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Preparing for Preschool with a Personalized Photo Book

August 15 by Steph (MPMK Founder)

Preparing for Preschool with a Personalized Photo Book

If you have a kiddo starting a new school this year (be it preschool, kindergarten, or even daycare) I highly recommend you check out this post from a few years ago!    Our DIY preschool photo book was such a major hit oldest child that I'm bringing it back, yet again, for our third new preschooler.   The idea comes from a child life specialist and was suggested to me by a friend when I was fretting over C’s transition from being at home full time to entering preschool two … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Photography & Memory Keeping Tagged With: DIY school photo book, personalized school book, prepapring for school, preschool photo book, school photo book

Audiobooks for Calming Hyper Preschoolers (and Where to Find Them)

August 10 by Janssen

A children's librarian's pick of the best audiobooks for calming down hyper kids - love that they're broken up by types of books and reading skill!

We've got yet another resource for you to use with our free B.O.R.E.D. printable today. Our children's librarian, Janssen, has rounded up the best audiobooks for calming active (aka hyper) kids. And it's just the thing for keeping the preschool set occupied for the rest of the summer and in the fall if, like in our house, they're missing older siblings who have ventured off to school. Read on for Janssen's picture book, easy reader and early chapter book recommendations! I've long been a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Janssen, Quiet Time, The Book Nook Tagged With: book nook, children's books, Earth Day activities for kids

Parenting Styles: When You Get in the Car & Drive Away Without Me

August 8 by Jessica Timmons

Parenting: How to Deal with Dropping Your Child Off at Preschool for the First Time.

Today's 'Parenting Styles' post could not resonate with me more. Our youngest son, M, will also have his first drop-off experience this fall... and I'm so anxious. Like you wouldn't think a mama going through it for the third time would be. The thing is, the baby of our family is used to being just that- the baby. He's used to being doted on and constantly surrounded by siblings and parents. This fall not only will his beloved sis (and best bud) be leaving him in the dust as she heads off … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Jessica, Parenting Tagged With: parenting styles, preschool jitters, school anxiety, starting preschool

Round-Up: The Best Back-to-School Kid Clothes at Amazing Sale Prices

August 5 by Steph (MPMK Founder)

Ack! Only 3 days left of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale and I have SO MANY great back-to-school finds for the kids to share! (And don't forget about the finds for mom that I posted last week too!) I'll be honest, I don't believe in spending too much on my kids' clothes (especially the 2-year-old). As the title of this blog suggests, I believe kids should be active and messy and I don't want to be holding them back because I'm worried about that adorable, but expensive, outfit they're … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fresh Finds: Playtime Tagged With: back-to-school sales, high quality clothes for kids, nordstrom anniversary sale

20 Organization Projects to Make Back-to-School a Breeze

August 3 by Alli

TONS of great ideas here - love the self-serve lunch stations and study spaces the most.

It's back-to-school month. You know what that means - time to buckle down and set up some solid morning, lunch packing, and maybe even homework routines. It wouldn't hurt to set up a backpack and study zone either! Here's Alli with 20 of the best projects out there to get you organized for Back-to-School. My oldest son will be starting a Mother's Day Out program this Fall. I know, I know. That's small potatoes in the back-to-school world. But still. It has my heart in a lurch. I'm already … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Alli, Organizing, Project Organize Your ENTIRE Life Tagged With: back to school organization, how to get organized. POYEL, kids routines, organizing art supplies, packed lunches, Project Organize Your ENTIRE Life, school organization

Summer Corn on the Cob: 3 Delicious Ways

August 1 by Kristin

3 Delicious Summer Corn-on-the-Cob Recipes

We're reaching the end of summer season fruits and vegetables like corn, peaches and zucchini. So I feel I'd be remiss if I didn't tell you about my favorite ways to serve fresh corn on the cob to my family. Don't get me wrong, a stick of butter and some salt goes a long way.  But, if you want to amp up your summer veggie game, you've got to try one of these toppings for corn. I love that it elevates the simple vegetable to a 'company's coming' side but it's simple enough that you can … [Read more...]

Filed Under: In the Kitchen, Kristin Tagged With: corn on the cob, recipes for the family, summer vegetable recipes

9 Go-To Snacks for Park Days and Pool Trips

July 27 by Janssen

9 Super easy snacks for keeping kids fueled all day long! #spon

*This post is sponsored by The Quaker Oats Company, all opinions are 100% our own When school gets out, I always breathe a sigh of relief that I'm off the hook for packing lunches for a few months. But then, I quickly realize that while the lunch box might be packed away for the summer, we're still go-go-going whether it's to the pool, the park, or a family road trip. Which means packing snacks. Like most kids, my little girls are super active, so I've put together a list of our … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: best on-the-go snacks for kids, easy kids snacks, healthy kids snacks, Quaker, sponsored

Lunch Box Hack: Batch Bake and Freeze these Apple Muffins!

July 24 by Kristin

Lunchbox Hack: Batch cook and freeze these delicious apple muffins to add to the lunchbox each day!

As much as I'm loving playing in the sun with the kids these days, there's no denying it... back-to-school is coming. You know what my least favorite part of the school year is? Packing lunch every. single. day. And this year I have two kids to pack for! Which is why I'm absolutely LOVING this lunchbox hack idea from our contributor, Kristin. She's once again teaming up with our sponsor Juicy Juice to bring you guys a great way to easily get a nutritious goodie into your kids' … [Read more...]

Filed Under: In the Kitchen, Kristin Tagged With: apple muffin recipe, baking with kids, freezable muffin recipe, healthy kid snacks, healthy lunch box ideas, healthy muffin recipe, homemade apple muffins, ideas for school lunches, juicy juice, lunch box ideas

Parenting Styles: The Child Who Worries

July 22 by Jessica Timmons

How to Parent the Child Who Worries

I’ve written before about my oldest son – smart, athletic, a total slob – he’s an interesting little dude. He fits the mold of the first born in many ways, and maybe that’s also why he doesn’t handle stress particularly well. He’s nine, and he’s a worrier. And I’m not talking about school worries, or do-you-think-I’ll-be-able-to-get-my-grappling-tip-today worries. These are big-time worries, the kind that make kids grow up way too fast. My son tells me things like, “I’m worried that I’m … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Jessica, Parenting Tagged With: parenting styles, parenting the worried child, what to say to your child is a worrier

My Capsule Wardrobe 2.0

July 20 by Steph (MPMK Founder)

My minimalist mom capsule wardrobe was so popular last year (and made dressing each day so fun and easy) that I couldn't help do it again this year. Only a little bigger and even better. Below you'll find all my picks and, big bonus, they're all on sale! If you want to get in on these finds you have to hurry, though, items are selling out and sales are ending soon. Jeans Madewell 8" Skinny Jeans $128 45% off at $69.99 I discovered these last year and have really loved them... What I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: fall capsule wardrobe, fall clothes, fall wardrobe, minimalist fall wardrobe, minimalist mom wardrobe, Mom capsule wardrobe

Best Playtime Activities Ever

July 18 by Steph (MPMK Founder)

How's your summer going so far?  Running out of ways to fill the hours yet? Never fear, today I've rounded up 10 of my all time favorite MPMK playtime activities. Click on the links for all the details. (And for extra fun, see if you can tell how old the original post is based on the slowly improving quality of my photography.) In no particular order, here they are - enjoy! 1. Discovery Bottles 2. Magic Milk Paints 3. Jell-O Playdough 4. Cup Castles (posted by me on … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Creating & Exploring Tagged With: boredom buster idea, creative play ideas, free play ideas, keeping kid busy, play ideas, summer play ideas

What Is an Instant Pot? And How Can it Save Dinner Time at Your House?

July 15 by Kristin

What is an Instant Pot? 30 Instant Pot Recipes to make dinner prep incredibly fast and easy!

Did you nab yourself an Instant Pot during Amazon's Prime Day? If you did, you're definitely not alone. Amazon reportedly sold over 215,000 of them on Wednesday! If you bought one, or heard about this crazy contraption for the first time, this week- we want to help. Today we're re-posting our post from last spring, it contains three thing: An introduction to Instant Pot 21 Family Friendly Instant Pot Recipes Our Favorite Instant Pot Cookbooks Here's Kristin with everything … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fresh Finds: The Everyday, In the Kitchen, Kristin Tagged With: easy instant pot dinners, instant pot dinner ideas, instant pot recipes, instant pot reviews, instapot recipes, time savers in the kitchen, time saving recipes, what is an instant pot

27 Must-Know Tips for Happy Family Travels

July 13 by Kaley

If there's anyone that's qualified to write about how to travel with kids, it's our talented contributor Kaley. She's currently living in Vienna, Austria with her husband and two little girls and "on a mission to see as much of Europe as possible before heading back stateside". Her blog is full of gorgeous photographs of her family's travels to places like Berlin, Slovakia, and the Netherlands. She also shares lots of smart tricks she's learned along the way, including how to make a DIY … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Kaley, Parenting, The grown ups (that's you!), Travel Tagged With: car hacks for kids, Family Travel, family travel hacks, organized travel, summer travel, tips on traveling with kids, travel, travel tips

Frozen Banana Pops, an Easy Summer Treat

July 13 by Natalie

Natalie's back today with a really fun alternative to summer ice cream - frozen banana pops.   I can't wait to try these with S and C (and steal a few for myself too).  The cream cheese breakfast versions are especially calling my name. Let me just cut to the chase guys, you and your kids are going to love these pops. I know this because: kids love anything on a stick  kids love rolling sticky stuff in other stuff moms love healthy choices that are still fun frozen pops are a summer … [Read more...]

Filed Under: In the Kitchen, Natalie Tagged With: banana pops, kid snacks, summer dessert, summer snacks, summer treats

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