It isn’t about candy, or buying gifts; it isn’t about fireworks; it’s simply about being thankful, eating delicious food and spending quality time with family and friends. The first Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621 by the pilgrims after their first successful harvest in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The first Thanksgiving lasted about three days and was attended by 53 pilgrims and 90 Native Americans. In 1863, Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday. Well, that sure took long enough!  Today, Thanksgiving is so big that 46 million turkeys will be basted this year!  Black Friday? It should be called Green Friday! Thanksgiving spurred, “Black Friday,” a term cooked up in the 1950’s by police to describe the cornucopia of pedestrians and traffic that gobbled up all the streets the day after Thanksgiving. People would call in sick to work just to get a jump on holiday shopping! In 1961, marketers dubbed it, “Big Friday,” and promised a feast of items at discounted prices.  In 2017, Americans spent over 5 billion dollars in twenty-four hours on Black Friday. A smorgasbord of savings!  Cyber Monday? Cyber Fun-day!  As we all know, “the times they are changing’,” and on November 28, 2005, marketing companies debuted, “Cyber Monday,” in an effort to get people to shop online. Boasting no long lines, no getting up early nor staying up late to bump shoulders with other eager shoppers—Cyber Monday became an instant favorite in the melting pot of shopping, and saw sales reaching to 6.6 billion in 2017!   Paying it forward. With all these special days to save money while buying amazing things for ourselves, it’s important to remember how lucky we are, blessed to have the families and fortunes that we have. On this special day, to feel the true meaning of Thanksgiving, we at Gululu pose to you to do something generous for people less fortunate.  Here are just a few ways you can teach children about generosity, responsibility, and compassion: 1) Donate to a local homeless shelter or the VA!  With your child, go around your house and find things you don’t really need or use much any more.  Talk about the joy this item brought to you, and how much it will bring to someone else. 2) Gift giving!  Give your child a gift, for the sole purpose of giving it to someone else. Let your child choose to whom they want to give the gift. Help to make gratitude the centerpiece of Thanksgiving!  3) Volunteer!  There are many places that serve food and provide other services to homeless and elderly people.  Check out local shelters to see how you can help.  4) Get your child a Gululu and support children in developing countries!  We at Gululu live the word generosity, and ask that you help out, too. By purchasing a Gululu for your child, you will not only start their learning about healthy drinking habits, but also about being generous. Thanks to our cooperation with Generosity.org, a portion of every Gululu sold goes toward helping build sustainable water wells for children in developing countries.  And what’s the best thing about buying a Gululu? You don’t have to call in sick to get one! Let’s make our new world one full of health and generosity!  From all of us, at Gululu.    Give thanks, and have a Happy Thanksgiving! 

Wooooooooooo! Creak….Creak…Ooooooooo! What’s that sound!? Did you hear that? It sounds like…Halloween! Yay! Celebrated in most western countries-- among them are the USA, European countries, Canada, Australia, The Dominican Republic, and even more. There is no holiday loved more by children around the world than Halloween.  Yes, yes, Christmas is grand, but all kids love candy! Candy! Candy! Trick or Treat! Trick or treating began in the 1930’s, and kids were given mostly homemade treats.  In the 1950’s candy companies started to catch on, and began marketing manufactured candies as an easier--and safer--product for kids.  Today, Halloween is one of the most popular and expensive holidays, with Americans to spend $9 billion this year!   Is Halloween only about candy? We all know kids love candy but is candy what Halloween’s all about? 2000 years ago, ancient Celts celebrated Halloween, originally called Samhain, and their new year on November 1st.  The Celts’ superstition believed the barrier between the real world and the spirit world was thin during this time of year, and that all sorts of eerie ghosts and spellbinding spirits with magic powers could walk the earth!  So, what about costumes? The Celts would have a giant party and dress up in scary outfits to frighten away the unwanted apparitions. They also hollowed out large turnips and put a burning coal inside to ward off shadowy specters--that’s where carving Jack-o-lanterns comes from! In the 8th century, Pope Gregory III made November 1st, All Saint’s Day, and the night before, All Hallows Eve—Allhalloweeve—Halloween!    This Halloween, Gululu wants to make family—not candy--the focus of the fun! Here we shared some “do it yourself” ideas the whole family can enjoy together!   Try some of these out to spur your own creativity:  Click here to create some Halloween Crafts Halloween superhero capes with your name!??   What you'll need? Pumpkin picture frames! What You'll Need Round picture frames Orange paper Scissors Glue Pen Fine black glitter (Crafty Chica Glitter in Be-Bop Black, $3; amazon.com) Orange ribbon Tape   Make It 1. Remove backing, photo, and glass from frame. 2. Cut orange paper to match the size of the glass, then draw each jack-o'-lantern feature with a glue pen and immediately sprinkle with glitter before moving on to the next. 3. Cut an extended length of orange ribbon and wrap around the frame to cover; tape on the underside to secure. Replace frame backing to display. Originally published in the October 2009 issue of Parents magazine. Halloween Flashlight projections craft This Halloween craft is pretty simple! First, pick up some flashlights. Next, get some cardstock for creating your shapes from your favorite craft store.  Cut your images to fit a basic flashlight, we sized them to be 2? (fit it to your flashlights’ opening size.) Note that the mini size ones did not project that well… Once you cut your wanted shape, just tape them to the edge of your flashlight and shine it away!   We hope you have a wonderfully wicked Halloween!  From all of us here at BOO-lulu!  Happy Halloween!!!!  Want to make Pumpkin Picture Frames?

Oh boy, we are so excited about this collaboration! You know why?  If you have been following us for a while, you know that our mission is to hydrate kids around the world. We are always looking for new ways to impact more children and further educate them to acquire more water and develop a healthy life routine!  Gululu is excited to announce the latest collaboration to show our support towards upholding our mission of improving children's health around the world. Gululu is officially teaming up with the health-focused gaming company Gamers Rock. Together we are launching the joint initiative,  "Level Up H2O Fun Hydration!”   This initiative will use the latest computer technology and motion sensor gaming to encourage youth to meet their daily recommended water intake while participating in sport activities. Using a "learning through play" approach through the Gululu Interactive Water Bottle, the initiative strives to cultivate healthy hydration habits and transform them with a rewards program that will act as a great incentive to encourage the participants to drink more water and complete their assigned hydration goals. After a successful summer pilot, the implementation of the "Level Up H2O Fun Hydration" initiative will continue this fall, and will take place in selected schools and after-school programs all over the United States! The "Level Up H2O Fun Hydration" summer camp pilot programs were launched in some of the most respected after-school programs in the country, including The Boys & Girls Club of America, YMCA, American Diabetes Camps, 4H, and Magic Johnson Empowerment Centers.  The pilot programs took place in Georgia, New Jersey, Texas, Virginia, and Ohio.   And what do you know? We really made a difference, and we are thrilled to share the comments about it! Mary Kauffman, Manager of the Magic Johnson Community Empowerment Center in Cleveland, Ohio said: "The overall impression of the 'Level Up H20 Fun Hydration' initiative, and the Gululu bottle has been extremely positive. Parents should always encourage their children to drink more water instead of sugary drinks and stay healthy,"  "We are delighted to enter this partnership with a global leader in the field of interactive hydration technology," said Gamers Rock founder and "Level Up H2O Fun Hydration" Executive Director, Jermaine Hargrove. "The joint project will raise awareness and support healthier lifestyles for children around the world."   Search for Gululu and Gamers Rock programs in this website: www.gamersrock.com/ It is our commitment to keep hydrating the kids of America, and the world.   Stay hydrated!   Much Gulu-Love! Gululu Family  

Wow! Where did the time go? It seems that just last month we were busy signing our kids up for summer programs, planning vacations, and sending them to visit family.   And then out of nowhere, summer is almost over, and it’s time for school again!   For lots of parents, the start of the school year is when things finally get back to normal. However, for our kids, it’s almost a nightmare coming true!   No more late night movies, sleeping late, day after day of fun with friends and family.  Time spent at the pool will be replaced with time spent at a desk, learning new things in the classroom. Kids often find it hard to return to the rigors of a structured school week.   New teachers, new classes, new friends—how can they keep up with all of it?   Our dedication to healthy kids and parents is ongoing. We never stop, and we have a few ideas to help make a smooth transition from summer fun to school-time humdrum.   1) Prepare a routine!   The week before school starts, begin practicing the new schedule. Wake up early and have them get ready for “an exciting day at school!”  Prepare a lunch, and remind them to drink from their water bottle to stay hydrated. Tell kids what to expect and be ready to answer any questions they might have.   2) School Walk-through!   Plan some time to walk your kids through their school.  Find all of their classrooms, the principal's office, and bathrooms so they won’t feel lost on their first day. This is also great for parents if you ever need to find your kids during school time, so you’ll know right where to go.   3) Make a play date!   During the week before school, invite some friends over for “a fun day at school.” It’s like a sleepover during the day, filled with school-themed activities instead. Friends can all bring their lunches, eat together, and enjoy “class time” with fun things to do, like Art—coloring, Science—leaf collage, Math—practicing fractions with measuring cups; The possibilities are endless!  Just have fun. This also helps other parents to have a day of practice.   4) Meeting the Teachers!   Meeting your child's teacher together with your child can help ease any anxiety kids might feel when meeting a new person. It can give kids a sense of security: by saying, “Don’t worry.  I’ve got your back.”  It will also show the teacher you really care about your kid’s education by being a part of it.    One more recommendation from us. Don’t forget to give your children a water bottle! Now that they’re away from home all day make sure they stay hydrated. If they have a Gululu bottle, remind them you’ll be checking up on their progress throughout the day, which is a breeze to do on the app. Gululu’s rewards are fun and healthy! Adding your own rewards for keeping up with their water-drinking habits, will show you that you are watching and that you care.   Happy, healthy kids make a happy, healthy future.   From all of us at Gululu, Happy School Days! Much Gulu-Love, The Gululu Family     

Summer is in full swing, so there is no better time than right now to plan experiences and adventures that will create lifelong memories for your child(ren) and family! A whiff of salty sea breeze; the sound of singeing marshmallows over a crackling fire; the flash of fireflies against a background of chirping crickets—these are some common triggers of nostalgia that whisk many of us back to yesteryear when time seemed infinite, and our youth was a given. Fast forward to now when we are not just adults, but parents, who understand that time passes more quickly every year, and that childhood is as fleeting as the light coming from our buggy friends’ bums. These memories aren't just pleasant to recall, but they are based on transformational experiences that allowed us to discover who we were, what we were capable of, and many of the wonders of life.    As parents, it is one of our greatest privileges to be able to bring these types of experiences to our children. However, I would like to suggest that instead of just delivering these experiences, we might want to architect them in order to maximize the chances that they will live on forever in our families’ hearts and minds. Here's how to harness three pillars of great architecture—newness, unpredictability, and togetherness—to design experiences that will be as indelible on our families’ memories as those sharpie marks are on your living room wall (which is totally your husband's fault for leaving said pen within your toddler's reach).    1. Learn Something New  Just like an architect, a child's tools for building a strong mind and body are innovation and newness. There is no better time than summer to open your mind, stretch your wings and try something different from what is usually available in the classroom or at home. Don't be shy to act on an inkling that your child might have a hidden talent or interest, as you never know when a spark will ignite lifelong passion. Look for classes, camps, and excursions that are a little outside of your kids’ obvious bailiwicks, and/or embark on those parent-child activities that you have been putting off until a better time such as learning a new cooking technique, making a scrap book, learning an instrument, using basic tools to fix household items, making a shadow portrait, etc… Don't forget that some of your best resources for unique activities are the talented people in your immediate circle who would probably love to be tapped to bring a new experience to your family!    2. Be Unpredictable No architect likes to build a cookie-cutter neighborhood, so why build a cookie-cutter life? Don't let your kids’ summers become cookie-cutter, instead fill their summers with unpredictable adventure! With a little effort, even simple excursions can become as full of discovery as a deep ocean dive.    For example, I once I decided to bring my kids to the Jelly Belly factory, which was about 1.5 hours away from home (a very long time for a 4 and 6-year-old to sit still). I didn't tell them where we were going, instead, I told them that I would give them a clue each time we reached a landmark. Instead of constantly asking me when we were going to get there, they were engaged with looking out the window for landmarks and with noodling on what the clues meant. When we finally arrived at the factory, they were ecstatic about the destination and were finally able to put all of the clues together. The drive to the factory was as exciting as the tour and the candy, and it's an experience they reminisce about fondly even 9 years later!    Then there was that time that my extended family planned a trip to London together. Instead of announcing to our girls where we were going, I persuaded a woman who works at a local nature center (with the help of a modest donation) to pull off the best Harry Potter ruse in parenting history (in a good way!). This amazingly accommodating woman dressed up in a black robe and witches’ hat, and brought one of the nature center's resident owls to our home. With a fairly convincing fake British accent, she pretended to be helping a lost owl deliver Owl Post to each of the girls. With twinkling eyes and mouths agape, they opened their letters to find out that they were invited to Hogwarts in England. One week later, we had an incredible time touring London to see the sites of inspiration for the Harry Potters books and movies, and touring the movie studio just outside of the city. To this day, they recount the experience with an unparalleled tone of wonder and excitement, and they still don't know exactly how it all happened.   3. It's Better Together The “great room” must be one of the best architectural inventions ever, as it allows people to gather naturally so that they can create shared memories together. Make your summer a “great room” by reaching out to family and friends to join you on your summer adventures. If you are like me, you are often making plans at the last minute and it is too late to invite others. Take a look at your calendar now and choose a date a couple of weeks into the future. Then scan event and activity listings for your area on that date, and think of family members and/or friends who would enjoy those adventures with you. Send them a quick message to invite them to a special activity, and cross your fingers that their calendars will sync with yours. We may be half way through summer, but there are still countless outdoor concerts, campgrounds, theme parks, playgrounds, farmers markets, libraries, restaurants, water bodies, and hiking trails (to name a few) that are begging to be explored…together!   As always, stay safe in the summer sun by protecting your skin and eyes (use sunscreen, sunglasses, hats, and protective clothing), and by staying optimally hydrated (Gululu can help with that!).    Stay curious and stay hydrated, Team Gululu