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.
…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!
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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Next time you look at a picture-perfect photo, remember that there is almost always more to the story than meets the eye.
We just got our family portraits back and I couldn’t be more thrilled! My kids look adorable, and I’m so excited to finally have a beautiful photo of the people I love to put on the wall above my fireplace.
And yet, when I look at these photos, I also have to laugh a little and shake my head. Why? Because getting those perfect shots and precious smiles was actually a pretty awful experience….
Teach your kids critical fire safety tips with this free printable fire safety scavenger hunt. Have fun with your kids and get peace of mind, too!
Does your family have a clear plan of what to do if your house were ever to catch fire?
It’s been just over a year since we moved into a new house. All the boxes were unpacked ages ago, and we’re slowly working through the process of furnishing and decorating the space. However, one thing we hadn’t done until this week was to make a fire safety plan.
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Creativity is one of the most important qualities for our children to develop. The good news is that you can encourage creativity without adding MORE to your plate. In fact, the practical ideas shared below often mean doing LESS.
“A creative mess is better than tidy idleness.” –Albert Einstein
My older brother had this quote posted on his bedroom door during his teenage years, and although I’m pretty sure it was at least partly an excuse to NOT clean his room, I’ve always loved the message.
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You’ve got a summer bucket list, but are you REALLY ready for summer? Be prepared for whatever summer brings by creating a simple “summer adventure kit”…nine essential things every parent should keep in the car during summertime. 
Truth: I’m giddy about summertime. I loathe being cooped up indoors, so once the good weather strikes, I’m all about heading for the hills in pursuit of adventure. We’ve got a great bucket list to keep us inspired, and I’m SOO looking forward to the extra time to spend together as a family now that school is out….
Does trying to get your kids to comply with simple requests result in power struggles and tantrums? These playful strategies will help get your child to cooperate and make parenting much more fun.
It’s four o’clock in the afternoon. You’ve already been on mom duty for ten hours, many of which have been spent putting out fire after emotional fire, and bouncing around like a ping-pong ball trying to remember who’s had lunch, when the three-year-old last went to the bathroom, and trying to remember what you were doing two seconds ago before you got interrupted for the 526th time….
Want a simple chore system for kids that really works…even for young kids? Here is the {free} printable chore chart we use and how we encourage everybody to pitch in around the house.
When I was a kid, I would wake up on Saturday mornings and head to the kitchen for breakfast. Without fail, I would find a little “gift” sitting next to the cereal bowls on the table–a stack of index cards, one for each child, with a list of our chores for the day….
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the popular phrase, “enjoy every moment”? If so, try these mantras to overcome mom guilt…
From time to time, when I’m wandering through the home decor aisles of a craft store, I’ll see a lovely little sign that says in beautiful, scripty lettering, “Enjoy Every Moment.”
It’s a lovely sentiment, really.
But whenever I read that phrase, I am suddenly filled with a strong desire to gently take the sign off the shelf and THROW those lovely, artistically-rendered words across the store….
With just an empty jar and a pile of pom poms, this positive parenting strategy will help you encourage a culture of kindness in your family and create a happier, more peaceful home.
I have three boys who LOVE to create chaos in my house. They are loud, dirty, and sometimes destructive.
They are also creative, helpful, and big-hearted.
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