Hi Reader,

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I have been suffering from an affliction for the past ten years. Something so unpleasant, so intrusive, so downright cringey that I’ve never told another soul. Not even Ben—my husband of nearly 13 years, my most trusted confidant, the man who has seen me at my worst (including the time my water broke, I went into labor, and then decided to bake a few lasagnas to stock our freezer before heading to the hospital).

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What could be so horrifying that I can’t even confess it to him?
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It happens almost every morning, right as I cradle my precious, life-giving mug of coffee. Like clockwork.
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(And no, it’s not something that sends me to the bathroom.)
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This affliction is entirely internal, lurking in the darkest corners of my subconscious. It’s automatic. Just as my hands instinctively press the button on my Nespresso, my brain presses its button.

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And suddenly, against my will, it begins.
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A jingle.
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A sinister little tune from the depths of advertising hell.
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Do you hear it, too?
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Picture yourself back in 1996, innocently waiting for the commercials to end and the Olsen twins to come back on.
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"The best part of waking up…"
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NO. STOP. NOT AGAIN.
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“…is Folgers in your cup!”
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NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. SOMEONE, MAKE IT STOP.
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I have never, not once, in my entire coffee-drinking existence, considered Folgers to be the best part of waking up. No one has. No one goes to bed dreaming of Folgers. Even in the dark ages of 1996—before cold brew, before oat milk lattes, before Nespresso pods made us feel like we’re George Clooney—we all knew. The best part of Folgers was when you finished it.
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And yet, despite my best efforts, this jingle refuses to leave my brain. It has outlasted college lectures, the names of distant relatives, and the location of my car keys on a daily basis. I can’t recall my sixth-grade teacher’s name, a woman I spent an entire year with, but I can, without hesitation, recite this cursed song that I never even wanted to learn.

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Folgers, I surrender. You win. Now please, for the love of all things caffeinated, get out of my head.

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And see, I got completely derailed from why I was even talking about coffee in the first place!!

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I apparently blew everyone’s mind the other day on Instagram when I mentioned that coffee is, in fact, hydrating. (It’s true!)

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While it won’t hurt to drink water first, or drink water in addition to your coffee, you are still working toward hydrating yourself with your daily dose of caffeine.

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New This Week From Mama Knows
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​ON THE BLOG

The Best of the Best Toddler Plates & Utensils

When it comes to picky eating, I’ve found that the small things sometimes matter…a lot. So I’ve outlined some of my favorite picky eater tools to make meal and snack times just a little easier for you and your picky eater.

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IN THE RECIPE BOOK

Broccoli Tots for Kids

I’ve pretty much turned boring old broccoli into a cousin of french fries (well, tater tots), with these broccoli tots! This recipe is actually a fun and delicious way to get in a serving of vegetables in a way that’s very approachable for most kids. A bite-sized side dish served alongside a hamburger, with ketchup for dipping and boom! Your kid ate broccoli.

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Feeding Tip Of The Week​
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Sick kid? Hydration is extra important when they’re sick because their bodies lose more fluids than normal and if your kid is like mine, I have to pull out all the tricks because they don’t want to drink lots of water.

A few hydration ideas:

• Popsicles (I just look for the no added sugar kind, like DeeBees, GoodPop and SweetNothings)
• Fun straws or cups
• ​Electrolyte packets
• KendaKids or Beam Kids Shakes
• ​Smoothies
• Fruit 🍇🍊

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What I’m Loving This Week

This snack spinner is so fun! It’s a great resource for picky eaters. This gives them a variety of options, and allows them to make snack time into a game by pressing the button to spin the snacks, and when it lands on a snack then that’s what they eat next. So much fun, and great for encouraging variety!
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Take care, friend!

P.S. Tired of figuring out what to feed your family? Grab my Meal & Snack Survival Guide for tons of delicious, nutritious, and simple meal and snack ideas!

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Disclaimer: this message contains affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.​
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