Coming home at the end of the day to a house full of excited kids can be tough. You want to rest; they want to play. You want to sit down; they want to jump up (and up and up!). You want to just hang out on the smartphone; they want to hang from the chandelier. But, as we've said before, it's important to know that at the end of the day, we all should connect as a family, even when you come continue reading...
DIY Memory Game for Kids
We adore a game for kids that sneaks in learning, too. Since my house is already drowning in plastic eggs, I wanted to come up with a fun DIY game to utilize those blasted plastic eggs that are so prevalent during Spring (Okay, I secretly love those eggs...sometimes). Instead of doing an egg scavenger hunt, we hid objects underneath the eggs to make a "Memory" Easter game for kids! This post continue reading...
How to Actually Put Yourself First as a Busy Mom (and why you should)
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #TryaLittleGoodness #CollectiveBias When I wrote the title, How to Actually Put Yourself First as a Busy Mom, I questioned my words immediately. I wondered if we really could put ourselves first while still wearing all of the Mom hats that we so carefully balance? I truly think we can. And, continue reading...
5 Must-Do Potty Training Tips Before You Even Start
5 Potty Training Must-Do's Before You Start 1.) Set out potty training chairs early. Put potty chairs out about the time that your baby can walk. Yes, really! If you have a large house, be sure to have two (in different rooms in the house or one upstairs/one downstairs). Let baby play with the chair, practice sitting, etc. so they satisfy their need to explore this new "toy" - let them continue reading...
Rainbow Toast Without Food Coloring!
I loved making rainbow toast with my kids when I was a preschool teacher. My kids absolutely loved it, but I was always wanted to find a way to make rainbow toast without food coloring. Recently, I finally found a simple way that works! This all reminds me of when my daughter turned one. We had a purple themed party for her (her favorite color at the time...honestly, even at one, she continue reading...
5 Dont’s When Prepping Kids for a Doctor Visit
Thanks to my dear friend, Lauren, for sharing her tips today about taking kids to the Doctor. We know not every appointment will be easy, but these tips can give us a fighting chance! ;) ~Katie Prepping for a checkup with the doctor has been a source of anxiety for our family for a little while. We had a wretched experience taking my son to his three year checkup. He would not listen to anyone continue reading...
Kids Upcycled Mini Maker Kit: Organize loose parts for kids’ projects.
Our boys are major creators. They can also be masters of destruction. To help keep their endless energy moving in a positive direction, I try to have lots of materials available for building. It inspired us to make a mini maker kit, so that my kids could do different projects at home. Why We Needed a Mini Maker Kit While my toddler is mostly focused on blocks and duplos, my older son enjoys continue reading...
10 Questions Preschoolers Can’t Answer…and what to say instead!
Did you know that there are questions preschoolers have trouble answering? Questions like, “How was your day?” is something that I ask my husband all the time, but for preschoolers, that’s a really hard question to answer. If you ask that question to a child, you might get a blank stare or they might say, “I don’t know.” The trick to getting preschoolers to listen is learning how to ask the continue reading...
15+ Kid-Friendly Ideas for a Santa Barbara Staycation
There's nothing better than a Santa Barbara staycation! After seven years of living here and two kids later, my family and I have fallen in love with the rich culture in this area of California. From a butterfly preserve to blueberry picking to walking along the beach, there are so many things to do with kids in Santa Barbara. While there are seasonal activities like the I Madonnari continue reading...
20 Brilliant Baby Hacks for Busy Moms
More Brilliant Baby Hacks for Busy Moms (This post contains affiliate links) 7. If you're still pregnant and want to know the sex of your baby, learn about the Ramzi method to determine baby's gender from an ultrasound picture (apparently, you can learn as early as six weeks). | Baby Center 8. Keep track of medicine doses on the bottles. 9. Put baby in a blow up pool in the living room continue reading...