Ashling Drew, Author at Joyful Messes

Kid Friendly Finger Foods for NYE

Since New Year’s Eve is a special night for everyone, it can be fun to have some kid-friendly finger foods, adult appetizers, and other special treats for everyone to enjoy. The fun of New Year’s Eve is to stay up so that you can ring in the new year. If you are planning on staying in and spending the new year with the kids this New Year’s Eve, having some tasty finger foods for kids is a must. These kid-friendly finger foods are perfect for New Year’s Eve and for ringing in the new year. They are easy to put together and everyone will love enjoying them during the celebration. Garlic Chicken Pinwheels An easy kid-friendly finger food that only takes a few ingredients to make, these garlic chicken pinwheels are a delicious New Year’s Eve treat. Basic Cauliflower Fritters Simple and tasty, these easy cauliflower fritters can be served…

Tips and Must-Have Products to Pump at Work

Many mothers face the same worries as they near the end of their maternity leave. Frequently asked questions include: Where will I pump at work? How long of a break will I get? What do I need to buy? I don’t want you to have to stress and worry. This post will help alleviate your worries and answer your questions as you prepare to head back to work. What You Need to Know About Pumping at Work Know your rights As you make preparations and plans to pump at work, notify your employer of your plans. There is a good chance they have experience with this and can help. Even if your employer is up to speed on your rights and their responsibilities, it’s important for you to know, too. The Break Time for Nursing Mothers Law legally requires employers to provide time (and space) for employees covered under the…

Good Stress vs. Bad Stress in Children: What You Need to Know

Recently, there’s been a lot of talk about the detrimental effects of stress on children’s health. And it’s not surprising at all. According to the latest data from the CDC, the average weekly number of children’s mental health-related ED visits has been on the rise over the past year. In 2020 alone, the number of such visits was a shocking 44% higher than in 2019. Moreover, we know that as many as 35% of American children experience stress-related health issues, which means that more than one-third of U.S. kids don’t have effective methods for coping with external and internal stressors. But is dealing with stress always a bad thing? Or could a surge in cortisol be helpful in some situations? This article aims to explore the difference between good stress and bad stress in children, along with everything parents can do to help their kids manage everyday pressures in healthy…

Christmas Guide for Toddlers

If you have a toddler, you know that there are way too many things out there to consider getting as a gift around Christmas time! While your child tells Santa at the mall what toy they want, you might be wondering what extra special thing is out there that you could surprise them with that they wouldn’t have even considered asking for. Here are a few suggestions that could change everything in your search! Check out this delightful Xmas Gift Guide for Toddlers and surprise your favorite little one in a big way! 3D Lighted DIY Felt Tree Toy Set A felt Christmas tree for toddlers? Yes, please! This little Xmas tree is the perfect size for toddlers to decorate so they won’t be tempted to touch the adult Christmas tree. It is lightweight so it is both easy to move around and safe for your toddler to be…

Christmas Gift Guide For New Dads

So you want to shop for gifts for your friend who recently became a new dad and Christmas is right around the corner. A gift card seems too basic, but you don’t feel like knitting a pair of Mandalorian socks all by yourself. It can’t just be a generic box of chocolates, because where’s the holiday magic in that? You want this gift to be special, useful, or perhaps even funny. You are looking for a gift that will stand out from the rest of the wrapping paper tossed across the living room floor. What do you get for someone during such a unique milestone of their life, especially when it is the most wonderful time of the year? Below are some generally well-rounded gift ideas put into this handy Christmas Gift Guide for New Dads so you can approach this shopping dilemma from a variety of angles. If you’re…

The Cutest Halloween Cookie

Are you looking for some of the cutest Halloween cookies for this year’s upcoming Halloween festivities? These must-try Halloween cookies are fun, cute, and will be gobbled up in no time. Halloween is such a fun time for both adults and kids. It is fun to dress up, go trick-or-treating, and participate in all of the spooky activities offered. A fun Halloween activity would be getting everyone in the family to make their favorite spooky cookies! If you are looking to serve up some of the cutest Halloween cookies, these fun and not so frightful cookies will make the perfect addition to any party! Halloween Mummy Oreo Pops Super cute, these fun Halloween-themed Oreo pops are decorated to look like cute mummies. Halloween Peanut Butter Cookie Cups These cute cookie cups start with homemade cookie dough and are topped with your favorite candy to look like Halloween spiders, mummies, or…

Educational Printables

Educational printables can come in handy when it comes to helping children learn and practice various skills. Writing, math, reading, and fine motor skill practice are just a few examples of what you can use educational printables for. Whether you are homeschooling or just looking for extra practice worksheets to help fine-tune their skills, these educational printables can be helpful when learning. Included in this list of free educational printables is a variety of different learning subjects. The subjects range from math to science and learning the alphabet. Many also include games to go along with them to help to make learning fun and not so boring. Writing with LEGO Letters Fun for both preschool and kindergarten-aged children, this LEGO writing printable pack includes helps children build the letter with the LEGO, trace the letter, and then practice writing the letter. Printable Science Experiment Worksheets Kids will love these fun…

Non-Toy Christmas Gift Ideas for Kids

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…..when the kids are going to get a million and one toys from friends and family and the parents are going to have to figure out where to put them! So what are you to do for all of those nieces and nephews who are eagerly awaiting their gifts? The answer is simple….get them something they will enjoy but is not a toy! While you might be wondering what in the world that would involve, there’s no need to wonder! We have several suggestions for gifts that will thrill the kids and give their parents a sigh of relief! Blank Comic Book For Kids Dr. Seuss’s Beginner Book Collection Many kids enjoy reading some enjoy writing and others enjoy both! If there is one thing every kid has, it is imagination. Encourage this by gifting books on their reading level. Obviously, you…

What To Buy A Baby for Christmas

When it comes to purchasing gifts, especially around the holidays, it helps to know what the person’s interests and likes are. What happens when you are trying to purchase a gift for a baby? They cannot yet express themselves, and sometimes finding that perfect gift may seem a little difficult. However, this is actually what makes babies quite easy to please in the gift department! They are easily amused and fascinated by so many things. Everything in the world appears new and entertaining to them. Most toys in department stores and, even online, have a suggested age range level. Knowing the age of the baby you are trying to purchase is a good place to start. Here are a few age-appropriate suggestions for the wee littles on your Christmas shopping list! Christmas Shopping for Infants Ages 0 to 3 Months When shopping for babies, one thing to keep in mind…

Guide to Christmas Gifts for a New Mom

It’s that most wonderful time of the year when people have started pre-planning their Christmas shopping! There are the typical gifts for aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, parents, siblings, and kids. What do you do when one of the people in question, also happens to be a new mother? Don’t worry! We are here to help you figure out the perfect gift for the new mom-to-be! Whether the new mom has given birth or is due any time now, here is a list of 5 gifts that will be cherished and appreciated for their thoughtfulness and practicality! It is no secret that new moms do NOT have a lot of free time on their hands! They are either busy preparing for the baby, or if their bundle of joy has arrived, they are busy fixing bottles, nursing, and changing diapers. No matter how tired we get as new mommas, we still…

Ashling Drew