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Must-Try: Pumpkin Energy Bites

October 29 by Kristin

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...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: eating for energy, energy bites, energy foods, fall recipe, fall snack, healthy energy bite, healthy kid snack, healthy pumpkin snack, healthy snack, kid snack, pumkin bread, pumpkin energy bite, pumpkin muffin recipe, pumpkin recipes, pumpkin snack, pumpkin treat

Halloween Couples Costume: Russian Hacker & Old Person Faceapp

October 28 by Steph (MPMK Founder)

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...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: best couples costume, easy couples costume, Halloween couples costume, Old man costume, Russian Hacker Halloween costume, Top halloween costumes for couples

Side Stepping the Dinner Time Struggle: Dealing with a Stubborn Eater

October 10 by Lara Lillibridge

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...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: getting kids to try new foods, kid dinner ideas, kid friendly recipes, kid recipes, kid-friendly dinner, picky eater recipes, picky eaters, picky kids, tips for picky eaters

Super Simple Halloween Decor: Dollar Store Pumpkin Makeover

October 8 by Steph (MPMK Founder)

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...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: dollar store halloween decor, dollar store pumpkin decor, Halloween crafts, halloween decor, halloween diy, holiday crafts for kids, kid crafts for Halloween

Ultimate Minimalist Capsule Wardrobe for Fall

September 24 by Steph (MPMK Founder)

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...]

Filed Under: The Everyday, Uncategorized Tagged With: capsule wardrobe, capsule wardrobe for moms, fall capsule wardrobe, minimalist capsule wardrobe, Mom capsule wardrobe

7 Next Level Oktoberfest Recipes

September 13 by Steph (MPMK Founder)

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...]

Filed Under: In the Kitchen, Uncategorized Tagged With: beercheese, beercheserecipe, geramnchocolatecake, germanchocoaltebrownies, oktoberfest, oktoberfestfood, oktoberfestrecipe

Parenting Styles: How I Re-Connected with My Kids

August 27 by Lara Lillibridge

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...]

Filed Under: Parenting, Uncategorized Tagged With: family time, parenting styles

Our Picks for the Top Toys of the Summer

August 20 by Steph (MPMK Founder)

Even though school has already started for many of you, there are also still several weeks of warm weather left. Today I wanted to share with you some of our family's favorite toys this summer. Quick note: If you're wondering if these reviews are part of a paid sponsorship, they are not. I did, however, receive free review product so that I could test each of these finds and report back to you guys.Here's the deal, as a family blogger I get offered A LOT of products to review- especially toys … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fresh Finds: Playtime, Uncategorized Tagged With: beginning reader, beginning reader toys, best beach toys, Best STEM toys, best toys, Bob books, family game night, game night, playmobil, playmobil sand, sand toys, STEM toys

The Ultimate Mom Finds from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

July 23 by Steph (MPMK Founder)

Now that the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is open to all, it's the perfect time for me to share with you every crazy comfy piece I picked up for myself at the sale. As a mom on the go, I prioritize pieces that will hold up, look cute, and- most of all- be super comfortable. All the picks below fit the bill. Before you start perusing, though, don't forget that I've also let you in on all my favorite shoe finds from the sale here. The North Face Knit Stitch Fleece Pullover Was $70, Now … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized

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