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Start Your Day Saying, “Hello, Happy Drink!”

March 5 by Anna

You guys know I've been on a clean eating kick as of late.  So far it's going pretty well - mood and energy are up, exhaustion is down.  And, major bonus, my adult acne (yay, you heard me) which mysteriously appeared about 6 months ago is gone - hallelujah!  It hasn't been easy, but for the most part I've been able to find substitutes for my vices; cucumber slices with laughing cow cheese instead of crackers, stevia instead of sugar, etc. The one place I've struggle though, is with my morning … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Anna, In the Kitchen, Mom Health, Beauty & Style Tagged With: energy drink recipe, happy drink, healthy morning drink, healthy morning drink recipe

Fresh Find: Growing the Next Generation of Female Tech Innovators

March 4 by Steph (MPMK Founder)

Have you guys noticed the recent crop of building and designing toys hitting the shelves made specifically for girls?  This is a trend I'm beyond excited about.  You see, even at the tender age of 2, I can already tell that S is an engineer at heart. That's not to say other skills won't develop as she matures - she may ultimately foster strengths in lots of other areas - but for now she's a builder.  Yes, there's a special spot in her heart for her babies and she appreciates a shiny bauble as … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Toy Recommendations Tagged With: Best STEM toys, roominate, sponsored, stem for girls

Our Favorite Ways to Play Inside

February 28 by Steph (MPMK Founder)

Isn't that structure amazing?  C spent a solid couple of hours constructing it the other morning. And then promptly fell asleep on the couch (something he hasn't done in nearly a year!).  It was created using a very cool building set that was sent to us last month called Fort Magic.  And thank God it was because this time of year in Seattle the kids and I are stuck in the house more than usual and things can get a bit dicey if I'm not careful. Is this happening to you too?  In case it is, I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Toy Recommendations

Midweek Musings: What’s the Perfect Distance from Extended Family?

February 27 by Steph (MPMK Founder)

Last week I had a play date with a friend who also has two kids, except her youngest is only 6 months old and her oldest is nearly 3 - a period of life when a mama can always use some extra help (But that's kind of all the time isn't it? A period of time when a mama can especially use extra help?).  She was having one of those pull-your-hair-out/go-cry-in-the-corner kind of days we've all had.  And over coffee she was lamenting that none of her extended family lives in-state to help out on a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Midweek Musings

DIY Watercolors, Plus a New Art Magazine for Kids

February 26 by Steph (MPMK Founder)

DIY watercolors

Recently, a local mom emailed to ask if I would share with you guys a new venture she's starting.  I was so enamored with her project - a new, high quality art magazine just for kids, ArTree - that I immediately jumped on board.  Here's everything you need to know about the new magazine (including what you can do to make sure it gets published!) as well as fun art project for the littles. With so many public schools not being able to offer art programs for the kids, art education can be … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Creating & Engaging

Five Parenting Reads Worth Your Precious Time

February 25 by Steph (MPMK Founder)

top parenting books

It's one of my favorite days of the month - the day when resident MPMK librarian Janssen once again stops by and shares a new list of her favorite picks with us.  Did you guys have book orders at school growing up?  I used to get so excited when a new one would arrive. This kind of feels like that - Janssen always makes such amazing recommendations, I can never wait to devour her latest list.  Hope you guys enjoy as much as I do. P.S. QUESTION OF THE DAY What's the one parenting book (or book … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Janssen, The Book Nook Tagged With: parenting books

Virtual Book Club: What Should We Read Next?

February 22 by Steph (MPMK Founder)

It's time to pick a new book for Virtual Book Club folks (yipeeee).  Before we get to the choosing, a few new ground rules... I think you'll all agree that our inaugural book stretched on for an epicly loooong time.  This time around we're going to attack the thing in much larger chunks.  Here are the proposed steps: Take a vote [Today]: We'll do that here in just a bit.  Don't forget that write-ins are totally welcome on the ballot. Announce our book [Friday March 1st] : Keep an eye … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Virtual Book Club

POYEL: Free Heirloom Recipe Card Printables

February 21 by Jen

Fill with favorite recipes for mom or grandma for the perfect Mother's Day gift!

Jen is here today with free printables (we always love those right?).  I also love her idea of taking the time to write down some of your favorite recipes and transforming them into family heirlooms.  And speaking of families - thanks so much to everyone who's chimed in on our very lively discussion from yesterday.  It's SO nice to hear that I'm not the only struggling with the question of whether or not our family is complete! P.S. QUESTION OF THE DAY Do you have a recipe from your childhood … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Jen, Meal Planning, Project Organize Your ENTIRE Life, Style & Simplify Tagged With: free printable recipe cards

Midweek Musings: How Do You Know When Your Family’s “Complete”?

February 20 by Steph (MPMK Founder)

How do you know when you're done having kids and your family is complete?

When it comes to family planning, to date I have been a very private, if not down-right sneaky, individual - not really letting any friends or family in on the fact that we were trying until the trying was done.  But recently something strange came over me. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Midweek Musings, Parenting Tagged With: having 3 children, having 3 kids, what's it like to have 3 kids, when do you know you're done having children, when do you know you're done having kids, when is your family complete

POYEL: 10 Tips for Better Meal Planning

February 19 by Natalie

Some people love meal planning, some people hate it. Whether you like it or not, it can be really helpful for your budget, your time management and your sanity as a parent. Everyone goes about meal planning a little differently, but this is how our resident food contributor, Natalie, sets herself up for success before the actual “meal-planning” time begins. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Meal Planning, Natalie, Project Organize Your ENTIRE Life Tagged With: dinner ideas, how to organize your life, meal planning, organization, organizer, Project Organize Your ENTIRE Life

Homemade Learning: Printable Counting Cards

February 18 by Kaley

Kaley's here today with some lovely printable counting cards, perfect for teaching your littles their numbers at home.  At our house these have been printed, laminated and are already being used (and fought over - might need to print another set shortly). By the way - do you guys have home laminators?  I resisted purchasing one for a long time (just another thing to fit on the desk, right?) but finally caved when we hosted a busy bag swap.  I bought this one and, must say, I've squeezed a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Creating & Engaging, Educational Activities, Kaley, The Make & Play Vault

Friday Share: Make a Memory Library

February 15 by Steph (MPMK Founder)

Happy Friday friends.  Did everyone have a good Valentine's Day?  Any big plans for the weekend? It's my dad's birthday today (Happy birthday Dad!) so we're loading up the kids and making the two hour drive to see my parents for the weekend. We don't do much TV at home but on the road... a total Godsend.  The plan is to eat dinner, zip the kids into their footie PJs, bundle them up with blankies and lovies, put in Brave and sail smoothly down the road. Before that though, I've got lots of good … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Style & Simplify

How To Capture Memories with Your Phone While Still Being a Part of Them

February 14 by Steph (MPMK Founder)

Happy Valentine's Day!  Since today's all about love, I thought what better to share today than ideas on how best to document all of those loving (also funny, exasperating, etc.) moments we experience as parents. When I stumbled upon the description of Kristin Roger's The Inspired Home photography course, I was instantly smitten. As a mother in the trenches, I find her approach so very appealing, "fundamental yet inspiring topics related to photography, home life, and managing it all with joy … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Photography & Memory Keeping, Style & Simplify Tagged With: iphone photography, iphonography, iphotography, smart phone photography

Virtual Book Club: Conclusion

February 13 by Steph (MPMK Founder)

We're finally wrapping up our book, Buddhism for Mother's of Young Children, today!  Although I have truly loved this book, I'm not so crazy about the way I handled book club - one book just dragged on way too long. So some changes will be made but I think it will all be for the best in the end.  In the meantime, lets wrap up the last three chapters, all of which I really enjoyed because I felt they were filled with concrete ways to implement the author's ideas. CHAPTER 8: CAN I CHANGE MY … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Becoming a Mindful Parent, Virtual Book Club

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