https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 07 Apr 2026 05:13:01 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-problems-do-you-face-with-meal-planning-and-how-do-you-solve-them#post-2928450 Wed, 26 Jun 2024 10:52:41 +0000 azbaby 2928450@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm ok at meal planning but horrible at actually following through with my plans. I try to have a few go to easy or frozen meals on hand. This way if I don't feel like cooking everyone still gets to eat.A few favorites are TJ's mushroom ravioli and their sweet potato gnocchi. . I throw in a protein ( frozen chicken) and make broccolli on the side. If my daughter doesn't like whats for dinner she gets an apple. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-problems-do-you-face-with-meal-planning-and-how-do-you-solve-them#post-2928449 Sun, 23 Jun 2024 10:11:38 +0000 adam 2928449@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'll go first 😁I have two main issues with meal planning:</p> <p>1. It becomes repetative very fast, since I don't know a lot of recipes.<br /> 2. It is hard to prep for everyone in the house, since tastes could greatly vary.</p> <p>I was constantly looking for new recepies, but it is also time consuming so now I'm looking into how to automate it (maybe with some app or smth) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-party-how-many-people#post-2928072 Tue, 07 Mar 2023 09:18:55 +0000 MamaCate 2928072@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@azbaby: we invited probably around the number you would end up with if you invited everyone for our preschool parties. The thing to remember is that not everyone is going to come, so think about what will be fun and manageable for you and your family. If lots of people running around and a bounce house and pizza sounds like your scene, then just do it! If it gives you panicky feelings then cut the size. I find those parties fun so they have worked for us. </p> <p>I do think offering an in school alternate for the preschool class might be a good way to cut, and at some point when we were in the “have to invite the whole class” stage we cut back on other friends coming. </p> <p>But it will be fun whatever you decide! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-party-how-many-people#post-2928071 Tue, 07 Mar 2023 07:53:57 +0000 bakingdoodle 2928071@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd say... send cupcakes to the preschool for those 6 kids. (I used to also make a pinata. The only sad part, was I wasn't there when they broke it)<br /> Do the bounce house with the kids neighborhood .. and your friends' kids... I would think that's a happy medium without going overboard... my 2 cents :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-party-how-many-people#post-2928067 Mon, 06 Mar 2023 14:04:12 +0000 Bluemasonjar 2928067@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son turned 4 a few months ago and we invited the 11 kids in his preschool class plus a few siblings. It was a perfect number of kids and we were able to interact with all the parents. </p> <p>I personally find it harder to manage hosting duties when we have multiple groups of friends and prefer a group of kids and parents that are already familiar. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-party-how-many-people#post-2928066 Mon, 06 Mar 2023 11:41:01 +0000 Lahela017 2928066@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I haven't hosted yet, but my daughter just went to a preschool classmate's 4th birthday party. There were about 10 kids there. Between the kids and their parents, it felt like a good max number. I definitely wouldn't do more.</p> <p>That being said, I read somewhere that a good rule of thumb is the child's age +1. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-party-how-many-people#post-2928065 Mon, 06 Mar 2023 10:42:52 +0000 azbaby 2928065@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My daughter's 3rd birthday is coming up and I'm struggling to figure out how large of a party to have. We live in an amazing neighborhood with 14 kids she plays with on a regular basis. She also has about 6 kids at preschool that she loves and a few friends kids. I don't want to hurt anyone's feeling but am wondering how many kids is too many? She's incredibly extroverted and is used to playing with a ton of kids at once..I'm thinking of having a bouncy house and pizza to keep it simple. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-just-for-fun-question-how-do-you-prefer-your-coffee-at-home#post-2927989 Tue, 14 Feb 2023 11:59:48 +0000 togetherthroughlife 2927989@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bees_knees: Ooh, that sounds lovely!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-just-for-fun-question-how-do-you-prefer-your-coffee-at-home#post-2927985 Mon, 13 Feb 2023 00:42:45 +0000 bees_knees 2927985@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just got a Gaggia super auto and I’m obsessed with it. I love pushing a button and having a custom drink. Lately been drinking Americanos with a splash of oat milk, and a cafe au lait in the afternoon as a nap time treat 🥰 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-just-for-fun-question-how-do-you-prefer-your-coffee-at-home#post-2927982 Sat, 11 Feb 2023 22:57:32 +0000 togetherthroughlife 2927982@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: Outside the house coffee treats are amazing, too! That became more of a habit for me than EVER during Covid lockdown in spring 2020. All I could do was drive my youngest around to nap and do a drive through or curbside coffee. I agree that something about that pickmeup is so nice! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-just-for-fun-question-how-do-you-prefer-your-coffee-at-home#post-2927981 Sat, 11 Feb 2023 22:55:39 +0000 togetherthroughlife 2927981@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@karenbme: Yes! I love a good blend! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-just-for-fun-question-how-do-you-prefer-your-coffee-at-home#post-2927977 Sat, 11 Feb 2023 13:28:28 +0000 karenbme 2927977@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hitchhiker: the moccamaster has been in my cart since like September. 😅 I’ve told myself if I don’t quit my job after maternity leave I can pull the trigger, but that’s still an if so 🤷🏻‍♀️ I might look for a 12 cup OXO, though, DH and I are going through a lot of coffee right now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-just-for-fun-question-how-do-you-prefer-your-coffee-at-home#post-2927976 Sat, 11 Feb 2023 13:19:27 +0000 Anagram 2927976@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a Tchibo machine, just because I wanted a single-serve machine that grinds and makes a cup fresh, wanted to move away from pods, have a tiny urban kitchen, didn’t want to spend a fortune, etc. </p> <p>It’s good for my needs. I drink coffee daily but I’m the only one so I didn’t need an entire pot of coffee. We have an expensive 2k built in espresso machine in our weekend house (it came with the house) and other then it having a steam/frothed wand, I can’t tell the difference between the coffee that comes out of each machine. I’m definitely not a connoisseur though and I use lots of creamer so I’m sure I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between the shittiest cup and the best cup anyway. </p> <p>I spend a stupid amount of money buying coffee outside the house and it’s my worst habit. So I wish I could get into the groove of just only making a cup at home but meh. I’m just trying to survive most days and I leave for work at 6:30am and it is a little mental pick me up to buy myself a coffee treat every day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-just-for-fun-question-how-do-you-prefer-your-coffee-at-home#post-2927975 Sat, 11 Feb 2023 07:18:37 +0000 hitchhiker 2927975@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@karenbme: I like it a lot! I wanted the 9 cup for the auto start, but the 8 cup fits better on our tiny counter, so I went with that. I don’t miss the auto start, because I don’t think I would actually prep everything the night before anyway. </p> <p>I also debated a Moccamaster, but decided I just did not need the fanciest drip coffee maker. It’s just drip, after all! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-just-for-fun-question-how-do-you-prefer-your-coffee-at-home#post-2927972 Fri, 10 Feb 2023 22:03:27 +0000 karenbme 2927972@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hitchhiker: Do you like the OXO brewer? I’ve been on the fence about what drip machine to replace ours with for ages. I keep eyeing a specific very fancy machine but can’t really justify the price, and I get overwhelmed with all the options for standard coffee makers.</p> <p>@togetherthroughlife: As a Vermonter, maple syrup is a must have coffee add in. 😅 Personally I don’t have a preference between single origin and blends as long as it’s a blend that uses quality beans. I feel like coffee blends are like blended wines in that they get a bad rap, but only because people only know the cheap ones, </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-just-for-fun-question-how-do-you-prefer-your-coffee-at-home#post-2927970 Fri, 10 Feb 2023 18:57:10 +0000 togetherthroughlife 2927970@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hitchhiker: I love my aeropress! I typically only use it if I’m going to make 1 or 2 americanos or lattes at the same time. I love to steam vanilla oat milk with a dark roast triple aeropress. GREAT combo! I’ve never heard of that OXO cold brew maker! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-just-for-fun-question-how-do-you-prefer-your-coffee-at-home#post-2927969 Fri, 10 Feb 2023 18:55:15 +0000 togetherthroughlife 2927969@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LadyDi: Sounds yummy! What flavors do you like? You said something nutty. Like a hazelnut flavor roast? My MIL is so obsessed with hazelnut coffee. Ha! It smells great. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-just-for-fun-question-how-do-you-prefer-your-coffee-at-home#post-2927968 Fri, 10 Feb 2023 18:54:10 +0000 togetherthroughlife 2927968@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Chuckles: Decaf after the kids go to bed in the winter is such a nice wind down! And good call on the French press. I use an aeropress at home if I only need one cup! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-just-for-fun-question-how-do-you-prefer-your-coffee-at-home#post-2927967 Fri, 10 Feb 2023 18:53:26 +0000 togetherthroughlife 2927967@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@karenbme: I know others who swear by maple syrup! We have a lot of connections to local coffee roasters where we live, oddly. It’s a fun scene to be involved in here. We just can’t afford to buy those beans for ourselves to use all the time with how much we drink! My husband drinks like 4x the coffee I do. It’s bad. Haha! But any time birthdays and Christmases roll around we ask for high quality local coffee!!! So good and so fresh. Grinding at home makes for such a fresher taste, for sure. What are some of your favorite dark roasts? Do you like blends or single origin? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-just-for-fun-question-how-do-you-prefer-your-coffee-at-home#post-2927966 Fri, 10 Feb 2023 18:50:56 +0000 togetherthroughlife 2927966@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Corduroy: I think that much decaf would be like, what, the equivalent of one cup of regular? It’s great that you aren’t reliant on the caffeine! Like me. Hahah. Wish I wasn’t! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-just-for-fun-question-how-do-you-prefer-your-coffee-at-home#post-2927965 Fri, 10 Feb 2023 18:49:49 +0000 togetherthroughlife 2927965@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@poppygirl15: Haha, same. I can do a cup before 2pm if I’m tired, but much later and I’m wired at night! I love my cuisinart drip maker and I don’t care who knows it! ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-just-for-fun-question-how-do-you-prefer-your-coffee-at-home#post-2927964 Fri, 10 Feb 2023 18:49:05 +0000 togetherthroughlife 2927964@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Lahela017: Coconut sounds great! And I love that cold brew concentrate. Yum. I usually get something iced when I’m at a coffee shop but I haven’t quite perfected it at home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-just-for-fun-question-how-do-you-prefer-your-coffee-at-home#post-2927962 Fri, 10 Feb 2023 15:18:10 +0000 hitchhiker 2927962@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love coffee, too! I buy locally roasted beans, usually a light or medium roast. I mix together regular and decaf beans solely so I can drink more cups of coffee, because, like I said, I *love* coffee! </p> <p>Right now I am using a new OXO drip machine. In the summer, I use the OXO cold brewer. Until I got the drip machine, I was using an AeroPress, but the individual serving is a real barrier if you want to drink multiple cups per day (I usually drink 3 cups). I also sometimes use a french press, but I hate that the last cup is always a little sludgy. </p> <p>As for coffee condiments, I warm up a bit of oat milk and foam it. For some reason, the warming/foaming process really delights me every morning. </p> <p>Thank you for offering me this opportunity to discuss one of my favorite topics! :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-just-for-fun-question-how-do-you-prefer-your-coffee-at-home#post-2927959 Fri, 10 Feb 2023 14:37:22 +0000 LadyDi 2927959@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love coffee! I primarily get whole beans from local roasters and grind it at home. I appreciate the grinder recommendation @karenbme:! I usually do medium roasts or a flavored bean that's nutty. I usually buy a sweet cream or french vanilla creamer and do a bit of that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-just-for-fun-question-how-do-you-prefer-your-coffee-at-home#post-2927957 Fri, 10 Feb 2023 09:50:17 +0000 Chuckles 2927957@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We also use an older drip coffeemaker, but if I want just a little coffee, I'll use a French press. I usually just put a little whole milk, so I'm really boring. Sometimes in the winter after dinner, I'll do some Bailey's in decaf :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-just-for-fun-question-how-do-you-prefer-your-coffee-at-home#post-2927952 Fri, 10 Feb 2023 01:07:03 +0000 karenbme 2927952@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We’re borderline coffee snobs, and buy locally roasted beans that we grind at home—usually medium sometimes dark roast and tend to like Central American beans best. We upgraded to the Fellow Ode coffee grinder at Christmas and I 100% recommend it if you grind at home. I brew in a Mr. Coffee that is a million years old and probably needs replacing. In terms of how I take it, I’m simple, some half and half, no sugar, but sometimes I’ll add a little maple syrup or cocoa powder. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-just-for-fun-question-how-do-you-prefer-your-coffee-at-home#post-2927944 Wed, 08 Feb 2023 19:12:35 +0000 Corduroy 2927944@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have shamelessly bad taste in coffee. I drink about 10 cups of Folgers Decaf (or the store brand equivalent) black. I haven't been able to tolerate caffeinated coffee since my kids were little. I like it but I get really aggressive even if I stick to one cup. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-just-for-fun-question-how-do-you-prefer-your-coffee-at-home#post-2927940 Wed, 08 Feb 2023 15:53:24 +0000 poppygirl15 2927940@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm so boring! Right now, we're buying Lavazza medium or light roast. We use a Cuisinart drip and I like it with non-fat milk. I have two cups in the morning and sometimes another mid-day. Depends on how much sleep I got the night before. :wink: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-just-for-fun-question-how-do-you-prefer-your-coffee-at-home#post-2927939 Wed, 08 Feb 2023 14:51:51 +0000 Lahela017 2927939@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have both a Nespresso and a Keurig that I use. I prefer to get seasonal flavored roasts. My favorites are peppermint in the winter and blueberry or coconut in the summer.</p> <p>In the afternoon I usually have a glass of iced coffe- even in the winter. Either with one of my machines or French Vanilla Chameleon Cold Brew Concentrate. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-just-for-fun-question-how-do-you-prefer-your-coffee-at-home#post-2927938 Wed, 08 Feb 2023 08:03:12 +0000 togetherthroughlife 2927938@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For those of you who drink coffee, how do you make it at home? I think it’s fun hearing about everyone’s different preferences!</p> <p>I’ll go first. :) I like dark roasts. We have a Cuisinart drip maker that’s held up well over the years and just use that to make it. If I’m not drinking it black, I like a splash of extra creamy Chobani oat milk. Sometimes we buy creamer — I like Starbucks white mocha, Chobani vanilla or sweet cream, or the Silk oat creamer. I usually have 1-3 cups each morning depending on how long I have to sit before the day begins. </p>