Christmas decorating spikes dopamine, which makes you feel good

The tree. The tinsel. The teeny tiny blinking lights that adorn your windows. Christmas decor is an annual reminder of the joy and excitement that jolly ol’ St. Nick brings.

Even though Halloween is still more than one month away, you’ve already got Christmas on the brain. If you find yourself sketching a green and red lighting design or dragging the plastic Santa’s out of storage, don’t worry—some experts say early decorating can actually make you happier.

“It does create that neurological shift that can produce happiness,” Psychologist Deborah Serani tells TODAY. “I think anything that takes us out of our normal habituation, the normal day in, day out … signals our senses, and then our senses measure if it’s pleasing or not.”

Paige Cody/Unsplash

Thank you, dopamine, a feel-good hormone that’s increased as you hang the colorful lights and sip hot cocoa. But it’s not just the sights and sounds, it’s the good memories that bring an extra level of happiness.

“Decorations are simply an anchor or pathway to those old childhood magical emotions of excitement,” Psychoanalyst Steve McKeown told British website Unilad. “So putting up those Christmas decorations early extend the excitement!”

Amy Morin, a psychotherapist and author, echoed this sentiment to Unilad. “The holiday season stirs up a sense of nostalgia. Nostalgia helps link people to their personal past and it helps people understand their identity. For many putting up Christmas decorations early is a way for them to reconnect with their childhoods.”

Matthew Henry/Burst

But do we decorate for more than just our own internal motivations? Or perhaps do we slap up the Santas and reindeer to get approval from others?

The Journal of Environmental Psychology looked into how people “may use holiday decorations on their home’s exterior to communicate friendliness and cohesiveness with neighbors.” Participants in a study responded to photos of decorated versus non-decorated homes and whether or not they had the appearance of a home with friendly residents.

Overall, researchers reported that respondents ranked decorated homes as having inhabitants that are more sociable and cohesive with the community, while homes without decor were thought of as nonsociable.

Regardless of your motivations, its definitely a fact that decorating puts you in a happy mood. So why not drag out that fake Christmas tree for a few extra months of joy?

For kids who use wheelchairs, regular backpacks are anything but practical. Fortunately, Target’s expanded array of back-to-school items features an adaptive backpack with plenty of mounting options, pockets and ports, plus easy-grab zippers. It’s new this year and available for $39.99 online!

At 17 inches, the Embark backpack has been thoughtfully designed for school or adventure time. The mounting and carrying straps attach the pack to a wheelchair, and it has tuck-away back straps to prevent tangling and dragging. You’ll also find access ports for tubes or cables, plus a laptop sleeve designed to fit a machine up to 15 inches. Plus it completely unzips for easy access and features a side water bottle holder. Grab one in black, blue or purple, depending on your kid’s style preference.

Another great option for younger kids? The Cat and Jack 17 inch dino backpack! It offers many of the same features as the Embark model, plus a fun prehistoric print and an orange dino keychain to complete the look. There’s even a built-in compartment to add a hydration pack. Did we mention it’s a reasonably priced $19.99? It’s currently (unsurprisingly) sold out online, but keep an eye out for restocking.

The new products are part of Target Adaptive, made in collaboration with guests of all abilities. The special collections offer seasonal and everyday products that are stylish, functional and come at a great price.

—Sarah Shebek

Featured image courtesy of Target

 

RELATED STORIES

Target’s Adaptive Halloween Costumes Are Back

Teachers Hit the Bullseye with Target’s Back-to-School Shopping Discount

11 Great Toys That Celebrate Disabilities

Summer is not over ‘til it’s over, baby.

Right now is about the time when you have started to be inundated with advertisements and articles about back to school. And almost every kid cringes when they hear the words, “back to school.” With this reminder glaring at us in almost every direction, part of you might be a little relieved that you don’t have to keep entertaining kids! 

If these last weeks of summer seem to be dragging on as the boredom has struck (and when it strikes, it strikes hard!), here’s a little list to give you some oomph before kids get on the school bus.  

1. Book a last-minute camping trip.  

What a great way to enjoy the outdoors! Plan a short weekend getaway to a campsite to jam in some extra fun summer memories. Here are some of the things you’ll need. Don’t stress! Enjoy a sporadic trip to the good outdoors. 

2. It’s not too late for a bonfire. 

What kid doesn’t love roasting marshmallows or making s’ mores? Would you dare try to mix up the delicious perfection of the s’ more? Here’s a list of 15 OTHER ways to create delicious s’mores. Go ahead and give them a try! 

3. Make an outdoor movie theatre.

Because nothing says summer entertainment like “an outdoor movie.” Butter-up some popcorn, fill a cooler, bring out your TV,  extension cord, DVD player, blankets, a comfy blanket (the more the merrier!), and some family and friends. 

4. Plan a last-minute party. 

If you’re feeling like you just haven’t been able to see everyone, and your kids, too, then don’t despair and plan a party. Take a minute and plug a date into your calendar to invite some friends over. If you want to impress your guests, plan a refreshing mocktail, and some easy-apps.

Hopefully, with some proper encouragement and inspiration, you can pack the rest of your summer days with memories and kick boredom goodbye! Summers are short with our kids, and it’s easy to spend the latter days of summer longing for school to start. But why not create all the memories we possibly can?

Hi, I'm Deanna. Mom and step-parent and I'm dedicated to positively contributing to the parenting community! 

This girl, right here, had no idea what was in store for her at the blossoming age of fourteen…but one thing she did know…her smile could hide a lot.

Up and downs…trials and tribulations… nine schools, always the new girl.

She had no idea that a move to New York would transform this outgoing girl.

Consuming her with feelings of self-doubt, sadness, and misery.

She never knew the longing she would feel for her friends, the sand beneath her feet, and the salty air brushing against her face as she rode her bike along.

She didn’t know barely passing classes was an option, coming from being a straight A student and always praised.

She didn’t know the weight she felt internally would manifest on the outside as well.

She didn’t know she would switch to three different high schools, as she had a vision of settling down for once but her vision was quickly stripped away.

This girl had no idea that her emotions would take over, cause countless tears, emotional eating and nervous laughter.

This girl couldn’t accept being loved…she never knew if the moving van, driving down the street once again from her house, would drag that love through the rubble, breaking it apart, never to be found again.

So this girl built up some sturdy walls…but one thing this girl knew…she knew she was strong.

She knew this stage was just a few moments in time…a small part of her life…so she persevered. 

She pulled herself up and wrapped herself in love.

She didn’t let anxiety take hold, dragging her down.
She didn’t let some of the teacher’s snide remarks change her love for learning.
She didn’t let her doubt ruin all that was to come.
She didn’t let her fear of love not allow her to love.

So this girl, as miserable as she was, woke up each day, maybe a bit shaky and not as strong as she hoped to be, and placed one foot in front of the other, saying a silent prayer for this day to move along and to find some joy.

She didn’t let her sadness take over, rather she reached into her gut, pulled out a smile, and once again introduced herself, attempting to make new friends.

She didn’t hold back her laughter, even though some days it was hard to muster up the courage to laugh.

Friends, you know what got this girl through? 

Love.

Self-love.

The love she had for herself when nothing was going according to plan.

The love she had for herself when the path she traveled was beyond unstable.

The love she had for herself knowing one day she would make a difference.

Her story would matter.

So when I look at this girl, my young fourteen-year-old self, all I can say to her is, “We made it.”

And we did…we made it.

Never leaving each other’s side, holding tight, knowing the future held so much in store for us.

This post originally appeared on Https://www.Facebook.com/hangintheremama.

 

 

Ali Flynn Is excited to share with you the joys and hardships of motherhood with an open heart, laughter and some tears. Ali is a monthly guest contributor for Westchester County Mom  and has been seen on Filter Free Parents, Grown and Flown, Today Parents and Her View From Home.

We are in the thick of winter so we are craving more sunlight and warmer temps. For now, however, we’ll have to deal with the uninspired forecasts. In addition to the lackluster weather, we are in a constant battle to keep the cold and flu germs away. And if you have lost that battle, you are not alone my friend. I am here to admit that I recently had a house full of moderately ill little ones. In fact, I too fell ill. And it was horrendous. I was weak and barely dragging myself around while my kiddies had all the energy in the world. Literally, if it weren’t for their runny noses, you wouldn’t have been able to tell they were sick. But as a mama (or papa) you still have to go on. Life doesn’t stop just because you’re sick. So how did I make it through? I’ll share my simple tips:

1. Rest. This may seem obvious to some but there are those out there who will still try to do everything they usually do while they are sick. Listen, your body is trying to heal and repair itself. It’s ok to slow down a bit. You won’t be able to completely stop, especially if you have toddlers but you can at least modify what you would usually do. And speaking of toddlers, communicate with them that you aren’t feeling too well. I did just that with my four-year-old and it helped her to understand why mommy wasn’t as energetic as usual. 

2. Get help. Whether it’s a family member, neighbor or friend, you may need some backup. My husband was able to stay home one of the days I was sick and it helped tremendously! Just having another adult in the house allowed me to let my guard down even more. I napped when the kids were up- something I obviously wouldn’t be able to do had he not been there. Getting help could also mean ordering out or having sandwiches for dinner. Again, don’t pressure yourself into your usual way of doing things.

3. Get some fresh air ASAP. Chances are that if you get sick, you’re going to be stuck in the house for a few days—not fun. So as soon as you start to feel a little better, get some fresh air. Even if it’s to just go on your front steps for a few moments—bundle up and enjoy some sun rays. 

4. Remember that this too shall pass. When you’re in the thick of the battle, it can seem like it’ll last forever. But before you know it, you’ll be back on your feet like new. So don’t let yourself get down. Go through the process and allow yourself to properly heal. 

I hope these simple tips help. They may not change the weather but they’ll keep you going when the cold and flu bug tries to stop you. 

Hi Everyone. I’m Amber. I’m a wife and mom of 2 beautiful princesses. I was born a creative and I’m learning to find creativity in every area of my life. I’m a lover of all things beautiful but I’m also drawn to the broken because there’s always room for restoration. 

Photo: Anna Moore

When you’re a single mom, it feels like you can never catch a break. You don’t have a partner to help even out the responsibilities. You are Mom. You are also Dad. Some days you’re superwoman and you are absolutely killing it. You’ve cleaned the bathrooms, done laundry, had sufficient amounts of caffeine, managed to get yourself out of bed on time that morning and even made pancakes for breakfast. Other days, you’re dragging. You woke up late, the house is a mess, you don’t know where to start and things are piling up.

You sometimes wonder if you’re doing the whole parenting thing wrong. Maybe it’s your fault that it’s just you. Maybe you’re what’s wrong.

I’m here to tell you that couldn’t be farther from the truth.

So much is packed into being a parent. Making sure you’re financially stable, making sure your child is taken care of while you’re at work, fixing dinner, laundry, cleaning bathrooms and changing bed sheets…the list goes on.

Don’t even get me started about all the parenting “advice” that is given so freely on the internet. You will always get the extreme opinions of any topic you research, finding that no matter how you phrase your question, you will always get a biased and very strongly worded answer thrown at you. People are quick to give you their thoughts and opinions on a situation without evaluating how they are coming across. This creates even more confusion and negative thoughts within the individual looking for guidance.

I asked my daughter one time if she’d be happy if it were just the two of us for the rest of her life. I didn’t get answers about cleaning or doing laundry. I got a very excited response about how we could have movie night every night and have our favorite snacks and have hot tea together. Of course, those are all things we could still do if I were married. The point I’m trying to make is that children’s minds work very differently from ours. An advantage of the mind of a child is that they see the positive in every situation, leaving adults longing for a mind like a child.

Not only am I a single mom, but I was a teen mom as well. Talk about a double whammy. Being fifteen and pregnant, nobody thinks you can make anything of yourself after that. You’re told that your life is over. Everything you’ve hoped and dreamed for yourself is now impossible. Which is why I went on to finish high school—half a semester early. I went to community college for two years and graduated Cum Laude. I finished my bachelors in Psychology from my University and had above a 3.2 GPA.

Being a single mom, being a young mom, doesn’t mean that your life is over. It just means you get to share it with someone who idolizes you, who thinks the world of you, who is always cheering for you. No matter what. Sharing experiences with the person you gave life to. Your built-in best friend.

I was able to cross the stage at my graduation seven months ago and look up at my seven-year-old daughter with tears in my eyes. She was beaming from ear to ear, waving and blowing kisses. In that moment, she didn’t care that I had laundry piled up at home. In that moment, she didn’t care that I’d forgotten to give her a drink with her breakfast last week. In that moment, she didn’t care that it was just the two of us.

In that moment, I was enough, and you are, too.

 

 

 

 

Hey, y'all! I'm a single mom to my seven year old daughter. I've loved writing all of my life, and love to share stories...most of which relate to parenting. Also sometimes our cat...Sir Gibson Severus Darcy. Yeah...it's a thing. Enjoy!

 

You and the internet have a special relationship. You’ve asked it everything from “What’s the normal reaction to a bee sting?” to“How much tylenol should a two-year-old have?” to “What’s the closest urgent care center?”

Stop guessing, and get the answers and peace of mind you deserve with the Heal app. Download Heal to begin scheduling home-visits by pre-screened, licensed primary care physicians.On-demand house calls are available 7 days a week, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. throughout California, and the doctors make it a point to arrive at your home in two hours or less.

With Heal you now have the luxury of avoiding your doc’s waiting room, dragging your sick kiddos to the appointment and dealing with complicated insurance policies. Heal accepts insurance and bills them directly, which means you’re simply responsible for your normal co-pay. Bonus: you can even get a check-up for yourself when the Heal physicians visit your home.

Breaking up with your search engine never felt so good.

What Do Moms Think?

“Heal is a priceless addition to my family” – Priya, Mother of 2

“Heal saved me from having to put my work – and life – on hold.” – Noelle, Mom & Pilates Instructor

Read more Real Mom stories here.

Do you remember when an afternoon at the playground looked a lot like the Cross Fit class you find yourself huffing and puffing through these days? If so, then you’re going to love this trip down memory lane. We’ve found the coolest blacktop equipment only kids from a generation raised on Twinkies and cheddar cheese balls can remember. From thunder-domes to wobbly rocking horses, we’ve got the retro gear you used to love to twirl around, jump on or slide down!

photo: Nels Olsen via flickr creative commons

High Speed Merry Go Round
Spin around as fast as possible and try not to throw up. To most kids these days, this may not sound like a game, but to anyone that grew up in the 70’s and 80s, it was a favorite pastime. Old school, metal merry go rounds picked up serious speed, so you needed to time your jump onto the hot metal carefully, or you’d be tossed. But, that was the fun of it. Right?

photo: Peter Griffin 

Wobbly Horse
What do you do when you don’t have an interactive iPad game to keep you thoroughly entertained? You jump on a heavy duty, totally battered, wobbly horse and pretend your’e an award winning jockey. We still remember how thrilling it was to be in the middle of the playground winner’s circle.

photo: Retro Crush

Log Crush
Back in the day, kids weren’t practicing tree pose to perfect their balance. It was all about the log crush. Jump on and move your feet and see how long it takes you before you fall. Then repeat.

photo: Bart Everson via flickr creative commons

Towering Metal Slides
Modern day slides are usually made of molded plastic, with just a faint slope and a definitive height restriction. Someone must have decided sky-high, burning hot metal might result in serious injury, but we have to admit, those towering metal slides did prep kids for a challenge. They may have also cured more than a few people’s fear of heights before they even knew to be afraid.

photo: Mental Floss

Flat Wooden Swings
If you sat on one of these flat wooden swings there’s a strong possibility your name is Jennifer, Amanda or Jessica (the top three names in 1980!). These popular 80’s swings weren’t made for softies. They didn’t curve to fit your seat and the chain-link handles could cause a nasty blister, but they did gain speed and go high. High enough that when you jumped off you could go really, really far.

photo: Scott Ackerman via flickr creative commons

Tether Ball
Tether ball was schweet! Sure you might get smacked in the face or deal with a jammed finger, but you and a friend could also have hours of fun on the playground with nothing more than a ball, tied by a rope to a metal post. It really was that easy.

photo: Sludge G via flickr creative commons

Rocket Monkey Bars
Maybe it was our obsession with NASA in the 70’s, but it seemed like every playground worth it’s salt had a version of rocket monkey bars. And, what better way to spark the imagination than climbing up, onto, and off of a rocket.

photo: haru_q via flickr creative commons

Tire Training
Got a discarded tire? Bring it to the playground. In the 70’s and 80’s if you went to the playground it seemed like at least half of it consisted of stuff made from tires. Tire swings, tire bridge, tire wall! It all worked, and provided hours of fun.

photo: Pax Holley 

Horrifying Clown Swings
Clowns are scary, especially for anyone who’s seen the horror classic, It. So, a skinny clown swing set was a double dose of creepy when it was all the rage in the 80’s. Luckily Madonna was around belting out Papa Don’t Preach to make us all feel better.

photo: Nels Olsen via flickr creative commons

Miracle Dome Whirl
It was like your very own version of Gravitron, the classic gravity-defying carnival ride. The real challenge was keeping your head down and your legs from dragging when you and your crew really picked up speed.

What long-gone piece of playground equipment was your favorite? Share with us in a Comment below. 

— Aimee Della Bitta

A mom stands in her kitchen refilling milk cups, picking up chicken nuggets off the floor and sneaking bites of mac and cheese from the pot on the stove. Sound familiar? It’s hard for parents to eat well when you’re always worried about making something your kids will actually consume. Enter… Galley Foods. It’s a new way to eat healthy, delicious meals without the hassle of cooking them or dragging your family to a restaurant. And, it’s only in D.C.!

What you get
With Galley, you can order one of three options from their website or app and have it delivered to your door—all for $14 or less. That includes tax, tip and delivery! Roasted Red Pepper Salmon, Cuban Shredded Beef and Herbed Goat Cheese Chicken are a few examples of dinner selections. And there are plenty of vegetarian items, too—like Mexican-style Stuffed Zucchini and Spinach Lasagna Bianca.

Heat and eat
All of the meals are created fresh daily by a chef and are between 600-800 calories. Lunch comes ready-to-eat and dinner just needs to be heated, either in your microwave or oven. The food even comes with plating instructions to make your meal even more fabulous. This service isn’t ideal for your typical picky-pants kid, but if your little one has a more adventurous palate there’s no reason you can’t order for the whole family.

Things to know
Galley currently only delivers in the District but they are planning to expand. Lunch is only served in Downtown, Foggy Bottom, Dupont. You used to have to place your dinner order before 5 pm, and select a half-hour delivery window—but they’ve just added an on-demand feature that allows you to order anytime between 5-8:30 pm.

Online: galleyfoods.com

Have you tried Galley yet? What did you think?

—Besa Pinchotti

Photos: Galley On Demand