About Heather Brickell

Dive Into College Savings with a Florida 529 Savings Plan!

Help your children dive into their future dreams and goals with help from a Florida 529 Savings Plan! Use promo code SWEET529 and $50 will be contributed to your account. This post is sponsored by Florida Prepaid College Savings Plans. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Please see my disclosure policy.

When you stop to think about your child’s future education how does it make you feel? Are you nervous, anxious, excited? I would be lying if I told you that I wasn’t anxious about Drew heading off to college in just a few short years. I start thinking about all the “what-ifs” and wonder, “Are we ready for the future?” “Are we financially prepared for this huge investment into our son’s life?” I am happy to tell you that the answer is YES! We feel empowered and in control with this decision thanks to help from Florida Prepaid College Plans.

Preparing for your child’s future education doesn’t have to be scary. What if I told you that with one small step you could open so many possibilities and happiness for your children? When you open a Florida 529 Savings Plan, you can rest assured in knowing that your child can have a debt-free future ahead of them. A Florida 529 Savings Plan is the easy and affordable way to save for college. I am also happy to tell you that the Florida 529 Savings Plan has been ranked as one of the nation’s top-10 performing 529 Savings Plans by savingforcollege.com! This fabulous news is sure to give you that “529 Feeling!”

I have some exciting news that will have you diving into the waves of summer! Through August 15, when you open a Florida 529 Savings Plan and use promo code SWEET529, Florida Prepaid will seed your account with $50 in free money! That is double the amount that they offered last year! This means that there really is no reason to hold off on planning and saving for the future.

My Top FIVE Top Reasons Why You Should Open a Florida 529 Savings Plan:

  1. The Florida 529 Savings Plan is a low fee and tax-free way to save for college. Unlike a savings account or mutual fund that is going to get hit with income taxes, your contributions toward your 529 Savings Plan will earn interest and will not be taxed when the money is taken out to pay for college or other qualified education. Investment earnings are not taxed if they are used for these expenses, including tuition, fees, room, board, books, and supplies.

 

  1. The Florida 529 Savings plan is by Florida, for Florida. While you may use this plan at any institution (even outside of Florida), the Plan is only for Florida residents. Florida Prepaid makes saving for college easy and exclusive just for Florida families. This is yet another perk to living here in the Sunshine State!

 

  1. It is free and simple to sign up for a Florida 529 Savings Plan. Not only has Florida Prepaid made saving for college easy and simple, but they have redesigned their website so that it is user-friendly. This means that planning for your family’s savings goals is even easier than before! Florida Prepaid wants to ensure that every Florida family can save affordably for college. Be sure to use the Saving Tool on the website to see just how easy that you can watch your savings and investments grow! You can also choose from three investment paths. I would suggest that you pick the path that best suits your family: simple, intermediate, and advanced. The simple, or age-based portfolio is the most popular investment option and is fully managed. I love that Florida Prepaid handles all the details!

 

  1. The Florida 529 Savings Plan is very flexible! I don’t know about you, but flexibility while planning towards the future is a key factor in our family’s decision making. I love that this plan allows our family to save WHAT we can WHEN we can as our budget allows. Even the smallest amounts saved now can add up to so much possibility towards our kid’s futures! Did you know that just $25 a month can grow to nearly $9,000 over 18 years? Every amount really does add up to let you meet your savings goals.

 

  1. The Florida 529 Savings Plan can be used toward qualified K-12 expenses. Say what? Yes! Many people don’t realize that your Florida 529 Savings Plan can be used for up to $10,000 annually on qualifying K-12 expenses such as tuition and mandatory fees associated with enrollment or attendance at an elementary or secondary public, private, or religious schools.

Statistics have shown that children who have even a small amount of money saved toward their college education are 2.5 times more likely to graduate from college. What are you waiting for? Dive into savings and start planning for your children’s future this summer! Remember, you can get $50 for FREE contributed to your account when you sign up for a Florida 529 Savings Plan and use promo code SWEET529. You must HURRY though as this promo is only good through August 15!

Be sure to follow Florida Prepaid College Plans on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube to stay up to date with information on open enrollment, tips and promotional offers.

6 Hacks For The Budget Conscious Mom

(All posts may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. Please see my disclosure policy)

As a Mom, we hope that we can do it all but when it comes to moving, the reality is that you can’t. While it might be extremely easy to think of all the things that could go wrong or already begin to daydream about what your new life in a new city will look like, you first need to figure out how you are going to get everyone and your belongings there in one peace. When it comes to moving, there are few hacks that can make it easier for you! 

Image: 24/7 Logistic Services

  1. Declutter It All – A simple way to help you stay on task, organized and ready to move is by decluttering what you won’t need for your move. Go through each room with a trash bag and put items in that you haven’t used, touched or seen in at least 6 months. Once that is done, donate your items to a local charity, church, neighbor or put it up on Facebook Market to see who you can help in need. This will also help the hassle of trying to pack everything and really just the items you want or need for your next move.

2. Color Coding– To stay organized with so many items, color coding is one of the best things you can do to look at things from a glance instead of writing on boxes. Pick a color that you want to use. For example, you could pick the color pink and designate all boxes that are pink to be the kitchen. Have a diagram to give the movers that has each room color coding so they know what color box to put in each room. An easy way to do this is with post it notes! Then when you get to the new house, tape that color post it note on each door to let the movers know what goes where! 

3. Protect Glassware with clothes or dishtowels – If you have ever traveled with breakable items, you want to make sure they are well protected. One way to do so and by not having to spend a lot of money ( or waste a lot of newspapers ) is by using clothes to help you pack your glass valuables. Wrap your glassware in a sweatshirt or long t-shirts and place them gently in the box to protect them. If you don’t want to use your clothes, you can also use your dish towels as well! Especially when wrapping kitchenware, then it’s two products in one room!  

4. Use A Toilet Paper Roll For Cords –  If you have multiple cords for your computers, laptops, phone chargers and iPads, the worst thing you can do is try and throw them all together in a box and attempt to untangle them later. One way to help with this problem is by wrapping your cords up but then placing them in a toilet paper roll for safekeeping and for keeping your cords bending the correct way too. 

5. Save Boxes From Past Online Orders-  One way to help yourself save money on boxes and packing materials is saving any that you’ve received from any online orders. If you aren’t one to shop online, check any restaurants or liquor stores that have any free ones for you to use in the box. They usually just cut them down when they are done but several are wanting to get rid of them or put them to good use! 

6. Call In The Professionals: Once the boxes, bags, and items are all packed away, color-coded and ready to go, call a professional to help you move them all into a truck. One company that can assist you with this is called 24/7 Logistic Services. The friendly staff can handle all of your belongings with ease. While many moving companies may charge high rates for sub-par services, they go above and beyond providing exceptional service and affordable rates for your move. Hiring these Hollywood, Florida long-distance movers are there to make it easier for you and your family. If you don’t want to do all the packing and unpacking yourself, they also offer not only a truck but boxes, tape, label and organize them within your home and then deliver them to your new location safely. 

Some other suggestions include putting important documents in a safe space such as your purse or file cabinet that can be locked. To help you get rid of some items quickly, you can host a garage sale in your neighborhood which also can give you some extra cash to use. If possible, try not to move during peak times ( aka the summer ) for cost reasons as it can be extremely expensive to do so and many moving companies are in high demand. Whatever your choice of packing or hiring someone or family to help, the move will go as smooth as possible. Focus on the experience and your new journey together.

Back to School Looks for Less with The Children’s Place! #BTSwithTCP

This post is sponsored by Sivan Social. All comments and opinions are my own.

Is it me or does it seem like summer vacation goes faster and faster each year? I can hardly believe that the summer will soon be over and we will be in school mode once again. The end of summer vacation means that back to school shopping will soon be in full swing! We will be looking for the best deals to get our kids ready for the new year. When it comes to finding the best deals for back to school looks, I always turn to The Children’s Place. Whether your child wears a school uniform or they need a new school wardrobe, The Children’s Place has you covered. Not only do they have the best prices around, but I love that they offer Free Shipping on every purchase! You can also buy online and pick your order up in in the store. Both are great options, especially since many of us are so busy these days.

Through July 31, The Children’s Place is offering huge savings on clothing to help get the kids back to school ready! Graphic tees are priced starting at just $3.99 and basic jeans start at $7.99. If your kiddos wear a school uniform, I love that The Children’s Place offers multipacks that include multiples of each item so that you can get the most bang for your buck. For example, you can get a double pack of polo shirts for $10 or a two pack of shorts of pants for $20. I also noticed that you can get multipacks of three and five clothing items. This makes it super easy and affordable while planning that back to school wardrobe!

Here are several budget-friendly looks that I put together!

Girls Super Skinny Jeans, $11.99

Girls Two Pack Graphic Tees, $8.99

 

Boys Two Pack Basketball Shorts, $14.99

Boys Two Pack Muscle Tanks, $12.99

 

Girls Uniform Ruffle Pique Polo, $5.99

Girls Uniform Active French Terry Skort, Two pack, $14.99

Boys Uniform Pique Polo Two Pack, $9.99

Boys Uniform Stretch Chino Shorts Two Pack, $20

Girls Print Skater Dress Two Pack, $19.98

Boys Stretch Super Skinny Jeans, $14

Boys Colorblock Hoodie Top, $11.97

 

If a new backpack is on the agenda for this coming school year, The Children’s Place is offering up to 40% off through July 21! They have backpacks for everyone on your list! I love that many of the backpack options come in sets so you get the backpack and lunch box all in one! This saves time and money on your back to school shopping! My youngest son Brady is into Minecraft, so this 2 two piece Minecraft set is what he chose. At $23.99 that is a great deal for both pieces!

Grab What’s Good on National Ice Cream Day with Mayfield Ice Cream!

(All posts may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. Please see my disclosure policy)

I can’t believe how quickly that the summer is flying by! We have already enjoyed several trips together as a family and have a few more fun things planned before the boys’ head back to school next month.

While I do love traveling and getting away together as a family, I must say that I love relaxing and enjoying family time right at home. Whether that be taking a family walk, playing board games together, or enjoying a movie night, making memories is so special!

When we are at home and enjoying family time, I love to keep delicious treats on hand. One of our all-time favorite treats is ice cream. I have countless memories of our family enjoying ice cream while laughing and talking about the day’s activities. I look forward to continuing that tradition for years to come! There’s something about slowing down from the hustle and bustle of the day with a big bowl of ice cream that brings so much joy! I know that our boys will look back and treasure the silly moments that we had together as a family.

Mayfield Ice Cream knows a thing or two about ice cream and family traditions. They have been serving up delicious ice cream since 1923! I personally love that Mayfield Ice Cream is 100% owned by a dairy farm cooperative, which includes family farms right in your community. Mayfield Ice Cream is not only delicious, but also comes in many unique flavors. Our favorite varieties include Moose Tracks and Cookies and Cream. We also love the Sundae Delights. They are the perfect amount of ice cream and toppings in a convenient cup. Yum! Whatever your craving, Mayfield Ice Cream has a flavor of ice cream for you!

Get those spoons ready! Did you know that this Sunday, July 18 is National Ice Cream Day? You will certainly want to “Grab What’s Good” and pick up some Mayfield Ice Cream at your local grocery store to celebrate this fun day with your family and friends!

How do you enjoy National Ice Cream Day? Whatever you do to celebrate, remember to slow down, and make special memories with those that you love!

Ibotta: Free School Supplies Bundle After Cash Back

(All posts may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. Please see my disclosure policy)

Wow! Right now you can score Free School supplies from Ibotta after cash back! ($20 value) If you need school supplies why not get them for Free! (Please note that you will need to be quick as these offers will not last for long)

Here’s how to take advantage of this offer:

Go HERE and sign up for a Free Ibotta account. (if you already have an account just log in) You should see the offers at the top of the page.

Download the new Ibotta Browser Extension (for online grocery pick-up and delivery orders) and log into your Ibotta account. 

You will need to link your account to the store that you will be shopping at to receive your credit after purchase. The offers should be available in your account within an hour.

You can either shop online and do a pickup order or head to your local store to purchase the items. If you do shop in store I would suggest that you upload your receipt ASAP as offers can expire at any time.

Here is a list of the free items:

  • 5 Star 3-Subject Notebook (limit 1)
  • Ticonderoga #2 Pencils, 12-Pack (limit 1)
  • Paper Mate Erasers 3-pack pink pearl premium (limit 1)
  • Box of Kleenex 110-count, any variety (limit 1)
  • Del Monte Fruit Cups (limit 1) 
  • Loaf of Nature’s Own Bread 20oz. in butter bread, whole wheat, or honey what (limit 1)
  • Skippy peanut butter 15-16.3 oz, any variety (limit 1)
  • Squeeze bottle of Smucker’s Fruit Spread (limit 1)

After I placed my order I received a pop up on my desktop with the picture below. It can take up to 24 hours for the cash back to appear in your Ibotta account.

Fresh Fruit Slushies

(All posts may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. Please see my disclosure policy)

Are you looking for a delicious treat to cool off with this Summer? These Fresh Fruit Slushies are sure to be a hit with everyone in your house! Not only are they delicious, but also healthy and super easy to prepare! I also love that this is kid-friendly, so you can have them help you!

Fresh Fruit Slushies 

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 2
Ingredients:
  • 5-6 large strawberries (greens removed)
  • 1/2 cup blueberries
  • 2 cups chopped watermelon
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 cups ice

Directions:
  1. Prepare and wash all of your fruit.
  2. Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until ice is crushed.
  3. Pour into favorite glasses and enjoy!

*HOT DEAL* Free $10 Amazon Credit with a Small Business Purchase for Prime Members!

(All posts may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. Please see my disclosure policy)

Are you getting excited for Prime Day? This year Prime Days are scheduled for June 21-22, and there are going to be some great deals! If you are not already an Amazon Prime member, you can sign up for a Free 30-day trial HERE!

How about some Free money to spend for Prime Day? Through June 20th, you can head on over to Amazon where they are offering Prime Members a $10 Amazon credit when you purchase $10 worth of products from select small businesses! The $10 credit will be sent to you via email and you will able to spend it on Amazon Prime Day June 21st & 22nd! Woohoo!! 

Essential Expert Moving Tips

(All posts may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. Please see my disclosure policy)

Image: Weston Moving & Storage

Moving from one house to a new one can be so exciting. But it’s also one of the most stressful experiences. From finding a new home, uprooting your life, and saying good-bye to friends and family. There are a lot of emotions happening in a big move. That’s why we wanted to share our moving plan and how we managed to unpack all of our boxes without going crazy!

This week we unpacked our last box from our big move into our new farmhouse. It feels like we are all settled in. But the stress from moving from Seattle, Washington to Maryland was enormous! Thankfully we hired some great movers and all went well.  Since we built our house, we had to move twice! We moved into a temporary rental townhouse while we waited for our home to be completed.  So twice the moving and lots of wondering where exactly we left things.

Thankfully we loved our real estate agents in both states and they were fantastic for helping our moves go smoothly. So a shout out to Stacy Hecht in Seattle and Richard Waxman in Baltimore, Maryland for not only helping us sell and buy our dream houses, but they also helped make sure our big cross country move went great! 

Make A Plan

Moving has a lot of working pieces that all have to come together to form a great plan. It’s hard to keep all of the notes and ideas in your head. Grab a pad of paper and make a plan for your move. Keep a list of significant phone numbers, the address of where you are going, and plan out your budget and how you are going to keep to it.

 It’s also helpful to keep a folder for all of your receipts, estimates, essential documents, and an inventory of what you are moving.

A detailed plan helps you to stay clear-headed when it is time to do the hard work. Trust me, when things start moving quickly, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and even scared. 

What’s your budget? How will you move your cars and pets? Are you moving into a temporary home first?

Make sure you have the moving company’s contact information with you in your moving folder.

Do you need to move your business too? 

Before moving, it’s time to lighten up.

Before you pack one box, find a moving company, or tell your friends you’ll pay them in pizza for helping you move, it’s time to purge. 

Go from room to room and be honest with yourself what you really need and want to take with you to your new life in your new home. This is how you will declutter your life and your new home.  Think about what you really want to box, lift, and put away in your new home. This is the time to get rid of anything broken, stained, unwanted, or won’t fit into your new life.

Donate unwanted goods to charity. The Purple Heart will even come and pick them up! Gather up canned and boxed food and donate it to your local food banks. 

What you need to know about getting moving quotes.

If you are hiring movers, you will need to get quotes. We suggest getting at least three different quotes from moving companies.  They will need to come and do an in-home assessment of how much stuff you have, how many stairs, and the distance you are moving. This is also why we suggest purging everything you can BEFORE getting quotes. Don’t pay to move junk! 

Keep in mind that certain times of the year, like June, are big moving times.  You should reserve your movers with plenty of time to get you on the schedule.

Do your homework! Research which companies work with the  U.S. Department of Transportation. Check with the Better Business Bureau regarding the mover. There are a lot of scams that happen with movers. Ask friends and family for recommendations. Don’t get your stuff held hostage!

You will want to pack some boxes on your own.

Even if you are hiring packers to move you, or moving everything on your own.  You should pack a few things on your own. These include:

  • Personal items like jewelry, keepsakes, baby books, and important files should be packed and moved with YOU. Don’t rely on the movers to take these boxes. 
  • Fragile items and heirlooms- you want to make sure these are packed with utmost care.
  • Items you will want to unpack first- dishes, pet supplies, toys, etc.

You also want to disconnect all computers and back them up on the Cloud.

Take photos of any high-ticket items. Note any existing scratches, dings, or damage to your furniture.

Prepare yourself, your pets, and your family for the big move.

Even if you are just moving down the street, moving is stressful for everyone.  There is a change in schedule, new environments, and for a while, nothing is where it belongs. Planning ahead, playing music, and planning a few fun breaks can make the day go smoother. 

2 weeks before moving day, make sure the kids and pets have been checked by their doctors and have their shots current.  If flying, pets need to be seen by the vet a week before the flight to make sure they are healthy enough for the flight. The vet will write a letter stating they are fit to fly. 

Pets can easily get frightened during the big move. Plan to take them to a friend’s house or kennel the day of the move to ensure they don’t run away and get lost. 

Note: You can not move flammable items like gas cans, fuel for the BBQ, tiki torches, ect. Ask friends if they would like them and share the love!

Pack a suitcase for everyone with the essential you will need for the first week. Don’t forget your toothbrush and favorite book!

No packing should be done on the day of the move. If you hire packers, they will come a day or two before moving day.

On moving day, you must be there to make sure it all goes well. 

It might surprise you how many people think that they can hire a moving company and leave it all up to them.  But there are a lot of questions that must be answered and things that must be done on-site the day of the move.  If you’re looking for a quality moving company, Weston Moving & Storage  is the company you want to accompany you every step of the way. This commercial moving company in Broward County,  is there to help keep costly damages to a minimum and hiring a reputable local moving service for your business ensures everything is managed in an organized manner to not only help you but others as well! YOu can rely on them to help move your office from the metropolitan area and surrounding ares as well as making getting back to work quickly and efficient.

Their office mover provides fast services at affordable prices that you can feel good about. We always have donuts and coffee for early movers and order pizza for delivery for the afternoon. Don’t forget paper plates and napkins. Before the truck leaves, do a walk through to make sure nothing has been left behind. This is also when you should give them their tips.

Tips for unloading in your new home.

In your new home, tape names to doors to assist movers; map out the floor layout so movers know what’s going where; finally, prepare your new home for moving to prevent any damage.

You want to make sure you are there while they are unloading. There will be a lot of questions of where things go. You also want to make sure items are not damaged, check the inventory list, and you will need to sign any documents. Tackle some of the fun projects first, like hanging your favorite pictures, setting up the bed and exploring. Moving can stink, but when you plan ahead and have help, it sucks a little less. I hope we helped you find some tips for your big move.  

Six Facts You Should Know Before Moving to Florida

(All posts may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. Please see my disclosure policy)

Are you thinking about moving to the Sunshine State? Florida has so much to offer, from unspoilt beaches and ocean-facing houses to great schools and an immersive culture that’s ideal for families and retirees alike.

Discover the facts you need to know before you make the move to the Sunshine State: 

Luxury properties mean you’ll be spoilt for choice

Whether you have a generous budget and are considering Vero Beach luxury homes, or you’re moving with retirement in mind and the famous golf courses of the Gulf Coast are at the top of your wish list, when you search for properties in Florida, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Whether you see yourself overlooking miles of unspoilt beach in a family home, or you’re searching for a property with nightlife, restaurants and glamour in mind, you’ll find famous landmarks, gated communities, great schools and ocean-facing properties in abundance throughout the Sunshine State. If you’re unsure of which region you want to reside in, start with a list of your essentials and factors that are important to your chosen lifestyle and begin your search from there.

Tourists are part of the culture

Living in a state that is famous for its landmarks, landscapes, beaches, theme parks and persistent sunshine and heat, doesn’t just attract homeowners and families looking for a better life. Tourism is a huge part of life in Florida and moving to the Sunshine State means dealing with large numbers of visitors throughout the year. Florida is renowned for being a friendly, welcoming state so make sure you keep up appearances!

Southern Florida and its hurricanes

Although Florida is famous for its heat, it’s just as infamous for its severe weather conditions, particularly in the South of the state where hurricanes are prevalent during the aptly named “Hurricane Season”, which typically lasts between June and November each year. Before moving to Florida, it’s worth reading up on hurricane safety and the precautions that many residents take every year to protect their homes.

Be ready for election fever

Florida is a swing state, which means casting votes here carries a lot of weight and influence. As a major swing state, residents can expect election fever to sweep their locality in the run-up to presidential elections every four years. This means flyers, ads, knocks at your door, TV crews, and even heated debates with friends, family and colleagues during this dramatic period. Something worth keeping in mind if you’re not currently politically minded!

It’s not all for retirees

Retirees and seniors are everywhere in Florida, after all, wouldn’t you like to retire somewhere warm, friendly, and tax-friendly? However, don’t let this demographic put you off moving to the Sunshine State. While seniors might be in abundance, Florida is a diverse and captivating location, with something for all ages, families, singletons and couples alike.

And finally, the cost of living is low

Thanks to its generous stance on income tax, and its utilities coming in cheaper than the national average, Florida can certainly mean a cheaper cost of living, allowing you to enjoy the life you want for yourself and your family, without breaking the bank.

3 Tips on How to Promote Good Humor in Your Children

This post is sponsored by Community Care Plan. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

While the past year has definitely been one of challenges and uncertainties, my family and I decided that we were going to make the most of every situation. One of the ways that we have learned to deal with unfortunate circumstances is by finding humor. I firmly believe that laughter and good humor truly are the best medicine for the soul. Good humor and laughter not only provide a great way for us to connect as a family, but it also provides a sense of positive self-esteem and makes life more enjoyable overall.

Did you know that April is National Humor Month? National Humor Month is meant to bring awareness to humor and to showcase how it can bring therapeutic value in our everyday lives. In fact, the creator of National Humor Month, Larry Wilde, stated, “The idea of laughing and the use of humor as a tool to lift ailing spirits is growing. Scientific research now indicates that the curative power of laughter and its ability to relieve debilitating stress and burnout may indeed be one of the great medical discoveries of our times.”

The people at Community Care Plan appreciate how good humor, particularly in children, promotes a positive impact on the health and wellness of those around them. There’s a reason that Community Care Plan is known as the health plan with a heart.

Speaking of getting healthy, did you know that scientific research has proven that humor is a tool to relieve stress while helping us to heal emotionally and physically? When it comes to humor in children, I think it is important for them to realize that laughing and good humor is not only good for the soul, but it can make them feel good physically as well. There is just something about a good old-fashioned laugh that makes your entire body feel good!

Statistics have shown that children are believed to laugh 10 as much daily as the average adult. Therefore, good humor should be a vital part of their life! Here are several ways that we can help to promote and encourage good humor in children:

  1. Create an environment that promotes humor in children.

It’s true that laughter improves your mood and makes you feel better. This is why good humor inside the home is so important. Create a positive environment and teach your children that even in the midst of difficult circumstances you can still laugh, have a good time, and be happy. Our children will look back at our time together at home and remember the laughs that they had as a family. They will especially remember those challenging times and how we as parents tried to promote a positive view of the situation. Laughter is so very good for the soul.

  1. Teach children that it is okay to be funny and to have humor.

My husband and I want our boys to know that laughing and having good humor is a vital part of our lives. If our boys see us laughing and having good humor, then they are more likely to follow suit. We want them to realize that people want to be around those who are happy and have a good sense of humor. Laughter is contagious. The ability to laugh and to have good humor shows our personality. The more we laugh, the more that others will want to be around us. In fact, one of the qualities that I admire in most people is their ability to laugh and to have a good sense of humor.

It is okay to be funny.

It is okay to laugh.

It is okay to be silly.

I guarantee that our children will remember the memories that are made of laughter and silliness more than any other in their lives. Let’s teach them that laughter is good for our relationships, both in-home and out in the world.

  1. Be a good role model and showcase good humor in your life.

Not only am I a parent, but I am a Paraprofessional Educator as well. Being an educator allows me to be a good role model to those children that I come in contact with each week. One of the ways that I can be a good role model is to promote good humor among my students. I want them to see that I am funny and witty, and that even though things may not always go as planned, that I can still have a good attitude and humor about the situation before me. I can’t tell you how many times that I have said something, and it came out the wrong way. I just laughed about it and did not get flustered. This, in turn, made my students laugh. I have learned to laugh at the little annoyances that may take place in the classroom, and to not take myself so seriously.

Happy National Humor Month! Don’t forget to take some extra time today to laugh with your children and those around you! I love this quote from Charles Dickens, “There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.” Spread joy today and remember that laughter is medicine for the soul!

Be sure to check out Community Care Plan on Facebook, Instagram and You Tube for more details on benefits, coverage, and more. They also offer several resources to help you make self-care a priority. The health plan with a heart serves the health of their community through access to a high standard of health care and community resources. Their health plans cover a wide range of local medical services, offering an excellent choice of physicians and benefits that help members get and stay healthy. Put your health in good hands with Community Care Plan.