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January 31, 2025

January 31, 2025

Somehow, we made it through the longest month ever—wasn't New Year's Eve at least six weeks ago? Time may be moving at a glacial pace, but hey, that just means more chances to finally start those resolutions… or pretend February is a fresh start. If you feel like you've aged a year in the past 31 (47?) days, just know you're not alone. Grab your coffee (maybe reheat it once or twice), and let’s dive in!

Sweet, But Make It Smart: 6 Better-For-You Sugar Swaps
Keeping Your Kid Honest: The Art of Tackling Lies at Every Age
Quick Declutter Continued: Tidy Up in 10 Minutes or Less

FEBRUARY

Happy February!

📅 Feb 1 – National Freedom Day & Black History Month Begins
Celebrate with these 17 Kids’ Books to Read During Black History Month (and All Year Long). 📚

🦫 Feb 2 – Groundhog Day
Will Punxsutawney Phil doom us to six more weeks of winter? 🤞 He’s only right 30% of the time, so take that with a grain of salt.

🏆 Feb 5 – National Girls & Women in Sports Day
Time to binge-watch some legendary female athletes on screen. 🎬 10 Essential Movies About Women in Sports.

🏈 Feb 9 – Super Bowl Sunday
Not into football? No worries—the commercials and halftime show are the real MVPs. 🌟 Check out the biggest Super Bowl ads here and see who’s performing here.

❤️ Feb 14 – Valentine’s Day
Make it sweet with these 14 Valentine's Day Treats to Make with Kids. 🍫

🇺🇸 Feb 17 – Presidents’ Day
What was once a holiday is now a shopping spree. 🛍️ Check out the best Presidents’ Day sales.

HEALTH

Sugar Subs

Cutting out sugar? No need to ditch dessert just yet. While too much refined sugar can cause all sorts of health issues (think: energy crashes, inflammation, and sugar cravings that never end), your body actually needs sugar for energy. The trick is to swap out highly processed sweeteners for more natural alternatives.

Here’s the lowdown on six sugar substitutes that taste great and come with added health benefits:

🍯 Honey – A sweet, sticky classic that’s packed with antioxidants and even helps with seasonal allergies. Look for raw, unfiltered honey for the biggest health boost.

🍁 Maple Syrup – Not just for pancakes! Darker varieties have anti-inflammatory properties and may even help regulate blood sugar.

🌱 Stevia – A plant-based powerhouse that’s 200-400 times sweeter than sugar—without the calories. Just check labels to avoid artificial additives.

🍌 Pureed Fruit – Bananas, applesauce, and dates can sweeten up baked goods while adding fiber and nutrients. A win-win.

🍈 Monk Fruit – This little fruit is 100 times sweeter than sugar but doesn’t spike blood sugar levels. Just like stevia, check for sneaky additives.

🧃 100% Fruit Juice – A great way to add natural sweetness to recipes, but stick to small amounts to keep the sugar in check.

Ready to start swapping? If you’re replacing sugar with honey in your baking, remember these four key rules: use less honey than sugar, reduce liquids, add baking soda, and lower the oven temp. More details here.

Need inspo? Check out Ambitious Kitchen for drool-worthy, naturally sweetened recipes. 🍪

PARENTING

Truth talk.

We all know kids lie. It’s a rite of passage, really. But while lying is normal in child development, teaching them honesty is still crucial.

Toddlers & Preschoolers:
At this age, lying isn’t exactly lying—it’s more about imagination running wild. When your little one insists a monster spilled the milk, it’s likely a way of expressing regret, not an attempt to deceive. Instead of calling them a liar (yikes), just calmly acknowledge what happened and offer a solution. “I see the milk spilled, let’s clean it up together.” And if they spin a tall tale? Ask, “Is this a real story or pretend?” Chances are, they’ll admit the truth, and you can giggle it off.

5-7 Year Olds:
For kids in this age group, lies often spring from fear—fear of punishment, fear of disappointing you, or just wanting to avoid responsibility. If you catch them fibbing, focus on the bigger picture. Ask yourself if your expectations are too high or if your discipline feels overly harsh. Reassure them that everyone makes mistakes, and emphasize that honesty is always the best choice. Acknowledge their feelings (“I know you feel scared”) and let them know you love them no matter what.

8 and Older:
By this age, the lies get a little more calculated. Kids might stretch the truth to fit in with friends or avoid getting in trouble. If you catch them in a fib, avoid the trap of “gotcha” questioning. Instead, calmly say, “That doesn’t sound quite right, want to try again?” They’re more likely to admit the truth if you stay calm and don’t lecture. Once they come clean, move on—praise their honesty and let it go.

Pro Tip: Try not to set them up to lie. If you already know the answer (like when you find marker scribbles on the wall), simply state the facts: “I see you colored on the wall.” This opens the door for an honest conversation, rather than cornering them into a fib. After all, honesty is something kids learn—and practice—daily.

Color walks are the new wellness trend blending exercise and mindfulness, where participants hunt for objects of a specific color while walking. This simple practice is gaining traction on social media and is praised for its positive effects on mental health and focus. Experts say it’s a fun way to boost both physical activity and mindfulness.

SNIPPETS

Alabama exempts breastfeeding mothers from jury duty. Alabama has passed a law excusing breastfeeding mothers from jury duty, following public outrage after a mom was threatened with CPS for bringing her infant to court. This change is seen as a significant step in acknowledging the needs of nursing moms and improving systems that often overlook them.

PETA suggests replacing Punxsutawney Phil with a cake. PETA is proposing that the iconic Punxsutawney Phil be replaced with a "weather reveal" cake on Groundhog Day. The cake, cut open to reveal either blue for winter or pink for spring, would eliminate the need for using animals in the tradition and offer a more humane way of celebrating the day.

Middle children excel in kindness and teamwork, new study finds. A study of over 700,000 participants reveals that middle children tend to be especially kind and cooperative due to their position in the family. Researchers suggest that these traits stem from the need for compromise and teamwork, skills they develop growing up with siblings.

🐕 Do dogs actually watch TV? Here’s the surprising truth.

⏰ Why your phone doesn’t make for the best alarm clock—your sleep deserves better!

🍔 27 restaurants where kids eat free (or super cheap)—time to eat out without breaking the bank.

🌙 Why don’t you remember all your dreams? The reason may surprise you.

🍗 12 rotisserie chicken recipes. Turn that $6 bird into dinner magic.

Quick declutter: part two.

Still feeling the clutter bug bite? Here are some quick, 10-minute tasks that’ll help keep your home (and your mind) organized:

Junk Drawer Cleanout: This spot seems to breed random stuff. Between boiling water and baking, give your junk drawer a quick purge—ditch old pens, random receipts, and mystery tools. It’s like a reset button for that space.
Water Bottle Purge: How many water bottles does one household really need? If you’ve got freebies with logos or duplicates, toss ‘em. Less clutter, more hydration.
Fridge Detox: Got science experiments hiding in there? Spend 10 minutes checking expiration dates and tossing anything suspicious. Bonus points for wiping down shelves!

And if you’ve got a little more time, tackle the expired products in your bathroom and pantry or try the hanger trick to see what you actually wear. Your home will thank you!