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Midweek Musings: Harnessing the Power of Touch

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I recently came across, The Power of a Parent's Touch and the post resonated with me so much. Now that my oldest is nearly 4, I can feel he's on the cusp of a time when my touch won't always be wanted. Already, he occasionally shrugs me off if I snuggle too close and he no longer drops everything and comes running at the suggestion of a hug.  I mostly take it in stride but this small shift has me focusing more and more on the connections that are made through touch. … [Read more...]

Giveaway: Storage Furniture from ClosetMaid

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Today we have another fabulous joint giveaway with the lovely Jen of I Heart Organizing. In honor of the newly organized and beautified site, we're giving away some fabulous storage pieces to help you organize and beautify your own space. My initial intention was to use these snazzy cube benches in the playroom.  Once the hubs finished assembling them in the living room, though, I pushed them over to the window to temporarily make room and instantly loved the look.  I've always wanted a bench … [Read more...]

It’s Finally Here – MPMK 2.0

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Our big reveal is finally here, ta-da!  I really couldn't be happier with the way the site turned out. Along with a sleek new look, one of my top priorities for MPMK 2.0 (as I'm affectionately calling it) was to make it VERY easy to navigate.  I really think we accomplished that goal.  Today I'm hosting a mini tour to show you what I mean.  (If you're reading this via an RSS feed, be sure to click on over to the new site and follow along.) Let me first draw your attention to the top of the site … [Read more...]

No More Nagging for Something to Drink

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Being a parent is a test of efficiency.  It reminds of waiting tables many years ago.  You have a million things to accomplish in about 10 minutes and impatient customers will let you know how you're measuring up on the job.  Except now days you're serving kids, and sometimes they can be a teeny bit impatient and you may hear a lot of, "Mom, I'm thirsty", "Mom, can I have a drink of water?", "Mooooom!".   This summer, I tried putting a water jug outside with cups for the kids to … [Read more...]

Dealing with Night Time Fears Through Play

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One of my boys was blessed with my very over active imagination, which can be fun during the day, but not so much at night.   We've battled our nighttime monsters in different ways. We talk about what good dreams he wants to have that night - where he wants to go, what he wants to do etc. I've also given him an old remote control so if he wakes up from a bad dream he can change his dream channel. Another way to battle those monsters is by melting them!   This activity is fun … [Read more...]

Top 20 Moms to Follow on Pinterest

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Happy Mondays friends - how was your weekend? Despite spending mine slaving away on the redesign it looks like we're still a few days away from completion (sigh). Since I don't have a spiffy new look to present today, I thought instead I'd share with you another project I'm involved with. I was so honored to be asked to be a part of an amazing new Pinterest collaboration. 20 Must Follow Moms is a board curated by some of my absolute favorite parenting bloggers. It's is all about being a hands … [Read more...]

Fall Project: Set Up a Book Nook

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Interested in setting up a fabulous reading nook in your home? Last year around this time MPMK put together an entire book week. We covered topics like how to find great books, how to celebrate with books, even how to craft with books, and - my favorite - how to set up a book nook. I thought I'd repost our finds today for all of you who missed it the first time around. With fall and the school year just around the corner, now is the time to start plotting a spot for your kids' very own book … [Read more...]

Book Club: Week Three

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This chapter of Buddhism for Mothers of Young Children - Becoming a Mindful Parent, is all about how we define ourselves and, specifically, how that definition is challenged when we become mothers.  One of the the things the author focuses on is our constant self-evaluation of personal performance.  I love how the she reminds us that by "always judging our worth, we block the possibility of joy in our daily life" and that we essentially need to "get out of our own way" to be more happy. … [Read more...]

Easy Family Dinner

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Ever get stuck in the slow-cooker rut in your quest for a simple super?  Natalie is here today reminding us that just because a meal takes a little longer to cook, doesn't mean you have to spend a lot of time in the kitchen preparing it. … [Read more...]

The Weekend Look Book

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I mentioned last week I was at a lake house spending time with the family.  The house belongs to my in-laws and it's one of those magical wooded spots that is, in a word, serene.  We did lots of fun stuff while we were there, including taking in an outdoor movie or two.   I'm still catching up being back home so there won't be a formal look book this weekend (don't worry - this should be the last summer break).  Instead, click on the top photo for instructions on how to set up an … [Read more...]

Bringing Your Summer Wardrobe Into Fall

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We're welcoming back Audrey today (yay!).  Her recent guest post on how to put together a re-mixable wardrobe was such a hit that I asked her to come back and bestow some more of her wisdom on us.  Check out her easy tips on how to transition your look from summer to fall...   Hello again, everyone!  My name is Audrey and I blog at Putting Me Together, a style blog that aims to help women maximize their wardrobe and hopefully spend less money on clothes.   I don't know about … [Read more...]

Best Idea Ever When Starting a New School

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I'm still working away on the site redesign and the closer we get to launch, the closer we also get to the end of summer (boo!).  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 form last fall.  Our DIY preschool photo book was a major hit at home.   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 … [Read more...]