You know how we love a good messy sensory art project here at MPMK. So far we've tackled Jell-O Play Dough, DIY body Paint, and even Dr. Seuss' Oobleck. So what's next? Why, indoor snowmen of course! Kaley's here today sharing with us... I always think of sledding and building snowmen as the quintessential wintertime activities. Unfortunately, we don't live anywhere near snow. I didn't want to rob my little one of all that winter fun, so I had to get a little creative. With a few boxes of … [Read more...]
My Favorite Valentine Activity for Toddlers
Valentine's Day is just a couple weeks away and it can be hard to think of an engaging way to celebrate with young toddlers. I told you I was going to help you grow better eaters and the holiday is the perfect time to try something new! So today I've got a fun activity your kiddo will enjoy- and will produce lots of cute pictures too ;) When introducing new foods to new eaters, it’s important to go slow. Just like adults, young toddlers eat with all their … [Read more...]
Easy and Healthy To-Go Snacks for Toddlers
Running around with young toddlers is challenging for a number of reasons. There's the dreaded task of having to work around nap time. Not to mention the mountain of stuff you need to bring: diapers, changing pads, and- of course - healthy snacks! Today I'm sharing 7 of our favorite healthy snacks that you can make ahead of time and can grab-and-go without worry. #1 - The Roll Up Simple to make and easy to create lots of different varieties, the roll up is a great snack (or … [Read more...]
10 Immunity Boosting Recipes for Keeping the Family Healthy
It seems like this time of year my family (and basically every family we know) gets hit with some serious sick bugs. One of the worse seasons I can remember lasted for more than a month. I won't get too much into the gory details. Suffice to say that it was a stomach bug/flu that hit everyone, except for me, for over a week at a time (some of us multiple times). It. Was. Awful. And it was somewhere around the moments I was alternating between rubbing the back of my 21-month-old while he slept … [Read more...]
Free Printable: A Week’s Worth of Valentine Lunchbox Jokes
I've been talking to you a lot about healthy kid food lately. You know what goes fabulously with healthy lunches? Absolutely anything that makes eating them more fun! Younger kids almost universally love knock-knock or punny jokes. So we've put together a printable with valentine jokes for you to slip inside your child's lunchbox. Simply print out the free form, cut along the lines, and you're good to go. Send me the lunchbox notes! You'll have one for every school day the week of … [Read more...]
Playtime: Valentine Fortune-Tellers & Knock-Knock Jokes
I don't know about your kids but mine are totally obsessed with knock-knock jokes - they think they're hilarious and absolutely love getting a laugh when telling one. So I know they're going to go nuts for these adorable Valentine Fortune-Tellers. Be sure to click for the printable with all 14 Valentine-inspired knock-knock jokes! Do you remember folding fortune tellers back in elementary school? (Maybe you called them cootie catchers?) If I wasn't busy playing M.A.S.H. with my BFFs, we were … [Read more...]
Healthy Toddler Meals Perfect to Batch and Freeze
Feeding new eaters and toddlers can feel like a lot of work. It feels like they're hungry all day long! And let's not forget about the joy that is having a picky eater. Wouldn't it be great if you could just pull something you know they like out of the freezer that's healthy and wholesome instead of processed? I've got just the list for you my friends- 7 healthy foods ideal for babies, toddlers, and picky eaters that will allow you to do just that! #1 Apple Muffins Are … [Read more...]
How to Connect at Dinner Time: Conversation Starters & Parked Phone Stations
Life comes at you fast these days. Have you noticed how we drink our morning coffee and the next thing we know, we're tired and crawling into bed? If we don't stop to be intentional, we can miss out on some really important moments with our spouse and kids. There are two things we've found helpful in being more present with our kids at dinner time: A no-technology rule at meal time. A handy set of conversations starters to get the ball rolling. Today we're going to show … [Read more...]
2-Minute Strategies for Strengthening Your Child’s “Mental Game” in Sports and in Life
In our fast-moving world today, there is barely enough time to squeeze in a meal together, let alone time to work on the emotional development of your kids. Yet, no matter how well you provide for their every need, if you neglect your child’s mental well-being then you are doing them a disservice in life. But, before I explain how you can find that precious time, you need to understand the following facts: Parents are the epicenter of their child’s world and creators of their … [Read more...]
Healthy Kid Snack with Hidden Protein: Roasted Peas Three Ways
Peas are one of those under-estimated vegetables. You think they need to stay in the frozen section and only come out for a chicken pot pie. Peas actually have more protein than a whole egg or a tablespoon of peanut butter. Not only that, peas are a source of vitamin A, vitamin C, folate, thiamine (B1), iron and phosphorus. Getting peas into your diet can be a little challenging, so I decided to try my hand at roasting them as an alternative to steaming. I've made roasted chickpeas … [Read more...]
Why You Should Make the Dining Room an Art Room
This is the time of the year that we're all thinking about organization. So today I'd like to bring back I had a few years ago and see what you guys think... Turning the (often underused) dining room into an art room for the kids. Here's my original argument for the change.... I finally did it - I got rid of the old green couch (which was essentially a glorified dog bed) in our play room and replaced it with the mother of all tables and some clever storage benches. Thus creating the … [Read more...]
Family New Year’s Eve Idea: DIY Balloon Drop
Do you guys celebrate New Year's eve with your kiddos? In years past I've skipped it due to the whole, "there's no way my kids are making it to anywhere near midnight and, if by some some miracle, they do - I'm scared to see what will happen the next day" thing. But then I stumbled on the concept of "Happy Noonyear". Which is just what it sounds like, basically celebrating at noon instead of midnight. Kinda genius, right? Regardless if you decide "Happy Noonyear" or stay up for regular … [Read more...]
The 2020 POYEL Kit is Here!
Ready to take a deep breath and vow to make a fresh start? To help you out, we've got some big, exciting news to share today! When we launched our handbook to leading a more simplified life, Project Organize Your ENTIRE Life: The Quick Start Guide. It was a huge success and we've since sold well over 10,000 copies. But I also heard from you guys that you would like some handy-dandy printables to go along with your newly-formed action plans. So I worked really hard to make that wish a … [Read more...]
10 Perfect Last Minute Gifts for All
The bad news if you haven't gotten your shopping done yet, Christmas is only four days away. The good news, many stores still have 2-day shipping and/or the option to buy online and pickup! Below are my top picks for everyone still left on your list- enjoy! The best part?... Nearly all of them are on sale! For you mom/sister/bestie Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer & Volumizer Hot Air Brush Was $58, Now $38.99 I have seen this thing everywhere since folks started … [Read more...]