Modern Parents Messy Kids

We're all about finding ways to make family life better while keeping our sense of humor. Check out our famous MPMK Top Toy Awards, already viewed over 7,000,000 times!

DIY Projects Just to Make the Kids Smile

by

One look at The Make & Play Vault and you know I'm not one to shy away from a good DIY.  For playtime, for learning, for getting organized, for sprucing up the place and etc.... but how about DIYing for no other reason than to make the kids smile?  Isn't that a lovely thought?  Today I've got a handful of projects which, while they may not revolutionize your life, your little ones will be sure to think are pretty darn special.   I love everything about the space on the top right … [Read more...]

Non-Cheesy V-Day Gifts for Him

by

image via Nancy Nikko Design   This February 14th will be the 12th Valentine's Day my husband and I spend together (that's right, we're already up to a dozen!).  Maybe it's just me, but I'm finding it tougher and tougher to come up with novel, non-cheesy gifts that he'll actually like.  No, it's not just me, I'm sure of it - shopping for love tokens for the menfolk is just plain hard!   Just in case you're struggling with the same dilemma, I've curated a short list of guy gifts … [Read more...]

Snow CAT + a Few Fresh Finds

by

Happy Friday!  Not sure if you've all heard, but we're having quite the "snowpocalypse" here in Seattle and we're making the most of it.  C's two super-cool aunts got him this excavator for Christmas.  Along with a working shovel, it has wheels to move around - isn't it amazing?  It was intended for our sandbox but has also turned out to be quite a hit in the snow.   The weather has a lot of the city on lock-down - including preschool, toddler group, and the like.  We're enjoying it but … [Read more...]

We Tried It! – Routine Charts

by

We've been struggling a bit with typical 3 year old power struggles around here lately.  I've been wracking my brain (and my parenting library) for possible solutions. And then it hit me.  Close examination of the problem revealed that these blow ups aren't coming out of nowhere as they initially appeared.  They are, in fact, almost always centered on one thing - transitions.   My boy HATES transitions - most specifically leaving the house and going to bed.  No matter how smoothly we seem … [Read more...]

Homemade Toys Part III

by

This time of year can be so tough if you have little ones in the house.  Snowy weather combined with cold and flu season often means lots of days stuck inside.  Around our house that's a recipe for something I like to call restless kid syndrome - which often results in general crankiness and an increase in meltdowns.  So what's the antidote to this ailment?  Getting creative of course.   To help you out, I've finally gotten my act together and updated the make and play vault.  I've … [Read more...]

Stuff I’ve Been Meaning to Tell You About

by

Hi friends, are you all enjoying a day off today?  We got a good dump of snow this weekend - our first of the season and a lovely surprise.  So we'll probably try to get in a little more sledding before the day is through.  Before I head off though, there are a few things I've been meaning to tell you about.   With it's wild popularity, you've probably already seen the amazing post, Don't Carpe Diem.  But I had to post about it just in case - it's one of my favorite reads in a long, … [Read more...]

The Top 20 Posts of 2011 from Around the Web

by

As I did here, many of my favorite bloggers posted a collection of their most popular posts of 2011.  Today, I'm presenting you with a roundup of the best of their bests (you still with me?).  I've picked my favorite post from each of 20 different year-end round ups.  Hopefully you'll find lots of inspiration, and maybe even a new blog or two to follow in 2012.  Most of the links here go to the round up posts so this is actually a collection of around 200 stellar ideas from 2011.  Enjoy! DIY zig … [Read more...]