I'm a morning person. I wake up at 5:00am to work out, I come home and enjoy a cup of simple black coffee. It starts my day out right and I'm packing lunches and making breakfast for the kids like a pro. This leads into my work day where I'm ticking off my to-do list, preparing myself a healthy lunch and picking up the kids from school. That's about the time I hit a wall. It's that afternoon slump that gets my every time. Instead of reaching for a snack that will only … [Read more...]
The 9 Kitchen Hacks I Use Every Single Day
January has us all ready to organize and eat healthier. Every year I try to be more efficient in the kitchen. I'm always asking seasoned moms about how they do things and sometimes I stumble on tricks of the trade on the internet or simply by accident. I wanted to share with you the nine down-and-dirty secrets that I use in the kitchen every single day to make my life easier. Cutting lots of vegetables once a week Every morning my husband and I eat some form vegetables and eggs. … [Read more...]
Free Printable: Like, Wear, Read & Need
Everyone wants Christmas morning to have the wow effect. Which is why shopping for holiday gifts can have a snowball effect. You pick up something here, another little something there, and the next thing you know there's a giant pile of 'stuff' in the closet. This year, we want to help you be more intentional in your shopping. Go for gifts that have meaning and purpose. This means asking our kids some questions. Have you heard of The Four Christmas Gifts Method? It's become … [Read more...]
Parenting Hack: Free Printable Kid’s Coupon Book for the Holidays
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? This handy free printable has 24 jokes for kids and an ornament for each day of December leading up to Christmas. Get it by clicking below or filling out the form up top. Get your Free Knock-Knock Jokes Here Our free printable Christmas Joke countdown takes zero effort from me once it’s up and my kids adored it last year. This year, they still can’t get enough puns and knock-knock jokes. Think of it as an … [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...]