Modern Parents Messy Kids

We're all about finding ways to make family life better while keeping our sense of humor. Check out our famous MPMK Top Toy Awards, already viewed over 7,000,000 times!

You are here: Home / Blog

On Being Stuck at Home with Sick Kids

by

'Tis the season of the runny nose.  The worst part about this time of year isn't the sick kids, it's being trapped at home with little ones who are too contagious to be unleashed onto the world but still too spunky to stay in bed and sleep it off.  If you find yourself in that particularly frustrating position, you might want to check out my momtastic post, 10 Activities When Sickness Has You Stuck at Home.  Then, once you've adequately tuckered out the little guys, read this post, snuggle them … [Read more...]

St. Paddy’s Day Printables: Limerick Scavenger Hunt & Temporary Tattoos

by

Unbelievably, tomorrow's the first day of March.  Despite my whining about the snow, it kind of caught me by surprise.  In fact, the only reason I noticed was because a few of my St. Paddy's Day projects from last year have started to re-surface on Pinterest.  That's yet another great thing about Pinterest, it's a spot-on barometer of what the masses want.  And if Leprechauns and rainbows are it - who am I to argue?   I'll have a few fresh projects this year as well, but today I wanted to … [Read more...]

Good Idea: Bring the Garden Inside

by

I'm so over winter.  Seriously, I feel like we've done the cold and snow thing enough already - I'm jonesing to get outside with the kids and start growing stuff.  Judging by the hail that's currently pelting my backyard (and the snow that fell yesterday), Mother Nature does not share my sentiments. On to plan B then.  If we can't cultivate anything outside just yet (or at least attempt to cultivate - I've been cursed with a bit of a black thumb I'm afraid), then we'll do it in the kitchen … [Read more...]

Project Organize Your ENTIRE Life: Mega Cleaning Action Plan

by

Today's the day, time for me to unleash one enormous post and time for you to finally make a cleaning schedule and get started down the path to a new life.  One in which you don't have to limit having people over to times when you know you'll have a few hours to frantically surface clean the whole place first (or is that just me?).  That's the goal anyway, and below is the action plan to help get you there.  So grab a cup of Jo, some pen and paper, and get comfy - we've got some work to … [Read more...]

Elsewhere

by

photo via styleberry BLOGHappy Friday everyone!  I'm holed up in my home office furiously trying to make sense of all the cleaning schedule info. I've collected from everyone while the in-laws entertain my kids.  I hope to have the goods for you Monday or Tuesday of next week.  Until then, I wanted to share some of the things I've been talking about over at momtastic lately:First is this week's roundup of family friendly finds.  Doesn't that homemade baby food look divine?  It reminds me of … [Read more...]

We Need to Talk: Kids & Screen Time

by

Not to be overly dramatic, but I read the most fascinating New York Times post the other day and it completely changed my thoughts on kids and screen time.  If you have kids, then you have surely been bombarded with the news that TV is not great for them.  Your pediatrician likely recommended nixing the boob tube completely until the age of 2 and keeping viewing to a limited amount after that.  And if that didn't sink in, you've probably run into at least one mom eager to share links between too … [Read more...]

Project Organize Your ENTIRE Life: DIY Cleaning Chart

by

So this is kind of, OK totally, putting the cart before the horse but I got so excited about the concept of making a cleaning chart and actually having a clean house that I just couldn't wait any longer - ideas on how I wanted to make mine were literally keeping me up at night.  Plus, your comments lead me to believe that many of you are also moving ahead with your cleaning schedule (bravo!).  So I'm jumping ahead a bit but I promise I'm still going to post a roundup of all the useful stuff you … [Read more...]

Parenting Happy Kids

by

photo via The Busy Budgeting Mama   I've got something very exciting to announce: "The meal plan is coming! The meal plan is coming!".  My friend Mel (who's a healthy cooking rock star) is currently training and raising funds for Team in Training.  So I suggested she make a 12 week meal plan, which I'll put up here along with a link where everyone can show their appreciation by donating to help fight blood cancer (completely at  your discretion and no minimum amount required).  … [Read more...]

Weekly Cleaning Schedule Pop Quiz

by

After the mountain of feedback I received on Organize Your ENTIRE Life: Weekly Schedules (thanks for that by the way), it quickly became apparent that cleaning is, indeed, a beast in and of itself.  In order to create a kick-ass weekly schedule, we're going to have to start with the toilets, I'm afraid.  (Actually, we'd be fine starting with everything else and then working in the cleaning, but my house is a mess - something really must be done before the children lose all their friends - and … [Read more...]

We Tried It! Making Tracks with Tape

by

We were stuck inside the other day in an attempt to keep a case of the sniffles from becoming something uglier.  As the morning began to drag on (and I realized it was still only 9:00 am), I decided it was time to finally break out the painters tape and make some of those crazy cool DIY tracks I keep spotting on pinterest.   Since we only had extra wide tape, I tore it in half vertically to make wonky strips and C helped me piece them together.     The examples … [Read more...]

Project Organize Your ENTIRE Life: Cleaning Schedule Questions

by

top right, top left, bottom left, bottom right We are young / So let's set the world on fire / We can burn brighter / than the sun   Can you hear me singing this to you?  Got you fired up to start organizing your ENTIRE life?  Wondering how in the world I'm gonna deliver on a promise like that?  Me too!  But I'm gonna give it my best, and here's how...   If there's one thing we can all agree on, it's going to take a village to get something like this done.  I'm happy … [Read more...]

Nothing Says Love Like a Little Cast Iron

by

How sweet are these little pan gifts?  Apparently, you can get a 5" cast iron skillet for under $10 and you can find the free printable here.  I love the idea of presenting these guys to just about anyone but your husband for Valentine's Day.  The message "you'll think of me over cheese and eggs" becomes less cute (and more than a little pushy) when you live with the gift recipient.   The real beauty of this gift is that its more than just a charming gesture.   For health reasons, we … [Read more...]