And what better way to bring the ocean to life than by making these Octopus Pizzas with your kids at home. Not only are they a creative lunch option, but they also come with a lesson. You can talk about the sea: what creatures live in it, and how we can be good care takers while we make them. Now that is what we call eating with purpose!

The best part of these Octopus Pizzas is how easy the tentacles snap off, especially for a toddler. Kids will love ripping each one of them off and nibbling on them individually.  

INGREDIENTS

• 1 store bought pizza dough
• 1/2 c. pizza sauce
• 1 c. mozzarella cheese (for the head)
• sliced black olives (for the tentacles and eyes)
  (may be substituted with green peppers slices, mushroom slices, etc)
• 4 slices pepperoni (for the eyes)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Divide the dough in half. Each half will make 1 octopus.
3. Divide the dough again. Shape half of that dough with your hands into an oval shaped for the octopus head. Using the other half, cut into 8 strips for the tentacles.
4. Place the dough head on one of the baking sheets. Place the tentacle pieces along the bottom half of the head, gently firming the dough down.
5. Bake for 6 minutes.
6. Remove and cover the head and tentacles with pizza sauce.
7. Spread out the cheese evenly on the head and place the sliced olives on the tentacles. Add the pepperoni and olive eyes.
8. Bake another 6 minutes and then broil for 3 minutes or until nice and brown.
9. Repeat for the second octopus.

Source: supersimple

Convenience! Ahhh… yes, this era is more concerned and after convenience in everything. But hey, who doesn’t want that?!

Given the growth of convenience — as an ideal, as a value, as a way of life — it is worth asking what our fixation with it is doing to our mental, emotional health and body. When was the last time you were actually mobile? Do you realize how these “convenience” we prioritize on a daily basis lowers down our stamina?

Stamina is the ability to sustain prolonged physical or mental effort. Though this word is mainly associated with physical activities, it may refer to mental exertions too. Physical stamina is more commonly meant when we refer to ‘stamina’. It isn’t required only by athletes, or those who are too involved in physical exertion. It is a daily requirement for all of us to handle our hectic lives, which nowadays demands only one thing, ‘keep running’ for all that you desire.

Here are some simple tips to increase your stamina:

• Eat Healthy

Our body reflects what we eat. You are what you eat. If we feed it healthy, it will work well, or else it will deteriorate. To increase your stamina naturally, it is very important to focus on what you are eating and whether it is healthy or not.

Some foods to improve stamina naturally are green leafy vegetables, oatmeal, bananas, peanut butter, carrots, beetroot juice, quinoa, eggplant, asparagus, pumpkin and lean meat, chicken, fish and eggs.

• Stop avoiding Carbs

Yes, you read that right! To increase your physical strength and stamina, you have to incorporate some carbs into your diet.

• Water works wonders

Hydrating your body holds much relevance beyond enhancing your beauty and managing your weight. Dehydration induces tiredness. So, drink as much water as you can throughout the day and night to keep your muscles relaxed.

• Walk! Walk! Walk!

Being regularly involved in physical activities is the key to cure all the problems. Seriously, what is 30 minutes of walking? Even things like standing on the subway or walking while you talk on the phone, rather than sitting down, can have an impact!

• Rest well

Our body needs that rest to heal and cure itself. Adequate sleep and rest leave us energized and refreshed. Proper rest helps in shooting up and restoring the energy levels. This helps us to perform better and for a longer period of time.

• Think Positive!

This is more about mental stamina. Mental stamina aids in better performance as there is focus and sharpness of mind.

One of the biggest tools for success also happens to be one of the simplest ones!