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!

We Tried It! – Cookie Cutter Pumpkins

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I'm back with another installment of the "We Tried It!" series.  I got the idea for cookie cutter pumpkin carving here and it was a huge hit with the kiddos.  I love how this method lets you easily create a high end look in whatever theme your kids are currently interested in.  We went with a pretty random motif of animals, an airplane, and a guitar.  Next year maybe we'll experiment with letters.      To begin, carve out the pumpkin guts and select a few of your favorite cookie … [Read more...]

I Grew Up with My Family Making Fun of Me… and I Loved It (Usually)

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Full disclosure: this isn't really a post - it's a commercial. But it's Sunday and I don't normally post today anyway so I figured why not. (Oops, this was supposed to go up tomorrow.  Oh well, we'll just switch things up a bit.  Come back tomorrow for the Look Book!)The thing about this particular commercial is the family in it was my family growing up (minus all the snazzy high-tech stuff). We bonded by giving each other a hard time. We laughed and teased and pretty much from the time I … [Read more...]

Some Parenting Tricks & Halloween Treats

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Happy Friday and congrats to Laura, the winner of the Elissa Hudson giveaway!  If you didn't win but would still like a print of your own, Elissa is generously offering 15% off.  Just visit her shop and enter the code TAKE15 when checking out.   I'm so glad I decided to poll you guysthis week.  Not only have your responses been overwhelmingly supportive, they've confirmed that we're all on the same page here and I can't wait to start weaving a little more substance into all the activities … [Read more...]

Giveaway: Shen the Panda or Zylie the Bear (aka your child’s new best friend)

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Thanks so much to everyone who took a moment to weigh in on yesterday's poll (which will stay open for a week).  It was immensely helpful!  Several of you expressed interest in gift ideas for kids - especially things you might not find at your local Toys-R-Us. Everyone, meet Shen the panda.  Not just your run-of-the-mill teddy bear, this guy is a brand new mixed breed: part stuffed animal and part dress-up doll.  Created by a mom whose kids were becoming frustrated in their attempts to find … [Read more...]

Help Determine MPMK’s Future

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This photo probably seems a bit random to you. To me it perfectly encapsulates why I'm using today's post as a poll about the future direction of MPMK. It was taken a few weekends ago at the pumpkin patch and when I saw it I couldn't believe how old my kids looked! Where are my babies? And who are these burgeoning little people who have taken their place?Just as my children grow, so too must MPMK. I realized that time is flying by and it won't be long before mornings spent at home doing art … [Read more...]

Make Like a Montessori Mama: Part 2 – Plant Activities

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Kylie from how we montessori is back today with part two of the "Make Like a Montessori Mama" series.  Her first post was a big hit and I have no doubt you'll love today's ideas just as much... Here's Kylie:   Five great Montessori inspired activities about PLANTS!    Five Montessori inspired activities that allow the child to explore plants using materials you can find around the home.    1.  Taking care of a plant   It would be wonderful if every child … [Read more...]

Handmade Halloween: DIY Costumes for Every Skill Level

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Last week I promoted the idea of getting that handmade Halloween costume look (without the work) by sharing my favorite Etsy finds.  This week I've got a round up for those of you who want to put in some man hours and do the homemade thing for real.  From embellishing store-bought clothes to a super useful step-by-step video class, these sources will provide all the help you need regardless of your skills with a Singer (that's a type of sewing machine and if you didn't know that, rest assured … [Read more...]