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No More Highs and Lows – More Energy Without the Caffeine

April 19 by Anna

An all natural morning energy drink for non-coffee drinkers

When our Happy Drink post came out last month it got a hugely positive response!  Apparently, there are quite a few of you out there looking for healthy ways to boost your energy in the morning. One of the questions we got quite a lot of, though, was "what about the non-coffee drinkers?".  Today we've got an answer for you but I'll warn you - it may take a little courage on your part to try it out.  Are you game? Hippocrates, the "Father of Medicine" recommended it, thousands swear by it, and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Anna, In the Kitchen, Mom Health, Beauty & Style Tagged With: apple cider vinegar drink, caffeine free drink, coffee-free drink, homemade energy drink, raw apple cider vinegar

Happy Family Habit #2: Put Your Gratitude in Writing

April 18 by Kristin

I'm so excited that today's the day we get to reveal our second Happy Family Habit.  Before we get to that though - how did you all do with Happy Family Habit #1?  Did you make a conscious effort to share and did you see your littles' eyes light up when you did?  Fabulous!  Keep doing it - that's the thing about this project, we're giving you 21 days because we want you to truly make them habits. I said before that the spark for this series came from my recent obsession interest in the science … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Happy Family Habits

Make it: Plant-able Paper Earth

April 17 by Alli

DIY: make a plantable paper earth and watch your garden grow - We're doing this for Earth Day!

Every once in a while we do a project here on MPMK that I'm over-the-moon excited about. That's how I feel about these plantable earths for Earth Day.  They're so cute, I want to send a few to everyone I know. I loved making paper as a kid. I don't know why, maybe it's something about the mess. Or maybe it was the idea that I could make the very same thing I used so often in my daily life, all by myself. (just prettier) Regardless. I loved making paper, and this time was no different. It was … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Alli, Creating & Engaging, Outdoor Play, The Make & Play Vault Tagged With: Earth Day activities, Earth Day activities for kids, Earth Day crafts, Earth Day crafts for kids, How to make paper, plantable Earth project, plantable paper

How to Make Every Birthday Special

April 16 by Steph (MPMK Founder)

Great ideas on how to make every birthday special (without the big price tag)

Today Melissa & Doug are sponsoring a little chat all about birthdays (and giving away one mega prize pack too!).  I'm curious - how do you celebrate your littles' birthdays?  Here in Seattle, birthday parties are big business. It probably has a lot to do with the weather - nine months out of the year the chances of rain on any given weekend are fairly high.  That means folks who don't have a home suitable for hosting a big bash are often left scrambling for other indoor alternatives.  The … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Midweek Musings Tagged With: birthday experiences, kids birthday freebies, kids birthday ideas, simple birthday ideas

What the Kids and I Have Been Up to Elsewhere

April 13 by Steph (MPMK Founder)

We've been talking a lot of food around here lately.  You may even be wondering if we forgot about the kids a bit. Rest assured, the littles and I have been up to our usual tricks - we've just been sharing them elsewhere.  Here's a recap of our latest adventures. Over on eHow's mom channel we've been making "Critter Snacking Ladders" (pictured up top)... … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Art + Kid Crafts, The Make & Play Vault

Easy Ways to Stop Feeling so Tired!

April 12 by Steph (MPMK Founder)

Get Balanced : 3 easy ways to stop feeling wired and tired all day

Image Credit (cropped & text added): © Grigory Kravchenko | 08.21.09| CC by 2.0 Since talking about Prescribe Nutrition's amazing courses, I've had lots of questions from you guys on just what the eCourse is all about.  So I've asked the power nutritionists behind the course, Megan and Katie, to stop by today and give us a preview with three of their top tips to stop feeling tired and wired all day and night. And if you'd like to really get serious and learn more about controlling … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Style & Simplify Tagged With: clean eating, eating for energy, how to stop feeling tired

Virtual Book Club: “How to Talk So Kids Will Listen…” – Part 2

April 11 by Janssen

It's time to wrap up our latest virtual book club selection - are you all caught up?  If not, no worries - it's never too late to start!  I've asked our resident children's librarian Janssen to take over for a bit.  And I must say - she totally nailed this wrap up.  I loved what she had to say and I can't wait to hear what you thought too! P.S. Just in case you're the over-achieving type and want to read ahead, we'll be covering Happier at Home by Gretchen Rubin (the author of the uber popular … [Read more...]

Filed Under: How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk, Janssen, Virtual Book Club

16 Inspiring Spring Salads

April 9 by Natalie

Salads are one of my lunch staples.  Which means I'm always on the lookout for new combinations (a girl can only consume so many chicken cobbs with a balsamic vinaigrette). Today Natalie is here sharing 16 of her favorite spring salads (yippe - lunch is suddenly back in a big way). Spring time is the perfect time to rekindle our love for salads, no? All of the beautiful greenery popping up outdoors, the vibrant produce showing up at the markets... you can chop up any combination of veggies, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: In the Kitchen, Natalie

Ways to Play with Nature (Inside & Out) All Month Long

April 8 by Alli

Ever noticed how much kids love a good theme?  A central topic is such a great way to get little ones engaging in all sorts of things - reading, writing, art and (best of all) new types of open-ended play.  Plus planning a few weeks of play around the same topic gives the kids time to come up with deeper questions and learn more. Announcing MPMK's latest venture: Play Theme Cheat Sheets!  As we said, playing around a theme is a great idea - the only drawback being that it requires a bit of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Alli, Outdoor Play, Play Theme Cheat Sheets, The Make & Play Vault

Friday Share: Ideas for Keeping Busy Over Spring Break

April 5 by Steph (MPMK Founder)

It's Friday already (how did that happen?!) and I find myself with so much good stuff to tell you about.  First, I wanted to let you guys know that I've started sharing over on Sulia this week. Though the last thing I probably need in my life is another social media channel, I'm hopelessly addicted. If you haven't heard of it yet, the best way I can describe Sulia is a cross between Pinterest and facebook.  Folks such as myself are over there sharing all kinds of randomness.  What I'm loving is … [Read more...]

Filed Under: The Everyday

MPMK Continuing Ed Course #3 – Get Balanced

April 4 by Steph (MPMK Founder)

Stop me if any of this sounds like you: You have the ability to feel tired yet wired at the same time. You hit the snooze button 6 times on your alarm. You have a 'no speaking to me' rule before your morning caffeine. You are eating well, exercising, and the scale will. not. budge. 4pm strikes and you need sugar. And there is no stopping you. 10pm strikes and you feel inexplicably motivated. 2am strikes and you are wide eyed, yet exhausted. This is a list shared with me by … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Style & Simplify

10 Steps Toward More Peaceful Family Meals

April 3 by Natalie

10 steps to easier and more peaceful family meals

Food and drinks all over the floor. Kids’ faces (and bodies and clothes) are a mess. Cups, bowls and spoons strewn everywhere. At least two of them are fighting. Only one of them actually ate something. Mom and Dad just want dinner to be over with... Are you having meal times like these? I know that part of having kids is embracing the mess, the noise and the chaos. Sometimes it's just going to be crazy. But I believe that we are responsible as parents to train up our children and discipline … [Read more...]

Filed Under: In the Kitchen, Natalie Tagged With: easier family meals, peaceful family meals, table manners for kids

POYEL: Organize Your Freezer & Eat Better

April 2 by Jen

Every once in a while around here, the whole MPMK team seems to be on the same wavelength with very little thought or planning on my part.  This is one of those times.  In looking over our posting schedule, I realized that this week we're planted firmly in the kitchen - covering all the wonderful things we can do for our bodies with the good stuff found there.  Yesterday it was all about honey hair masks.  Today... freezer organization for a healthier lifestyle.  Hope you enjoy! There used to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: In the Kitchen, Jen, Meal Planning, Organizing, Project Organize Your ENTIRE Life

Try It Together: Homemade Honey Hair Masks

April 1 by Anna

Homemade honey hair masks: perfect for soothing scalps and getting shiny hair

When I was growing up, I was always one for a good DIY beauty treatment.  Oatmeal masks, lemon juice highlights - it was all so much fun!  Which is why I love the idea of indulging in a regular honey hair mask with your littles.  What a great way to make them feel extra special. Anna's here today with all the details on how to create some fun memories with the kids and get a healthy scalp and shiny hair, all in one fell swoop. We think raw honey is the bees knees at our house. In the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Anna, Mom Health, Beauty & Style, Style & Simplify Tagged With: coconut hair mask, hair mask, honey hair mask, mother daughter activities

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