Book Nooks: nothing encourages reading in kids more than a cozy corner to call their own. Inspiration for these spaces abounds and shows, whether it's just a few square feet inside a closet or an entire room, every house has room for one. Today I've rounded up a super-sized group of images in the hopes of encouraging you to set up the perfect kiddo reading spot in your home. I'm doing this one look book style so click on the photos for more info. And don't forget to enter our … [Read more...]
First Day of School Comforts
Yesterday on momtastic I shared 3 Steps to Starting Preschool Off Right, the last of which was to "leave them with a little comfort". These first day of school hearts from Helen at Curly Birdsare perfect for doing just that - and I'm not the only one who thinks so. Helen's daughters' teacher was so impressed by the idea that she asked Helen to make one for every student.If you just don't have the time or inclination to whip one of these up, this post all about separation anxiety also features … [Read more...]
Top 3 Ways to Ensure School Success at Home
photo via motherhood your way Happy Monday everyone! Before we kick off the week I wanted to let you know that I (finally) finished my post on the 12 things I want to teach my children every day for Bloom. You can check it out here. And speaking of teaching, it's officially back-to-school time. How did that happen? With C starting preschool this year it feels like summer went by extra quick! In the coming days I'll have lots of goodies to get you and the kids … [Read more...]
Attention: How Much (and What Kind) Do Kids Really Need?
photo via Sewing In No Man's Land Isn't that jet pack rad?! (That's not an adjective I use much but in this case it seems appropriate). I found the DIY on pinterest with the caption, "Cool moms make capes. Even cooler moms make jet packs." Ha! In a perfect world I would spend all day, every day with S and C trying out new art projects, playing new games, and making cool stuff like this. In reality, though, I tend to blog about these types of things more often than I … [Read more...]
A Colorful (& Cheap) First Birthday Bash
I'm finally getting around to posting on S's first birthday party today (hip hip hooray!). The celebration wasn't too long after our trip to San Diego so I knew I wasn't gonna have time to go over the top. The problem was I made a giant, six layer monster cake for C's first birthday and I was feeling guilty about not doing something super spectacular for S too. On the other hand, though, I've also developed a new outlook on kid parties since C's first. Here's my take: while all those … [Read more...]
Quiet Time with Audio Books
photo via ohdeedoh Now that we're all rested from vacation, we're ready to tackle some new routines around here. My 2 (almost 3) year old is starting to drop his nap on occasion and I have a feeling he could be getting rid of it all together in the near future.That's a problem because the kids' nap time is mama's work time! Thankfully, I recently read this wonderful post on audio books and quiet time. Then, on the very same day, ohdeedoh posted a top 10 list of audio books - I … [Read more...]
The Latest & Greatest Posts on Parenting
It's finally Friday! It's been a hectic week and I'm ready for the weekend. I was over at momtastic earlier this week posting on how to make a nature bowl with the kids and more family friendly finds from around the web. I've been reading A LOT of interesting parenting posts lately so I thought I'd share some of my favorites. In no particular order, here they are: The New York Times is talking about raising siblings to be friends. They mention the book … [Read more...]
Why One Big Blogger Says “Do NOT Take Your Little Ones to Cars 2”
Hi all, I'm off enjoying the holiday with the family today and I hope you're doing the same. I just wanted to stop in quickly and share this with you in case you were considering hitting up a showing of Cars 2 with the kiddos today. Rookie Moms makes a short and convincing case on why that might not be such a good plan. Check it out and have a happy 4th! Similar Stuff: How Thomas the Tank Engine Can Make Your Kids Smart & Popular Do You Mighty Machine? Dolls for Boys in Honor … [Read more...]
Top 3 Resources for Getting Out and About with Young Kids
Very, very soon I'm going to find myself in the precarious position of being a mom to a 2 year old and a 1 year old. To be honest, I'd say we've actually been managing activities, nap times, and errands pretty well since S arrived into the world. For some reason, though, the thought of having two kiddos only a year apart kinda freaks me out! This is partly because it can be a challenge to find appropriate activities that are fun and engaging for both of my little ones. But believe … [Read more...]