I am not a morning person. Anyone in my family (or extended family) can attest to that. In fact, I know this sounds crazy... but getting up early is one of the things I dreaded most about having children. I mean, I am a CHAMP at sleeping. I can sleep until late afternoon if no one wakes me up. But alas, they do. Every. Single. Morning. And now that the school year is in full-swing, there's just now way around it. The good news? I've learned a few tricks over the years. Tricks that … [Read more...]
4th of July Frozen Treats with Hidden Fruits & Veggies
*I’m a PediaSure SideKicks Partner and am a sponsored blog partner, but all opinions are my own. Please see below for additional disclosure. With weekend bar-b-ques, swim lessons, and park play dates in full swing, it's definitely starting to feel like summer around here! Around our house that means a lot of things, including more lax bedtimes and, often, less nutritious eating then I normally strive for... This week alone we've already grilled hotdogs and cooked s'mores in the backyard … [Read more...]
STEM: 20 Kitchen Science Experiments Your Kids Will Love
I don't mean to scare you or anything but, it's May folks. Summer vacation will be here before you know it - do you have a plan? Mine is to set up some sort of loose schedule. Nothing too confining but a flexible outline of how any days spent at home are going to go. I'll have more details later this month, but for now, suffice to say, I'm gathering resources. And this list is one of them. Summer is the perfect time to try a science experiment or two from the comfort of your own … [Read more...]
DIY Lego Art
Have you guys noticed that decorating kids' spaces can be one of the most interesting spots in the house to tackle? I think it's because I feel like I can go a little bolder, a little more creative, and a little more "outside the box" then I might in other rooms. Also, I'm not as afraid to DIY it - kids rooms are supposed to be about imagination and joy, not perfection, so it doesn't matter if my projects don't turn out professional grade. That being said, this ridiculously cool artwork … [Read more...]
Make It: No-Sew Reusable Sandwich Holder
Lately our little family has been having what I like to call "a bit of a time". I mentioned last week that I went to visit my parents with the baby for my great aunt's funeral. That had already thrown our week a bit of course and then, the day after we came back, my sweet 4 year old was diagnosed with walking pneumonia. Then, I suppose because things happen in threes, right?, the disc slipped in my back again and I now find myself unable to walk or stand up straight (let alone pick up the … [Read more...]
15 Candy-Free Valentines to Bring to Class
Between Halloween, Christmas and Valentine's Day it sometimes feels like there really is no escaping the sugar! But never-fear, Alli's today with 15 sugar-free Valentines you can feel good about sending to the class party with your little one this year. Today was my son's first day back to school. And as I dropped him off at the classroom door, there it was–just staring me in the face: Valentine's Day party sign-ups. Already?! Didn't we just finish Christmas? I mean I just took our … [Read more...]
DIY Painted Cinnamon Pine Cones
I love the smell of Christmas. And truth be told, I'm not exactly sure what that smell is. But in my mind...it's part pumpkin, part pine tree, and part cinnamon. Mmmmm. Every year we like to fill our house with holiday aromas. And we're always looking for new ways to do it. This year, our family decided to make our own painted cinnamon pine cones. Not only do they smell fantastic, but they work so beautifully with our natural Christmas theme and they make fantastic gifts. Sure, you can … [Read more...]
Project Organize Your ENTIRE Life: Keeping a Clean & Clutter-Free Home for the Holidays
Ah, the holidays, what's not to love? Okay. Maybe just one thing–one small, teensy tinsy thing... The cleaning. If you are anything like me (maybe a little bit type A?) keeping the house clean over the holidays is a challenge. Call me crazy, but I want my house to feel warm and welcoming all throughout the season. I want my decorations to sparkle and shine (because I didn't hang them for nothin', right?). One of the first steps to keeping your house clean over the holidays, is … [Read more...]
Top-Notch Waldorf and Montessori Inspired Toys
Can you guys believe it's nearly November already?! You know what that means... time to start thinking Christmas shopping. Although the process can be overwhelming, it can also be a lot of fun hunting down the most exciting, enticing and developmentally appropriate toys for your littles. I know I always feel a great sense of anticipation and accomplishment when I've finally settled on my top picks and placed my order. Today we're hoping to help with that and Alli is here sharing one of … [Read more...]