Have you been able to slow down in between the frenzy of Halloween and Thanksgiving that's around the corner? In talking about our next Happy Family Habit, Kristin and I were noticing things on social media like 30 Days of Thanks and throw-back photos thanking parents and friends. We love how these things shift the focus off our busy schedules and onto the people and things we have to be thankful for. As parents, we try to instill that into our kids. Writing thank you cards and teaching … [Read more...]
Thanksgiving Side Dish Round Up
If you're like me, turkey is not the star of the Thanksgiving meal. It's all the side dishes. Typically, we make a meal with one or two side dishes. Thanksgiving is an excuse to make little bit of everything. Or at least delegate family and friends to help you make a little bit of everything. (1) Let's start with a MUST. Mashed Potatoes. These are hands-down the best. And it's all in the technique. As in, TWO ingredients. These are worth the effort. (2) As a kid, I was never a fan of … [Read more...]
Fall Favorite: Salted Caramel Apples
I've been dying to entertain fall style lately (hot apple cider, pumpkin bread, etc.). I really just love the tastes and smells of autumn. It's all just so comforting, like curling up in front of a warm fire in your favorite cozy sweater and wool socks (or is that just me?). In that spirit, we're sharing one of our favorite fall recipes from our eBook, Hands-On Holidays: Simple Ideas for Making Memories October through December. You can currently get the eBook at 50% off as part of our … [Read more...]
Happy Family Habit #8: Get Your Kids to Talk with a Chatting Spot
We're back with another Happy Family Habit today and it's a really good one. Kristin has a lot of really useful tips not only on the when and where of setting up a chatting spot with the kids - but also the how and why. So what do you say? Ready to spend the next 21 days establishing a chatting spot? Talking is easy when kids are little. In fact, sometimes we feel like it would be nice to have a little less talking! But getting into the habit of talking with your kids will be worth it's … [Read more...]
Our Ten Favorite Things in the Kitchen
I don't know about you, but I don't cook much in the summertime. Mostly we grill, which I leave to my hubby, and munch on lots of fresh fruit, cold salads, and corn on the cob. But autumn is a different story, it's a time when I look to get back into the kitchen and to start focusing on making heartier soups, stews, and casseroles. In fact, I often cook these thing two batches at a time - one to eat and one to freeze. If you're looking to work your way back to the kitchen too, we've got a … [Read more...]
Happy Family Habit #7: Get the Best Rest Every Night
Is it just me or do the 3 weeks between our Happy Family Habits, fly by? Really, what?!, I'm still working on teaching my kids something cool. Today Kristin's exploring a habit, good sleep, that I feel is VITAL to good parenting. It's so easy to put caring yourself on the bottom of the list but we all know that well-rested parents are more patient and more fun parents. So make the commitment today, we'll help with our tips. And speaking of good parenting, today's my mom's birthday! (See … [Read more...]
Happy Family Habit #6: Taking the Time to Teach Your Kids Something New
We took a brief break from our Happy Family Habits series in July because a lot of you guys (and a lot of our team) were vacationing with the fam, and that in and of itself is a happy family habit to be celebrated! But we're back now with habit #6. Ready to give it a go for the next 21 days? (And if you're new to this series - check out all 6 Happy Family Habits here.) Summer is a blessing and a curse. You don't have to be out the door at a certain time and there's no lunches to pack. … [Read more...]
Mom Tools: How to Get Picky Eaters to Try New Stuff
Are you guys privy to the latest trend of sampler delivery boxes? Basically, every month a delicious (and inexpensive) box crammed with all sorts of new foods for you to sample arrives on your doorstep. Pretty cool way to beat the supermarket rut, right? Well, MPMK's newest sponsor, , has taken the idea to a whole new, brilliant level, by coming up with a kids' sampler box (because how many times have you spent your hard-earned cash on something you thought the littles would like, only to … [Read more...]
Happy Family Habit #5: Making Family Traditions
It's been another 21 days guys - which means it's time for "Happy Family Habit" #5. So far we've tackled sharing you story, writing down your gratitude, unplugging, and finding your silly. How are you doing with the list? Now's a great time to jump in and get started! I love the idea of making family traditions both big and small. Camping is becoming a summer tradition that our kiddos love, but we do lots of little stuff too. For instance, every time we're driving on an overpass, I yell, … [Read more...]