The Many Little Joys

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How to create a simple after school routine (+ free printable checklist)

Help your family keep home and school life organized with a simple after school routine, complete with free printable checklist!

Help your family keep home and school life organized with a simple after school routine, complete with free printable checklist!

With kids heading back to school right now, it’s a great time to revisit family routines and get some good systems in place to make life run a little smoother this year.

Have your kids headed back to school yet?

My kids just started back at public school after homeschooling last year, so I was a little nervous for them, but so far so good!

I’m still working my way through revamping all my household systems (I had a LOT of things that got pushed to the back burner for the past year and a half…can you relate?), but one routine I set up right away was our after school routine.

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5 ways to make family dinnertime meaningful

If your family dinnertime is in need of a little makeover, try one of these simple activities to get everyone talking and laughing together. Make dinnertime matter!

If your family dinnertime is in need of a little makeover, try one of these simple activities to get everyone talking and laughing together. Make dinnertime matter!

Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you buy something through a link on my site, I may earn a commission, at no cost to you. See my disclosure to learn more.

With back to school just around the corner, I’ve been thinking a lot about our family rhythm and routines. For the past year and half my kids have been home with me every day, and we’ve had lots of time together.

Once school starts, my big kids will be gone for more than 6 hours per day! I’m excited for the opportunities that will open up for them–and for me–but I’m also a little sad about losing so much family time. It’s gotten me thinking about how to replace quantity with quality time.

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How to fit in more time to read aloud to kids, even when you’re busy

Life gets crazy sometimes, and it can be hard to carve out time to read aloud to kids, but these simple ideas will help you fit in the reading time that you know is so important!

Life gets crazy sometimes, and it can be hard to carve out time to read aloud to kids, but these simple ideas will help you fit in the reading time that you know is so important!

Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you buy something through a link on my site, I may earn a commission, at no cost to you. See my disclosure to learn more.

I grew up on a steady diet of books. My childhood was filled with days spent carrying armfuls of books out of our local library, being mesmerized by the strange ocean creatures I encountered as I flipped through our National Geographic books, and listening to my mom read The Chronicles of Narnia as I snuggled in bed at night. Books were everywhere in my home.

I didn’t think anything of it at the time, but I realize now what a wonderful gift my parents gave me by filling my life with books.

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Our family motto for this school year

Each school year, our family chooses a motto to focus on. Here’s our (much needed) goal for 2020!

Each school year, our family chooses a motto to focus on. Here's our (much needed) goal for 2020!

I usually get really excited about the beginning of the school year. As a former teacher, I love school and I get a little giddy when I start to see large bins of pencils and crayons front and center in the grocery store, begging families everywhere to bring them home and place them in brand new backpacks.

This year has felt weird though. Anyone else?

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Daily summer schedule for kids that will save your sanity

Summer break is the time for lazy days, big adventures, and making lots of memories. Still, kids thrive on structure (and so do I). Having a flexible summer schedule for kids will help you keep life balanced.

Kids playing outside in summer

Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you buy something through a link on my site, I may earn a commission, at no cost to you. See my disclosure to learn more.

I LOVE summer time! Give me a sunny day and a big slice of watermelon and I’m one happy girl. I dream of roasting s’mores, exploring mountain trails, and splashing at the pool together. Summer is magic.

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How to clean…faster…simpler…easier (tips for moms)

Cleaning a house with kids around is a task that never ends, but these quick “how to clean” tips will help you tame the mess and give you more time to enjoy those messy kids.

gloved hand holding spray bottle

Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you buy something through a link on my site, I may earn a commission, at no cost to you. See my disclosure to learn more.

Let me be clear from the start: my house does not constantly look like the cover of Magnolia Home. I wish it was always spotless and free of clutter, but the reality of raising kids is that our house has people in it…quite a few people…several of whom are small and make lots of messes every day.

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What’s working right now in our social distancing “home school”

At home learning has certainly been a learning curve for parents as well as students. We’ve had our fair share of fails, but here’s what’s working for us right now!

At home learning has certainly been a learning curve for parents as well as students. We've had our fair share of fails, but here's what's working for us right now!

Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you buy something through a link on my site, I may earn a commission, at no cost to you. See my disclosure to learn more.

We are now seven weeks into social distancing/quarantine or whatever-you-want-to-call-this-weird-time-in-history. It’s been a wild ride! We, like many families, have done a lot of trial-and-error experimenting to figure out how to navigate this unique time, and I wanted to share today what is currently working for our family.

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How to encourage creative learning at home (without stressing about it)

If you’re looking for simple ways to help your children with learning at home without stressing yourself out, you’ll love this round-up of amazing (and FREE) resources.

If you're looking for simple ways to help your children with learning at home without stressing yourself out, you'll love this round-up of amazing (and FREE) resources.

With schools closing all over the nation, many of us are scrambling to figure out what to do with our kids home all day!

Our school district has dismissed school for at least the next two weeks, and we’re not sure what will happen beyond that time. …

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My Goals for 2020 + how to achieve your goals!

Are you making New Years resolutions this year? Here are some of my goals for 2020, plus how I’m going to pursue them without getting overwhelmed!

Are you making New Years resolutions this year? Here are some of my goals for 2020, plus how I'm going to pursue them without getting overwhelmed!

Happy 2020! I’m so excited to be settling back into a normal routine again after the craziness of the holidays. Whew! Now that we’re settling back into normal life, I’ve been carefully considering what I want to spend my time and energy on this year.

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My Favorite Things Gift Guide + A GIVEAWAY!

These are a few of my favorite things! This gift guide is filled with happy treasures for any budget that would make great Christmas gifts or a fabulous treat for yourself!These are a few of my favorite things! This gift guide is filled with happy treasures for any budget that would make great Christmas gifts or a fabulous treat for yourself!

NOTE: THIS POST INCLUDES AFFILIATE LINKS TO PRODUCTS I HAVE USED AND LOVED. SEE MY DISCLOSURE TO LEARN MORE.

UPDATE: GIVEAWAY CLOSED.


This is a season of celebration for me. A few weeks ago, my blog turned FOUR years old! Plus, this week is my birthday. Hooray! All these milestones have gotten me in the mood to celebrate, so I thought it would be fun to host a little giveaway!

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