Hello Gardeners! Since the Spring, many of us have been trying to adjust our mindsets and lifestyles to make real and lasting changes in the way we process stress and manage our emotions. Our very own Gardener Devin (one of the members of our Gardening Team), works with young gardeners who have very unique 'weeds'. Lately with the lack of schedules and not being in school. these gardeners had lots of extra energy built up. In efforts to help the kids Gardener Devin works with, she and her colleagues went in search of something fun, engaging, active and calming for the kids to enjoy! It was then that the Jaime, from Cosmic Kids Yoga, swooped in and saved the day! 🌈 Meet, Jaime 🌈 Check out the Cosmic Kids App here! Jaime is a Certified Yoga Instructor, who teaches yoga to kids in a kid-friendly, fun way. Every class follows a different movie, book, video game theme - Trolls, Mario, Moana, Harry Potter - you name it! She takes traditional yoga poses, but give them fun names. Cosmic Kids offers classes ranging from 5 minutes to 30 minutes - perfect for any schedule. Oh, yeah! Did I forget to mention that all of these videos are free on Cosmic Kids' Youtube channel? Cosmic Kids also provides guided meditations to help your little ones zen out and focus on the breath. These are awesome for a calm-down corner or for settling down before bedtime! Cosmic Kids Yoga is #PullYourWeedsApproved because: ✓ Like us, it uses kid-friendly language to familiarize kids with resources for managing mental wellness ✓ Introduces mindfulness in a fun, engaging way ✓ It's just another resource to add to your toolbox! Be sure to follow @cosmickidsyoga, visit Cosmic Kids website, or take a class for yourself on Cosmic Kids' Youtube page!

Let's face it, our kids are stressed. On a daily basis, children encounter multiple uncomfortable feelings, thoughts and emotions (aka weeds). From feeling overwhelmed with school work, being afraid of the dark, feeling left out with their friends, hearing a story on the news that scares them, to worrying about their loved ones dying...the list goes on. Just like real weeds in a garden, when you don't pay attention to them, things can get out of control and fast. This emoji chart shows what can happen if a gardener lets his/her weeds go unattended. It starts with one negative feeling, thought or emotion, and as more weeds pop up, a gardener can go from feeling uncomfortable, to stressed, to anxious or even depressed. Introducing the You Are a Gardener® vocabulary to young kids is a wonderful way to help them understand how important it is to identify negative emotions (weeds) and to verbalize how they make them feel. When gardeners talk about their 'weeds' with someone they trust, it opens up positive conversations about what occurred that caused them to feel stressed and helps them to move forward in a positive direction (aka pulling your weeds). When a young gardener encounters a weed, they may not have an opportunity right way to talk to someone about it or maybe they have talked about it, but don't physically feel better yet. This is where the 'seeds' come in. Think of your seeds as an emotional toolbox full of positive distractions to help shift your thoughts and feelings from a negative to a positive. The more tools a gardener has, the more prepared he/she can be the next time they encounter a stressful situation. Some of our favorite gardening tools are: ✿Journal Writing ✿ Singing along to your favorite song ✿ Having a dance party ✿ Taking a walk ✿ Drinking a glass of cold water ✿ Making a craft ✿ Baking something ✿ Reading a book ✿ Snuggling someone you love You reap what you sow. The more frequently you use the You Are a Gardener® vocabulary and the more tools you continue to explore, the brighter your garden will be. Gardening on a daily basis can be a lot of work and consistency is key. That's why all the programs we create can be used at home or in school. Stay tuned to the #PullYourWeeds Blog for new crafts, activities, videos and inspirational stories all rooted in empowering young gardeners with tools to help their gardens grow healthy and strong! #TheFutureIsFlowers

We are so grateful for all the opportunities we were presented with this year that inspired us to grow our programs and connect with gardener friends from all across the country! From in-school programs in early 2020 to creating Camp Hello Gardeners®, virtual book readings, creating new crafts, recipes & tools for our #PullYourWeeds blog, Zoom interviews and growing stronger roots for all of our programs. We can't wait to see where it all 'grows' in 2021! Here are some of our favorite moments from 2020! Happy New Year 🎉 - Visiting St. Catherine of Sienna School in Cedar Grove and presenting the you Are a Gardener SEL program to their teachers and students! -Making the sweetest episode ever of Hello Gardeners with Anne from Rebel Daughter Cookies and our very own Gardener Kelsey. -It was so much fun spreading seeds all the way in Utah on the Stress Nanny podcast with Lindsay Miller. -Being safe at home this Spring inspired so many fun crafts, recipes and tools to add to our #PullYourWeeds Blog. -Not being able to film Hello Gardeners this spring inspired us to create Camp Hello Gardeners with our videographer and creative side kick, Kelsey Jordan. We connected with so many talented friends and our extremely grateful for all of their contributions. -Virtual connections opened our doors to many opportunities such as being a guest speaker for the women's group BIG of Morristown. -It was so fun to be back 'virtually' on the iHeart radio series Passage to Profits . -It was so good to reconnect with Maria Falzo and be interviewed on HipNJ. -We are extremely grateful for Gardener Devin and all the fun and creative content she creates for the #PullYourWeeds Blog. #PullYourWeeds® | You Are a Gardener®

As 2020 comes to a close we hope you are taking some time to reflect on all that you accomplished this year. Acknowledging successes no matter how big or how small helps us continue to achieve and strive for our goals. So, before your mind launches into a new year, pause and celebrate the major strides you made in 2020. Talk about some serious gardening! Watch Gardener Anna's video as she encourages gardeners to make a list of the highlights from 2020 and she also shares some of her own! (Press Play To Watch Gardener Anna's 2020 Highlights Video) Making a list of all your accomplishments in a year is a wonderful exercise for gardeners of any age. Here are some ways to make it fun... ❀ Scroll through photos you have taken over the year and create a 2020 highlights album. This can also help you come up with your list. ❀ Create a video of your or your child reading the 2020 highlight list. This is one year worth really documenting. ❀ Save this list in a very special place to be read and enjoyed over the years. ❀ Make a bonus list of things you would like to accomplish in 2021! Wishing all our gardener friends a bright and Happy New Year! Thank you for all the seeds you helped us plant in 2020! We can't wait to see what grows...

Last Monday, Aidan asked for a shoe box and wrapping paper for a project he was working on for our family. Moments later he returned with a "Family Pull Your Weeds Box". Aidan's inspiration to create this box was rooted in wanting to discuss a few of his own 'weeds' with our family. As the week went by, we all found ourselves dropping a note in the box and on Sunday night after dinner we had a family 'pull your weeds' session. This was such a wonderful exercise for all of us as it created a calm and open minded environment for us to discuss some things that occurred during the week that could have easily been overlooked. I highly recommend trying this out at home or in your classroom. Keeping the lines of communication open between children and adults is extremely important, especially during these times. Watch Gardener Aidan's quick video to see how a family 'Pull Your Weeds' Box is a wonderful addition to your home. Aidan's #PullYourWeeds box is very similar to a tool I share with schools when I am presenting my You Are a Gardener® Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) program to elementary educators. A 'weeds to seeds' pot can be a very powerful tool to use in the classroom. When students encounter uncomfortable situations at school, it can be very disruptive for the child and class if not addressed. Creating a trusted space where students feel comfortable speaking openly and honestly with their teachers about their 'weeds' encourages open communication, empathy and a positive flow in the classroom. Scroll down to watch an episode of Hello Gardeners® to see how a 4th grade teacher uses it in her classroom. Keep pulling your weeds gardeners...the future is flowers! Shanna Watch one of my favorite episodes of Hello Gardeners® with our very own Gardener Kim, aka Ms. T. (a 4th grade teacher) as she and the gardeners show us how to make origami seed packets for students to use to discreetly communicate with their teachers when they need help 'pulling their weeds' in school. PRESS PLAY TO WATCH NOW > Plant your seeds, pull your weeds and enjoy the flowers along the way. You are a gardener.

Hello Gardeners! As joyful as this time of year is, it can also be a little overwhelming. With shopping, planning, decorating and keeping things festive... staying on the brighter side of things can sometimes be a challenge. Today we are dedicating our #PullYourWeeds post to stress-reducing, nerve-busting tips to help you get the most cheer out of this holiday season! # 1 L E T G O O F E X P E C T A T I O N S Holiday planning can be a lot of extra work. Looking ahead and taking the necessary steps to help you stay on track and organized can sometimes be overwhelming. If there is anything this year has taught us is take things one day at a time and don't get too far ahead of yourself. When you find yourself in a position where you feel like you are running thin, instead of asking yourself what should I be doing right now, try swapping the thought for what do I want to be doing right now. When we let ourselves off the hook from expectations and focus more on appreciation it can help keep the balance in our mental well-being. # 2 M A K E T I M E F O R Y O U Dedicating time for yourself helps you to bring your best to whatever priorities and challenges come your way. Be sure to carve out some special time that is just for you, even if you have to schedule it on your calendar. If you are looking for a craft or activity to help you relax and re-focus, be sure to take a look through our previous blog posts for some fun ideas! # E X P R E S S G R A T I T U D E Even during the toughest moments - we can always find ONE thing for which we are grateful. There's a famous quote by an unknown author that says, "Gratitude turns what we have into enough." This slight shift in perspective doesn't necessarily make the bad things seem not so bad, but they make the good things seem so much better! Check out our garden cycle for some more inspiration...click here! Practice this exercise with your family to create a Gratitude Garden! # 4 T R E A T Y O U R S E L F We've got a relaxing, luxurious, homemade mask for you to make with simple ingredients you can find in your pantry or at the grocery store! You will need: Raw honey (2 tbsp) Ground cinnamon (2 tsp) Lemon juice (1 wedge, squeezed) Raw honey is a wonderful anti-bacterial moisturizer, ground cinnamon acts as an exfoliant, and the lemon juice helps brighten skin and fight excess oil and acne**! *If you have sensitive skin or are unsure of your reactions to these ingredients, first test on small area of hand or arm **We are not dermatologists, but we have seen this mask work wonders from personal use! Your skin will thank you : ) # 5 P R A C T I C E M I N D F U L N E S S Taking even 5 minutes to do some deep breathing can really help regulate your stress levels and keep you present this holiday season! Find some guided meditations on Youtube or using a podcast app, download a mindfulness app, or try practicing mindfulness with the whole family using one of these techniques! We hope these tips will come in handy for you over the next month. We'd love to hear how you are keeping stress levels low this season! Let us know by emailing flowers@youareagardener.com. Thanks for reading along and remember, keep pulling your weeds! . . . @youareagardener | flowers@youareagardener.com | You Are A Gardener™

Getting kids to eat first thing in the morning before school can sometimes be a challenge. We are always on the hunt to find easy breakfast ideas that are tasty, healthy and FAST! As breakfast is the most important meal of the day, it's important to establish healthy eating habits for children at a young age. Making smart breakfast choices and emphasizing the importance of refueling their bodies can help start kids on the right track for a healthy lifestyle. According to kidshealth.org, "It's important for kids to have breakfast every day, but what they eat in the morning is crucial too. Choosing breakfast foods that are rich in whole grains, fibers and protein while low in added sugar may boost kids' attention span, concentration, and memory — which they need to learn in school." That's why today on the #PullYourWeeds Blog we are sharing one of our favorite early morning recipes that will help your get family ready for a healthy day ahead! Scroll down for our very own Berry Breakfast Bowl Recipe 🍓 You Are a Gardener® Berry Breakfast Bowl Recipe: ❀ 1 1/2 C of frozen mixed berries ❀ 1 Yogurt Stick (Frozen) ❀ 1 C Coconut Milk (almond or oat works too) ❀ Drizzle of honey (optional) Mix in blender until you get a sorbet like consistency. (Sometimes you need to add more milk or frozen berries to get the texture just right.) Serves 2-3. We love to top ours with melted peanut or almond butter, coconut flakes and granola, but the beautiful thing about these breakfast bowls... you can get creative with the toppings! Our #PullYourWeeds® Blog is rooted in empowering young kids with lots of tools to help their gardens grow healthy and strong. Eating healthy and learning how to cook are wonderful additions to their toolbox. We would love to hear what some of your favorite breakfast ideas. Send us an email to flowers@youareagardener.com 🍽

Now through Sunday 12/6 enjoy 10% off a copy of You Are a Gardener® plus get 5 free, custom #PullYourWeeds pencils with your purchase. Enter code ONPOINT10 at checkout. Shanna Truffini’s children’s book You Are a Gardener™ uses gardening vocabulary to help kids identify strong emotions and turn them into empowering and positive solutions. The book is recommended for children ages 4-12 but the message is truly ageless. The beautiful illustrations in the book are timeless watercolors that all ages enjoy. Since the book was published in 2017 it made such a positive impact on the community that it rapidly flourished into a social and emotional learning (SEL) program created by the author that is used in elementary classrooms across the country!

Today our family celebrates rescuing our beautiful dog Diamond, only two years ago. They say dogs have a way of finding the people who need them and she found us at just the right time. There are so many reasons our family advocates for rescuing animals and Diamond is a beautiful example of how positively life changing it can be. The role she plays for each one of us in our family has been truly therapeutic. She is calming for Anna, a playmate for Aidan, loyal to Dan, a walking partner for me and the list goes on. According to healthline.com, "Interacting with a friendly pet can help many physical and mental issues. It can help reduce blood pressure and improve overall cardiovascular health. It can also release endorphins that produce a calming effect. This can help alleviate pain, reduce stress, and improve your overall psychological state." The responsibilities of owning a pet are definitely an increase in your day to day life but the rewards are immeasurable. The comfort and companionship a pet offers to home can really strengthen a family bond. We thought it would be fun to share a clip from our Camp Hello Gardeners video series where Gardener Anna shares our special story about how Diamond found our family. Press Play to watch now! To watch this entire episode of Camp Hello Gardeners featuring how to make your own picture frames, fun with number art, kid friendly snack recipes, the art of improv, special signs and more watch the video here: https://www.youareagardener.com/session-4 The gardeners love guessing games! Not only are the fun but they are good for learning and using your imagination. In this short video clip of Camp Hello Gardeners, Gardener Anna, Gardener Aidan and our mascot Gardener Diamond play a game of guess who is coming out of the tent. Watch now and play along. Press Play Now! We would love to see pictures of your pets! Send us your photos to flowers@youareagardeenr.com

Aidan was learning about fragments the other day and read this description out loud, “Fragments are pieces of sentences that have become disconnected from the main clause.” This is how I am feeling about our current state of affairs with families, colleagues and neighbors in such a state of divide...we are so to speak, totally fragmented. We have become so rooted in our own experiences we are having a hard time seeing things from another’s perspective. One thing that connects us all as human beings is the universal desire to want and feel good’...not feel scared, not feel stressed, not feel sick, not feel bad...just to feel good. What we are doing in our own lives today is having major impact on all of our futures. This energy we are creating now will be felt for future generations. We are all part of this great big, beautiful sentence that needs one another to come together in a cohesive manner to effectively communicate our ‘main clause’ and right now that is to ‘feel good’, and not bad-no matter what your beliefs are. So as we stand on the brink of the entire world feeling vulnerable, scared, and stressed, I find myself searching for solutions on what I can do as one individual to help us come together, reconnect and feel good. I will continue to write/post positive, hopeful, and honest content that is rooted in empowering our children and ourselves with positive conflict resolution skills. I will put extra effort into spreading the word about my social and emotional learning programs that help unite children, families and educators with tools and skills to positively identify, communicate and navigate big emotions. When I am with my family, friends and colleagues I will try my best to ‘respond’ to uncomfortable encounters when they occur instead of ‘reacting’, knowing that the energy I create effects all of those around me. I will be accepting of others opinions even if we see things differently. I will continue to teach my children to be accepting and including of all human beings, no matter what...because the truth is, at the end of the day, if we all use what we learned from today, together we can make tomorrow a brighter place. ~Shanna Truffini Click Here to learn more about Shanna Truffini and the seeds she is planting for children, families and educators!

Forward and growing is a motto I say a lot around here and is very much rooted in the evolution of the #PullYourWeeds® Blog. When I started this blog in February of 2019 my intention was to create a virtual destination for families and educators to learn more about the value of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) skills and tools for children and while this is still at the root of the platform, the direction of the blog continues to grow. Anna and Aidan were only 6 and 8 years old when the You Are a Gardener® seeds were planted and as they grow, so does our content. By our own definition 'pull your weeds' means to talk about your negative feelings and emotions with someone you trust to come up with positive solutions to help you move forward. What #PullYourWeeds stood for when we started has now blossomed into an entire way of being for our family. Talking about your feelings is at the root of it all, while adding skills and tools to our 'emotional toolbox' is where it is also growing. Our family is consistently trying new recipes, crafts, mindfulness exercises, meeting new 'gardener' friends and responding to 'real life' encounters that we are experiencing on a day to day basis. We are happy you are here with us on our journey and look forward to seeing where it all 'grows'! Thank you to all our 'gardener' friends who continue to help us grow and spread some seeds! We love to hear from our fellow 'gardeners', if you have any fun crafts, kid-friendly recipes or 'tools' to add to our toolbox, please send us an email to flowers@youareagardener.com. You Are a Gardener® | #PullYourWeeds®

This week I had the pleasure of being the guest speaker for the Believe Inspire Grow (B.I.G.) Morristown Pod. B.I.G. is a women's empowerment organization that offers women the inspiration, community and tools they need to move their lives forward both personally & professionally. Using the power of positive peer support coupled with trend-setting information on topics you need to move your goals forward, they provide never-ending opportunities to explore, develop and embrace the person you want to be.  Click Here to learn more about their amazing organization! It was an honor to present to such a welcoming and supportive community! Stress and anxiety in young children is on the rise and my You Are a Gardener® Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) programs are all rooted in empowering children and families with positive tools to help them navigate their emotions. Conversations and discussions like these are needed now more than ever. Click Here to connect with me about booking future events for your group or send an email to flowers@youareagardener.com. I owe a big thank you to Julia Hickman of The Petite Fastinista for making this connection and helping me spread some seeds. Check out "Gardener Julia" in our videos below: Click Here To Watch Now Press Play