This post is sponsored by Cuties via Collectively. Thank you for supporting the brands that support my blog!
When I think of Cuties, I get flooded with memories from my childhood growing up in Canada. I remember going to the grocery store every week during the holiday season and picking out a crate (or two) of Cuties to enjoy at home. They were the perfect sweet and healthy snack with plenty of vitamin C to get us through our long winters.
Now that I have children of my own, the tradition continues, and my little cuties love Cuties mandarins just as much as I do! They’re a favorite snack in our home and we get so excited when we start to see them in stores every season. They’re easy to peel, seedless and a perfect portable snack for kids and adults alike (I pack at least three to snack on at work every day).
On weekends, we have our “special breakfast” every Sunday, and I love creating fun little shapes for the kid’s fruit plates. They’re also great as a healthy dessert in a waffle cone – the kids loved their “Cuties ice cream!” I even love to use Cuties as table décor – their bright orange color looks so great against holiday greenery.
We had the chance to partner with Cuties for their #100DaysOfSunhine campaign to spread love, kindness and gratitude, so I thought I’d share some ways that we as a family focus on gratitude, kindness and bringing a little sunshine to others.
Say it out loud.
Every night at bed time, we have a family ritual of saying what we’re thankful for and what our favorite part of the day was. We each take a turn asking one another the questions and I love hearing Harper’s answers every day. It’s a great way to practice mindfulness and gratitude every day and only takes a few minutes. If your child is older, I love the idea of keeping a gratitude journal.
Help others.
We adopt children in CPS custody or foster care each year to fulfill their holiday wish lists. We pick one boy and one girl and we shop together for them as a family. This year we’re adopting two children from DePelchin through my daughter’s preschool and we will be shopping for their gifts this weekend. I love getting the kids involved in helping pick out the toys and clothes for the children we adopt because it teaches them about the importance of helping others in our community.
Share a little sunshine.
We decided to have Harper be a “Cuties Correspondent” and put together little “bags of sunshine” and write notes for teachers, neighbors and family members. Harper loves to “write notes” to people, so this was especially fun for her. I set out some cards and stickers and helped her write her messages on the cards (it was a great way to practice letters and spelling too!) We hope these little “bags of sunshine” will bring a smile to everyone receiving them – I don’t know anyone that has ever turned down Cuties!
I hope this post inspires you to bring a little sunshine to those you love – whether it’s new traditions with your own family, helping your community or simply sharing a smile with a stranger, I invite you to join me for #100DaysOfSunhine and share the ways you spread kindness, love and happiness.
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