I don't mean to scare you or anything but, it's May folks. Summer vacation will be here before you know it - do you have a plan? Mine is to set up some sort of loose schedule. Nothing too confining but a flexible outline of how any days spent at home are going to go. I'll have more details later this month, but for now, suffice to say, I'm gathering resources. And this list is one of them. Summer is the perfect time to try a science experiment or two from the comfort of your own … [Read more...]
DIY Lego Art
Have you guys noticed that decorating kids' spaces can be one of the most interesting spots in the house to tackle? I think it's because I feel like I can go a little bolder, a little more creative, and a little more "outside the box" then I might in other rooms. Also, I'm not as afraid to DIY it - kids rooms are supposed to be about imagination and joy, not perfection, so it doesn't matter if my projects don't turn out professional grade. That being said, this ridiculously cool artwork … [Read more...]
15 Candy-Free Valentines to Bring to Class
Between Halloween, Christmas and Valentine's Day it sometimes feels like there really is no escaping the sugar! But never-fear, Alli's today with 15 sugar-free Valentines you can feel good about sending to the class party with your little one this year. Today was my son's first day back to school. And as I dropped him off at the classroom door, there it was–just staring me in the face: Valentine's Day party sign-ups. Already?! Didn't we just finish Christmas? I mean I just took our … [Read more...]
DIY Painted Cinnamon Pine Cones
I love the smell of Christmas. And truth be told, I'm not exactly sure what that smell is. But in my mind...it's part pumpkin, part pine tree, and part cinnamon. Mmmmm. Every year we like to fill our house with holiday aromas. And we're always looking for new ways to do it. This year, our family decided to make our own painted cinnamon pine cones. Not only do they smell fantastic, but they work so beautifully with our natural Christmas theme and they make fantastic gifts. Sure, you can … [Read more...]
Project Organize Your ENTIRE Life: Keeping a Clean & Clutter-Free Home for the Holidays
Ah, the holidays, what's not to love? Okay. Maybe just one thing–one small, teensy tinsy thing... The cleaning. If you are anything like me (maybe a little bit type A?) keeping the house clean over the holidays is a challenge. Call me crazy, but I want my house to feel warm and welcoming all throughout the season. I want my decorations to sparkle and shine (because I didn't hang them for nothin', right?). One of the first steps to keeping your house clean over the holidays, is … [Read more...]
Top-Notch Waldorf and Montessori Inspired Toys
Can you guys believe it's nearly November already?! You know what that means... time to start thinking Christmas shopping. Although the process can be overwhelming, it can also be a lot of fun hunting down the most exciting, enticing and developmentally appropriate toys for your littles. I know I always feel a great sense of anticipation and accomplishment when I've finally settled on my top picks and placed my order. Today we're hoping to help with that and Alli is here sharing one of … [Read more...]
POYEL: Car Hacks for Happy Kids
Whether your family routinely does a ten hour trip to grandma's every Thanksgiving, or you just find yourself in the car shuttling kids around A LOT now that school's back in session - a well organized and entertaining car environment can be a parent's best friend! Today Alli is teaming up with MPMK's newest sponsor, Munchkin, to share her favorite tips and products for keeping the mood happy in the car so you can be one zen Mama, wherever the road may take you. They're all great, but my … [Read more...]
Halloween Craft: Dry Erase Ghost Votives
It's that time of year again... Time for ghosts, witches, and goblins to make their spooky appearances. Mwah ha ha ha! (That was my best evil laugh, in case you couldn't tell.) Halloween is my absolute favorite holiday, because it's all about creativity. For that reason, it's also the perfect holiday to do crafts with the family. This year, we decided to add to our porch decor by making Dry Erase Ghost Votives. … [Read more...]
The 5 Biggest Potty Training Mistakes
Last week I posted a potty training question on our Facebook page and it was the most commented on question we've had in months! Clearly, potty training is a topic you guys are interested in. Today Alli's here with what we've learned to be the 5 biggest potty training mistakes parents make. My youngest son just turned 15 months. And the bigger he gets, the more I get that dreaded feeling... POTTY TRAINING. It's looming, right around the corner. I learned A LOT when I … [Read more...]