay tribute to America’s bravest each November. Check to see if your town will be hosting a Veterans Day parade and inquire about ways you may be able to volunteer and give back to those who ensure we can all enjoy peaceful fall days at home. Veterans should also check to see what free dinners are available to you to honor your service to this great country.

2018 Fall Bucket List

13. Host a Halloween movie night

Watching a scary movie with all the lights off is so uniquely fall. And our family loves watching Freeform’s 13 Nights of Halloween! We especially love watching Hocus Pocus and the Nightmare Before Christmas. Classics!

2018 Fall Bucket List

14. Cook a crockpot classic

Ah, fall crockpot (and Instapots!) classics! Try your hand at making a crockpot fall classic like tailgating chili, hearty vegetable soup, butternut squash soup, or a new classic, like Tikka Masala with a side of pumpkin hummus. Perfect for cool, crisp days at home!

15. Create a thankfulness station

Each fall at home, my families like to collect leaves from nature walks and our own backyard and each day of fall, from September 21-December 22, we each write on our leaves what we are most grateful for. We attach the leaves to a wreath form, collection of tree branches, or wicker cornucopias with mini clothespins. At the end of the season, we re-read each leaf and reflect on how blessed we are as a family!

So, friends, those are things I am most looking forward to this next season ahead. Now I want to ask, what’s on your fall bucket list this year? Be sure to leave me a comment below and let me know what your most looking forward to experiencing this fall!

2018 Fall Bucket List

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10 Years of Family-Fun With Wilderness At The Smokies

This is a sponsored post. While the views expressed here were genuinely mine, consideration was paid to me by Wilderness at the Smokies.

 

Wilderness At The Smokies

With summer here and the kids out of school, are you looking for a fun and fabulous family vacation that won’t break the bank? I love a wonderful vacation. Especially vacations that help me stay on budget each summer. Did you know there is a family-friendly water park in Tennessee?

At Wilderness at the Smokies, all of the summer adventures your family seeks, and you don’t have to travel out of the southeastern region to get it!

Wilderness At The Smokies

Wilderness at the Smokies is a must-visit on your seasonal travel plans! It’s jam-packed with fun for everyone and also proves luxury to even the most discerning traveler. I was pleasantly surprised at the variety of options available to the whole family.

Even more incredibly, they have not only THREE different waterparks but a myriad of rooming options for travelers of all persuasions.

As a premier regional destination, Wilderness at the Smokies offers exciting entertainment and lodging options for families vacationing in the Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and Sevierville, Tennessee surrounding areas. While you might not have thought of this destination to spend your summer vacation, its one to put at the top of your summer bucket list!

Wilderness At The Smokies

With all the amenities and options at Wilderness at the Smokies, this year-round waterpark and vacation destination, is someplace you need to visit with your family this season!

With amenities including 713 rooms, suites, and villas, an indoor family adventure center, various dining options, shopping, a 36-hole championship golf course, and more than 200,000 sq. ft. of convention space, there’s something for everyone at Wilderness at the Smokies!

More about the property:

  • Wilderness at the Smokies is Tennessee’s Largest Waterpark Resort
  • Provides Memory-Making Family-Friendly Fun
  • Accommodations ranging from single rooms to multi-room suites that sleep up to 16 guests
  • Guests have access to 3 waterparks, (Salamander Springs, Wild WaterDome, and Lake Wilderness, included with your stay
  • Year-Round Access to the Smoky Mountain’s Biggest Indoor Waterpark, Wild WaterDome, and Adventure Forest Family Entertainment Center
  • Close proximity to area destinations including Dollywood, Ripley’s Aquarium at Gatlinburg, and Smoky Mountain National Park

Summer is the best time to visit Wilderness at the Smokies because: 

Wilderness at the Smokies, Tennessee’s largest waterpark resort and family adventure center, is celebrating its 10th Anniversary with amazing sweepstakes opportunities.

Which is why now is the time to book your summer family gathering. With activities ready for every member of the family, Wilderness at the Smokies will always have something new for you and your family to see. A true memory-making unique resort experience!

More about this awesome sweepstakes!

Here is the official information you need to know about to enter this awesome sweepstake!

For this 10th Anniversary Sweepstakes at Wilderness at the Smokies, you can enter for a chance to win a wide range of incredible prizes including a Grand Prize of a 4 night stay up for up to 12 guests in a 2 Bedroom Premier Suite, 6 Adventure Forest All Stay Passes, and a $500 Resort Credit.

To enter, visit the official sweepstakes page here.

Wilderness At The Smokies

Weekly Winner Prizes Include (14 weeks, 14 of each below): 

  • 4-pack of Waterpark Passes
  • $100 Resort Gift Card
  • $50 Resort Gift Card
  • Grand Prize Winner (1 drawing, 7 winners)

Grand Prize Winner #1 will receive (1 Winner): 4 night stay up to 12 guests in a 2 Bedroom Premier, plus 6 Adventure Forest All Stay Passes & $500 Resort Credit

Grand Prize #2 (2 Winners): 2 night stay up to 6 guests in Double Queen with Sofa, plus 6 Adventure Forest All Stay passes and $250 Resort Credits.

Grand Prize #3 (4 Winners): 1 night stay up to 6 guests in Double Queen with Sofa, plus 6 Adventure Forest All Stay passes and $100 Resort Credits.

Friends, doesn’t this sound like a destination you need to experience for yourself and your family this summer season? I encourage you all to visit the Wilderness at the Smokies sweepstakes page to enter this amazing giveaway. Then be sure to browse the rest of the site too! You’ll be glad you did!

Now I want to ask, are you considering vacationing at this awesome resort or have you been to this regional destination? Share your plans and experiences with me below!

Wilderness At The Smokies

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Mobile Games Which Will Take Over Your Evenings

(Photo source)

Our mobile phones are attached to us for most of the day, and they are like tiny computers which we can use to do pretty much anything we want. One of the things phones are great for these days is parting games, and there are tonnes of amazing choices on the App Store for us to choose from.

If you are looking for some new games to get addicted to in the evenings and when you are stuck on the bus, then look no further because we’ve got some gems for you.

The Sims

The Sims has always been a game which people love to play because it is so simple and it can be really fun to make people go about their daily business and build houses for them. Sims have tried to come up with a few mobile games before but they have never quite captured the style of the original game… until now.

The Sims for mobile is the closest we have ever got to the full game in the palm of our hands. You can build your sim and change their image, make a career for yourself and even form relationships with others.

Final Fantasy 15

Final Fantasy is the perfect combination of action and fantasy which will keep you on the edge of your seat every evening as you play this game. There have been many final fantasy installments, but the attack on the new empire with Final Fantasy 15 is definitely one of the best out there for mobile.

Have fun building your kingdom and defending it against those who try to attack you, while never having to leave the couch.

Pokemon Go

Pokemon Go has been the most successful mobile game in history, and in its year and a half of being life, it has over 70 million downloads. If you haven’t played the game before, the whole idea is to go out into the real world and catch Pokemon.

There are currently 3 generations available to catch plus legendaries which you can battle for on gyms. It is a way to encourage people to get up and moving and is really the perfect game to play as the weather starts to get warmer!

South Park: Phone Destroyer

South Park is well known for its dirty humor and rude quotes, but they have recently added a new game to their saga called Phone Destroyer. If you love South Park then this game will very quickly become one of your favorites to play in the evenings as you watch the TV. It is a card based game which of course has a few twists along the way and can become very addictive very quickly.

Animal Crossing Pocket Camp

Nintendo’s Animal Crossing was one of the most successful games the developers released back in the early 2000’s. Everyone had their own animal crossing town with unique characters and spent their days catching bugs, fishing, and paying off their mortgages (yep, that was a thing).

This game was an incredibly popular one because it focused on living a simple, rural life while collecting items and building your dream house. Since the game had been released, fans have been begging for a mumble version and it is finally here.

The main difference here is that you are given a campsite rather than a house. The game allows you to make friends from all over the world and brings back those good memories of the game we all used to love.

Super Mario Run

Mario is one of the most recognizable characters in gaming shorty, even if you have never actually played the games yourself.

For mobile, there has now come a classic Mario story which allows you to relive the full game in its glory on a tiny screen. It is an expensive mobile game, but if you really want to play the game then it is worth the investment. The game manages to keep its retro feel even with having touchscreen controls, and it has every element of the classic games for you to enjoy once more.

Plague Inc.

Plague Inc is a unique game which will appeal to the slightly more strategic and a sick of you out there… the whole aim of the game is to create your own diseases which are capable of killing every person on the planet. Once you have crafted your disease you must pick a starting location to set the disease upon the world.

You need to think about populations and travel, as well as other things which could affect how quickly the disease will spread. It can be a frustrating but also incredibly satisfying game to play if you do manage to kill everyone.

Trials Frontier

If you want a game which brings physics to your mingle device, then this is the perfect one for you. The idea of the game is to create the perfect racer and make sure you can beat the tracks. It is a difficult racing game which requires you to bring some brilliant elements to your vehicle in order to succeed.

Ballz

This game is literally the most simple premise of any game you will ever play, but that is what makes is too incredibly addictive to play. You have a ball at the bottom of your screen which you have to fire up to hit numbered cubes.

Each time the ball hits a number the number will drop until it hits 0 and disappears. All you have to do is prevent the boxes from reaching the bottom of the screen. As you progress you will collect more balls and the game becomes incredibly frustrating and addictive all at the same time.

Happy Racing

If you loved happy wheels, then this online multiplayer racing game is the perfect game for you to play. Happy Racing features lots of different characters and allows you to race through crazy tracks and basically try not to die. It’s simple, addictive and hilarious to play with friends.

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7 Reasons To Eat More Chocolate Chip Cookies

 

Disclosure: Please note, I received this product for review purposes from MomsMeet.com. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links. All opinions expressed are my own. Thank you!

 

7 Reasons To Eat More Chocolate Chip Cookies

I have always been a dessert person. Chocolate has always been my guilty pleasure for as long as I can remember. My biggest vice? Chocolate chip cookies! Because nothing beats biting into a chocolate chip cookie. It’s like heaven in my mouth. Every. Single. Bite!

I also married a man who loves chocolate chip cookies even more than I. Which is why cookies are our go-to holiday tradition.

While some will arguably say that you should avoid temptation, conserve moderation in matters of great cookie importance, or worse still, not devour these delectably chipped marvels during the holiday season. To that I say: Plautus was wrong. Don’t have one cookie. Eat the whole plate!

7 Reasons To Eat More Chocolate Chip Cookies

With cookie modesty out the window, here are 7 reasons why you should eat more chocolate chip cookies this holiday season:

They are good for the soul: Studies have shown that consuming at least one cookie a week, can lead to happier, more satisfying lives. As a gal who has consumed her body weight over the years in cookies, I’d say I’m a pretty reliable source!

They help you make friends: What dessert is easier to share than cookies? Have you ever been turned down when offering cookies to others? The likely answer is no. For those who might turn down your lurid cookie proposals, avoid these people. You don’t need that kind of folks in your life anyway! For more serious situations like starting a new job, moving to a new neighborhood, or for making in rows with that hard-to-book hairdresser, bring cookies. Insta-friends, for life. Guaranteed.

Cookies are thought-provoking: Cookies, like humanity, come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Each wonderful and necessary in their own unique way. Cookies help make this crazy world go round. So, eat a cookie and enjoy a humanist moment!

Cookies help you to be creative: No matter your top cookie choice, with just a few clicks of the trusty old mouse and a healthy version of your beloved cookie-du-jour can be had. Just as healthy. Just as delicious. Looking to veganize your cookies? Consider using bananas or applesauce instead of butter, whole wheat flour instead of bleached white flour, or coconut sugar in lieu of white sugar. Voila! Artistically-inspired, health-adjacent cookies! You’re welcome!

Your chances of finding a significant other will increase: Looking to find a husband? Add the following to all social media taglines: “Loves to bake cookies”. I’m telling you, it works every time. I should know!

Cookies can sustain you: In our daily diets, we need grains, protein, and fiber. Guess what? Cookies have all those amazing health benefits and more. Cookies are limitless, my friends!

Because you can: You deserve a treat. Depriving yourself of the delicacy of a chocolate chip cookie is just plain wrong. Show yourself some much-needed self-love and enjoy a cookie today!

7 Reasons To Eat More Chocolate Chip Cookies

Now that your contemplating how to best get your hands on chocolate chip cookies, why not share the love with your family as well? Because when it comes to giving back to your family, be sure to give them only the best cookies, such as the Back to Nature Chocolate Chunk Cookies!

You can feel good about giving your family Back to Nature Chocolate Chunk Cookies because they are non-GMO, lower in sugar, certified organic, and made from only the best ingredients. Which is an after-school snack you don’t have to feel guilty about giving the kiddos? Or yourself!

7 Reasons To Eat More Chocolate Chip Cookies

Back to Nature Chocolate Chunk Cookies also give you just the right level of crunch. They are not too sweet, not too crunchy. Just right! The kind of cookies you would make yourself if you weren’t so busy learning all those body-positive cookie-loving affirmations you just read about!

Back to Nature also has a variety of other products for your family to indulge in this season including crackers, granola, soups, and more!

A particular favorite of mine is there organic roasted garlic & spinach crackers. They are nothing short of delicious! Back to Nature also makes tons of other gluten-free, Kosher, and organic options too!

7 Reasons To Eat More Chocolate Chip Cookies

Back to Nature is sold at Kroger, Publix, Whole Foods Market, Sprouts Farmers Market, Winn-Dixie, Walmart, and other national chains. To find a store near you, click here. You can also click here for their current money-saving offers online! 

With the kiddos soon to be out of school for not one but two nearly consecutive holiday breaks, let them snack happy with Back to Nature Chocolate Chunk Cookies!

My recommendation? Enjoy these delicious cookies with a cold glass of almond milk. You’ll be glad you did! Now, I want to ask, have you tried the Back to Nature Chocolate Chunk Cookies or their other organic lines? If so, I’d love to hear your experiences with the brand below!

Connect with Back to Nature:
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Don’t Miss The Star In Theaters Starting 11/17!

Disclosure: Please note, I was given the opportunity to promote the upcoming movie, The Star, to my readers by Sony Pictures. All opinions expressed and based on movie previews are my own.

 

Don't Miss The Star In Theaters Starting 11/17!

Christmas. It’s just around the corner! While we have all likely heard the story of the first Christmas, this holiday season you can treat your family to a new and unique retelling of the very first Christmas told by a new set of fun-loving eyes. From the makers of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and Heaven is for Real, The Star features a hilarious take on the story of Christmas from the perspective of the unlikeliest of characters. The animals of the manger! 

Don't Miss The Star In Theaters Starting 11/17!

Our story centers on, Bo, an advantageous donkey yearning for a life beyond the stables walls of the village mall. When Bo breaks free of his village, he seeks adventure with Ruth, a lovable sheep who lost her flock, and Dave, a dove with hilarious dreams and aspirations.

Along with three slap-stick humored camels and several amazingly precious, though eccentric stable animals, Bo, and his new friends follow the Star of Bethlehem and on the way become the unlikeliest of heroes in the greatest story ever told – the story of the nativity.

Each year at the holiday’s my family always make a point of reading aloud the story of Christ’s birth, and while I have heard the story interpreted many times over the years the Star’s unique perspective on the classical story is fun and exciting. And who doesn’t love talking animals, am I right? 

Preorder your tickets for The Star Movie! 

The Star Movie Comes Out 11/7 #ad

After viewing the trailer for The Star and behind the scene footage, I am so excited to go watch The Star movie with my family this coming weekend. Not only does it look like a movie that will be great for the whole family, but it looks sure to be hilarious too! I appreciate movies during the holiday season that teach a story, give great moral lessons, and frankly, don’t bore me to tears in the process! The Star movie is sure to please everyone in the family. Mine included!

Don't Miss The Star In Theaters Starting 11/17!

The Star movie will be out in theaters Friday, November 17th, so be sure to go online and pre-buy your The Star tickets to help you beat the lines this weekend. In the meantime, the makers of The Star have several awesome printable coloring sheets available on their site here. For churches, click here for movie resources to share with your ministry groups as well!

Be sure to check those out to get you and your kiddos ready for the holiday spirit for the opening night! Now, friends, I have to ask, why are you most excited to see The Star? I’d love to hear about it below!

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