Chayotes Maria

Chayote is a squash grown across southern Mexico and Central America. It is a great lower carb alternative to potatoes. The chayote in this chayotes Maria dish really allows the sauce and spices to shine through. What is chayote? Chayote is a variety of squash. It is green on the outside and a greenish-white on…

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3 sauces in glasses

Accepting foster placements from different countries means learning a lot about different foods. I recently learned about a Mexican chimichurri that is specifically for pizza. Below is a recipe for this chimichurri that will change your pizza eating experience. What is Mexican Chimichurri? Mexican chimichurri is a sauce that is typically used for pizza. It…

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The word “ask” on a street sign.

Before you accept a foster placement, there are SO many questions you may have rolling around in your head. Here are 14 of the questions my agency (or friends) suggested I ask prior to placement. Biological/ Previous Family Questions What can you tell me about biological family involvement? You will want to know this so…

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When a child enters foster care, they often lose SO much. A foster care welcome basket is a great way to welcome kids into the home and ensure they have some items of their own. In this post, I’ll show you the welcome baskets I made for my new foster teen and baby and what…

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Handwritten thank you note from a child

The Unaccompanied Refugee Minor (URM) program refers to a subset of kids in foster care who come from other countries without a parent, guardian or any relationship with someone in the United States. When I told my friends I’ve decided to foster kids in the URM program, they had a lot of questions! Here are…

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Mother and child holding hands

When considering whether to start the process of becoming a licensed foster parent, it can be important to know the timelines and processes for each step. This post discusses a general timeline and outlines the process (in Colorado). I chose to go through an agency (rather than county). Check out this post to explore the…

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Like me, you may have been unaware that there are different types of foster care. This post helps to tease out the differences. Hopefully, it will help you (and me!) to make the best choice for your situation if you are considering foster care. Traditional Domestic Foster Care Traditional foster care supports children and families…

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Pop Its and Fidget Spinners have become all the rage recently, but they come with a hefty price tag. In this post, I discuss some homemade options for DIY fidget toys that have just as much success as those spendy fidgets. What is a Fidget Toy? A fidget toy is an item (not necessarily a…

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Foster parenting requires a lot of “stuff”. This post discusses some of the wish list items foster parents and biological parents alike have found useful in their parenting journeys. You won’t find clothes, diapers, or other basics on this list. Why Develop a Wish List for Fostering? When I was first starting out on my…

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Low carb spicy chicken patties

Fast food sandwiches are a young kid’s dream. This recipe for low carb spicy chicken patties combines the nostalgia of younger days with a healthy twist. What Type of Meat to Use Although you can use basically any meat for patties or burgers, chicken seems to be the most widely used and versatile meat. Chicken…

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