Thank you The Toy Association for sponsoring this post. Keeping kids safe while they play is the #1 priority for The Toy Association and its members.As you probably know by now, the 2019 edition of our much-loved annual toy awards was released last month.I work on them for months and always do my best to get them out by the end of October in order to give parents lots of time to research the very best toys for their kids this Christmas. I love being a trusted source for finding highly … [Read more...]
The 2020 POYEL Kit is Here! (Plus, a Free Bonus!)
Ready to take a deep breath and vow to make a fresh start? To help you out, we've got some big, exciting news to share today!When we launched our handbook to leading a more simplified life, Project Organize Your ENTIRE Life: The Quick Start Guide. It was a huge success and we've since sold well over 10,000 copies.But I also heard from you guys that you would like some handy-dandy printables to go along with your newly-formed action plans. So I worked really hard to make that wish a … [Read more...]
Must-Try: Pumpkin Energy Bites
I'm just as basic as the next girl. When the pumpkin spice latte comes out, I'm the first in line. Fall is the season for us to infuse pumpkin into everything from candles to our coffee and I love a good pumpkin bread or muffin.This year, I decided to try my hand and making a healthy pumpkin treat.We love energy bites in our house all year long. The no-bake recipes are easy to make and can pass for breakfast on-the-go or an afternoon snack.The challenge in making a pumpkin … [Read more...]
Halloween Couples Costume: Russian Hacker & Old Person Faceapp
Last weekend a couple friends and I (top pic below) hosted an adults-only Halloween party for our neighborhood. It's actually the third year we've had a neighborhood party and everyone likes to go all out.That means, I've been hard at work on a couples costume for my husband and I and Saturday was the big reveal!There are lots of ways to go when it comes to couples costumes; throwbacks, super scary and (my personal favorite) timely.A few years ago, for example, we went as as … [Read more...]
Side Stepping the Dinner Time Struggle: Dealing with a Stubborn Eater
I have a picky eater. Correction- I have a child who once successfully carried out an 18-hour hunger strike. After years of cooking three separate meals at dinnertime, I had the unreasonable idea that I should just cook one meal and that we could all eat like normal families. After all, I had never aspired to being a short-order cook, and preparing multiple meals meant I relied way too much on microwaving processed foods shaped like animals.I was going to make a … [Read more...]
Super Simple Halloween Decor: Dollar Store Pumpkin Makeover
I love holidays, but I'm not always festive when it comes to decorating. My home aesthetic can best be described as NEUTRAL.So, the bright and colorful decorations that come with Halloween, Christmas, Easter and every other holiday don't really vibe with my interior.After passing some $1 pumpkins, I picked up some gold spray paint and simple black hobby paint and thought I'd try my hand and making my own very classy and neutral fall decorations.The project was much easier … [Read more...]
Ultimate Minimalist Capsule Wardrobe for Fall
My minimalist mom capsule wardrobe was so popular the last few years (and made dressing each day so fun and easy) that I couldn’t wait to do it again this year. Only a little better.Why? Because I've done my very best this year to keep my picks as inexpensive as possible- the majority being under $30!Every piece here is a proven winner– that shirt, cardigan, hoodie, and pair of jeans that you’ll reach for again and again. These are the items that keep us comfortably chasing the … [Read more...]
7 Next Level Oktoberfest Recipes
Do you live in a neighborhood where families get together and hang out?Until a few years ago, I didn't. But then my husband and I moved our burgeoning family into a new house and somehow stumbled into a young family mecca. It didn't happen right away, when we first moved in there were only two or three families with young kids scattered around the neighborhood. Fast forward a few years, though, and suddenly there were about twenty.We have so many kids at our elementary bus stop now that … [Read more...]
Parenting Styles: How I Re-Connected with My Kids
I don’t think I sat on the couch for more than five minutes when my kids were toddlers—we were always on the floor playing trains, or at the table squeezing Play-Doh, or off on an adventure somewhere. Honestly, I thought I’d enjoy it more than I did. Oh, I could play Thomas the Tank Engine for 30 minutes just fine, but the whole day? Not so much. I’ll admit it—I couldn’t wait for them to play independently. Parents often joke about kids’ short attention spans, but I will say that my … [Read more...]