Sometimes the best gifts are the unexpected ones. Haven't we all experienced giving a baby the latest and greatest toy... and all she wants to do is play with the box?Simplifying may be just what we all need this holiday season.We created this coupon book for you to print off and use as a stocking stuffer. All you have to do is think about what makes your kids the happiest.Skipping their vegetables at dinner or reading an extra story at bedtime might just elicit as much joy … [Read more...]
Free Printable: Advent Calendar with Jokes for Every Day
Advent calendars have become such a HUGE part of Christmas these days – have you noticed? We’ve tried several variations over the years from our DIY Freezer Paper Stencil Advent Calendar and our Family Activities Advent Calendar to LEGO Advent and our Reading Advent Calendar. This year, though, with three kids including a feisty 1 1/2-year-old, I’m once again opting to go the super simple route.Our free printable Christmas Joke countdown (created last year by our contributor … [Read more...]
DIY Thanksgiving Table Poppers w/ Free Printable
There's a lot of work that goes into Thanksgiving. We can all relate to the hours of pie prep and casserole making that happen days before and that turkey's not going to stuff itself.Even with lots for prep, the big day can be filled with setting the table and getting everything just right.The thing that makes all this work even more challenging is that children are off school. And usually they aren't too interested in peeling potatoes for more than 5 minutes.This year, set them … [Read more...]
Parenting Styles: Remember the Best in Your Child and See It In Your Teen
This post is sponsored by the Center for Parent and Teen Communication. All opinions (and memories!) are my own.Then The thing I remember most about Jake's birth was how scared I felt bringing him home from the hospital. There's no guide book for being a parent. I wonder if first born babies sense the way new parents approach every task with uncertainty.The good news is that babies are resilient.They forgive us for putting the diaper on wrong or being a little too over protective … [Read more...]
Spooky Halloween Sandwiches
Maybe it's because of my past life as an elementary teacher, but I love celebrating holidays.I'll take any opportunity to be festive.For Halloween, I have a fun little food activity that will work for little and big kids. You can make this something that you do together on a weekend, or surprise them by packing this spooky sandwich in their lunch. … [Read more...]
Must-Try: 30 Days of Doing with 4-H!
*This post was written by Modern Parents Messy Kids through an activation with HireInfluence on behalf of 4-H. Although Modern Parents Messy Kids received compensation for participating in the campaign, all thoughts and opinions are our own.When I was in the 6th grade, my mom sent me down the street to join the local 4-H club in Stevensville, Montana. As a shy kid, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. The thought of learning about agriculture and raising livestock, which is what most … [Read more...]
10 Hacks for Better Monthly Meal Planning
Running off a MONTHLY meal plan might sound daunting. Yet, when I start mentioning less trips to the grocery store, eating healthier and less waste, you start thinking it's not so bad of an idea.Considering that Americans throw away approximately $165 billion worth of food each year, we need re-think the way we're doing things. If you weren't raised in a family that made an organized weekly trip to the grocery store, you might not know how to plan for a week, let alone a month. You may be … [Read more...]
Easy Summer Eats: Sausage, Potato and Arugula Bake
Summer is filled with backyard barbecues and potluck Sundays. The next time you get invited to a summer shindig, think about bringing this easy dish that will take less than 30 minutes to throw together.I love how the arugula brings a lightness to the potatoes and cherry tomatoes add a pop of color. Chicken versus pork sausage will also summer-ize this recipe.The vegetables and sausage bake to crispiness so they can add a savory oil to the lemony arugula salad. Get ready to share the … [Read more...]
How to Set Up a Healthy Serve-Yourself Snack Station
With school beginning soon, and a couple of my friends recently welcoming third babies to the family, helping the older kids to learn to prepare their own meals and snacks has become a hot topic of conversation.It all started when one of my friends sent me this facebook link and we all started to chime in on how the system would or wouldn't work for us and what we might do differently.Today we're starting off with snack stations. Hope you get some great ideas and we'd love to hear from … [Read more...]