This will be our tenth Father’s Day since the divorce. Like every other year, I’ll take my two sons to the store and help them pick out gifts for their father. Some years I’m surprised I didn’t get lock jaw from forcing myself to smile as I helped them wrap their presents, and I can’t say I’ve never stooped to passive aggressive gifting. (Please don’t ask me about the garden gnome.) It wasn’t always a joy to spend money on my ex-husband, particularly since I was mothering on a … [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 right Make a Plantable Paper Earth - … [Read more...]
Easter Potluck Must-Have: Rice Krispies Easter Egg Nests
Rice Krispies treats have always been a kid-favorite around our house. So we decided why not take the recipe and make it into an Easter-themed treat? This recipe is one that kids can help with, there's no oven time, and you'll be done in about 15 minutes. It's that easy! Not to mention these little 'Easter baskets' are as cute as can be. Ingredients 7 cups Rice Krispies 1 package mini-marshmallows 3 Tablespoons butter 1 package cream cheese 1 cup powdered sugar … [Read more...]
Free Printable: A Week’s Worth of Valentine Lunchbox Jokes
I credit my years as a first grade teacher for my love of holidays. Every holiday is thoroughly celebrated in the younger elementary years. We spent weeks putting together themed crafts, sing-alongs and writing projects. I've carried on my love of celebrating holidays as a mom. When the kids were younger, I helped them make personalized valentines and now I make a special trip to the bakery for my teenagers that aren't handing out valentines anymore. It's those special touches that make … [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...]
Free Printable: Family New Year Resolutions
I love the start of a new year. As much as I adore the holidays, there is something so refreshing about taking down all the decorations, getting back into a normal work and school routine, and thinking about what you want to accomplish in the new year. For my entire childhood, setting goals for the new year was a huge part of our family culture. My dad printed out little spreadsheets for us to fill in with different goals about money, school, health, hobbies, and relationships. We'd … [Read more...]
Christmas and New Year’s Morning Mimosas
One of my favorite New Year's traditions is waking up late and staying in my pajamas. My mother-in-law makes her famous cinnamon rolls. My father-in-law cooks eggs and bacon to order and we all enjoy mimosas while we watch the parade. This year, I'm taking on the mimosas and we're putting a little twist on things. Instead of the typical orange juice, I'm using ruby red grapefruit juice. The color is so pretty and festive. I'm also getting fancy with some sage-infused simple syrup to … [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...]
30 Budget Finds for Your Fanciest Thanksgiving Table Ever
If you're hosting Thanksgiving this year, you might be stressing over all the planning that goes into such a feat. So how about we put all the family drama on hold and just concentrate on the fun stuff. Putting together a pretty table can be super satisfying, especially when done on a budget. Here are my favorite finds for doing just that, a few of which are on amazing sales. Get 'em while you can! JavaScript is currently disabled in this browser. Reactivate it to view this … [Read more...]