How is it possible that we can easily countdown the final days of 2018 already? Whether I'm ready or you're ready, the end of the year is quickly approaching.It's just about this time when I always ask myself: Should I make New Year's resolutions this year? And if I'm making that plunge, which goals are both aspirational and approachable?This year we've come up with a simple tool to help you and your family make some goals for this year while reminiscing all the happenings of last … [Read more...]
DIY Thanksgiving Table Poppers w/ Free Printable
There's a lot of work that goes into Thanksgiving. We can all relate to the hours of pie prep and casserole making that happen days before and that turkey's not going to stuff itself.Even with lots for prep, the big day can be filled with setting the table and getting everything just right.The thing that makes all this work even more challenging is that children are off school. And usually they aren't too interested in peeling potatoes for more than 5 minutes.This year, set them … [Read more...]
7 Unique Holiday Finds to Grab While You Can!
After holding off as long as I could, I'm officially embracing all things Christmas! I'm talking, the holiday decorations are coming out from storage TODAY people... who's with me?If you'd like a fun find or two to help get you started, you're in luck because I've rounded up a bunch... #1 Peking Handicraft Pillow La La La Llama Printed Pillow $30 Now $18.97Happy Holidays Llama Printed Pillow $30 Now $18.97I'm all about bright and happy this season and these … [Read more...]
Handmade Halloween: Make Spider Sack Decor with the Kids
I'm so excited about this Halloween project, it turned out even better than I'd envisioned. It's the quintessential MPMK project - easy enough for kids of all ages to get in on the action and the finished product is a decidedly stylish take on traditional Halloween decor. And did I mention how inexpensive it is? … [Read more...]
Earth Day Activities and Recipes
It's really too bad Earth Day doesn't get the same fanfare as Valentine's Day, Halloween, and the like.The shape our environment's in these days, we could certainly use a day where every family sits down and really talks to their children about the impact (both positive and negative) that they can have on the world they live in.Here are 14 of our favorite ideas to help you hold an Earth Day celebration at your house. Show Above Clockwise from top rightMake a Plantable Paper Earth - … [Read more...]
3 Healthy Strawberry Snacks for Valentine’s Day
Valentine's Day is just a few weeks away and the candy that comes with it has already started to find it's way into our home. While I have no objection to a bit of chocolate and a few conversation hearts, I'd prefer to celebrate the holiday with a few healthier treats -- and that's where strawberries come in!With their natural heart shape and pretty red color, strawberries are a perfect choice for Valentine's day snacks. My kids love their sweet flavor and since they're packed … [Read more...]
How to Make a “Sibling Appreciation” Advent Calendar
This "Sibling Appreciation Advent Calendar" is an idea our elf came up with last year and worked really well.On the first day he appeared, always the day after Thanksgiving in our house, he arrived with this Advent Calendar (only $15!) and an explanation.The idea is simple. Our elf asked the kids to take a minute each day to write something nice about each other and place it in that day's pocket. The next morning the kids wake up to find the notes they wrote about each other and a small … [Read more...]
Free Printable: Thanksgiving Gratitude Conversation Starters
Gratitude isn't a new concept for us. We've talked before about regularly expressing gratitude toward our kids and putting our gratitude into writing.Do a simple search for gratitude on the blog and you'll see many ideas for crafts and thoughts about giving thanks.The benefits of being a grateful person range from being more optimistic, less materialistic and self-centered, to increasing our self-esteem and actually making us healthier. This is something we should be working on … [Read more...]
11 Brilliantly Simple DIY Halloween Costumes for Moms
I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I'm going to my first adult Halloween party in years and I'm super excited about my DIY costume.That got me to thinking that there may be a lot of moms out there who could use some quick and easy ideas on how to throw together an easy costume for neighborhood parties, classroom parties, or just trick-or-treating with the kids. So I asked our contributor, Kristin, to throw together a list of costumes mom could throw together and she didn't … [Read more...]