The Kondo Kraze is on the rise. Thrift stores everywhere have been seeing an influx of donated goods with reasons pointing to the newest Netflix series “Tidying Up With Marie Kondo” which teaches those who can’t keep an orderly home to declutter by keeping only items that “Spark Joy”. Is this a realistic lifestyle for those of us with kids in the house? I figured I might as well try to Kondo the kids rooms.
Read MoreWe love a great big breakfast in our house, but it doesn’t happen very often because it’s just hard to get going when we have to get out the door on the weekdays and still have activities Saturday and Sunday morning. But when we finally get a chance, our favorite part of a big breakfast is pancakes. Pancakes mean love and togetherness for us, and hopefully it will for you too!
Read MoreWe love to see our family, visit friends, and go on vacation, but when we are traveling with a baby, we start trying to calculate the variables of travel— mood, naps, and surprise diaper explosions. We need to realize that it is a complicated math problem with no correct answer. Having traveled on both planes and cars with baby and older kids here are my best additions to standard travel tips.
Read MorePears are incredibly healthy and full of nutrients so I like to encourage my kids to eat them as often as possible. These poached pears are delicious AND easy and are great by themselves as a snack or as a compliment to a meal.
Read MoreHandmade gifts for family and grandparents from the kids become priceless gifts as the years go on. Yeah, nice shiny ornaments looked really classy before the kids came around, but there is nothing that beats the feeling pulling out those handmade ornaments year after year. Also, what else are you going to do with all those wallet sized pictures you bought from school photo day? This is a really great no-cook dough recipe that fool proof and sets pretty quickly.
Read MoreThis cinnamon bread recipe that I originally found made by Ree Drummond, aka The Pioneer Woman, has the perfect amount of cinnamon sugar to make a sweet loaf that isn’t too sweet. You can enjoy it straight out of the oven, toasted with butter that melts into all the cracks, or topped with something a little sweeter just so you can have something bordering the line into dessert. Kids will love to help bake, and eat, this yummy treat!
Read MoreWhat are you grateful for? This is the simple question that I asked three of my kids this past weekend as we started our gratitude project.
I came across a video called “The Gratitude Experiment” and felt that it would be a fun project for the kids to do - maybe it would help them appreciate the little things in their lives that they take for granted every day!
Read MoreThese Thanksgiving themed crafts will keep the kids entertained and remind them of the meaning of the season. Get your supplies ready and make it a family activity for the holiday!
Read MoreFourth times the charm! It took some trial and error, but don’t get discouraged, this bread is worth it! The texture of the crust is nice and crispy and the inside is super soft and chewy. This is the perfect vessel for topping with butter, jams, cheeses and hummus, as well as dipping into soup.
Read MoreIt’s nice to have a food you can pick up with your hands and eat. With the wedges I like to bring out the sweet and savory elements of the potato so seasoning with cinnamon and a little cumin is the way to go. Great for dipping or eating whole, an excellent finger food for all to enjoy!
Read MoreAnother simple and easy way to make sweet potatoes! With this method we can make a nice side dish in its own right, as well as a component that can be added to other ingredients to make other recipes.
Read MoreLet's talk about sweet potatoes! Filling, nutritious, delicious (and cheap!) Sweet potatoes are one of my favorite fall foods. Great for adults and children alike, I remember how astounded (and jealous) my wife was when our baby boy greedily ate my sweet potato mash. Her astonishment quickly changed to enthusiasm as she understood why he liked them so much! Sweet potatoes are aptly named as they indeed have a lot of natural sugars in them, plus a great flavor that only needs a little flourish to stand out like a star.
Read MoreLet’s be real, if its not already in my house, or its too expensive, chances are I’m not going to make the craft I saw in that one video that one time. I only have enough wherewithal to stand a few simple crafts. Here are two that, if you live in a place where the leaves change, the main material is completely free!
Read Morepumpkin cake? Yum. Cream cheese cake? Who could ever deny a cheesecake? Coffee cake? Yes, right here please. But put them all together? It’s a masterpiece of flavors! This Pumpkin Cheesecake Coffee Cake will fulfill all your cravings…
Read MoreMaking costumes with your kids is a great way to make Halloween more than just candy candy candy! Here are 5 DIY Halloween costumes that are simple, and fun to make with the kids.
Read MoreHalloween is all about good scary fun, but with little ones, it’s a fine line before it can become too scary. Just because your kids are too young for Goosebumps or Fear Street, doesn’t mean you can’t get in the spirit. Here are a few of my recommendations for not-so-scary Halloween reads!
Read MoreEmbrace the pumpkin spice and try these pumpkin cheesecake truffles— the perfect way to indulge in a bite-sized mouthful of flavor. Kids love to help out with this fun, easy recipe, and it doesn’t even require the oven! Just try to resist these pumpkin and chocolate treats!
Read MoreThe splat mat - the one baby item I didn’t know I needed! It’s not even fair to call it a baby item, when in fact it is one of the most versatile products that can make its way through any stage. To be honest, I thought I had been doing just fine with my newspapers, cleaning sprays and cloth mats, but the Splat Mat has made my busy life just a little bit easier. Here’s how:
Read MoreBooks are a great way to bring up difficult subjects with kids. Children learn through play, and reading time is the perfect time to address their fears while they are safe and snuggled with you! Here are some of my favorite books for the back to school blues:
Read MoreFriendship bread is a magical concoction that takes 10 days to make and multiplies to about four times its volume. The tradition is, keep one bag and divvy up the rest to give to friends along with the instructions and recipe.
Aside from the deliciously sweet and comforting final product, Amish Friendship Bread is the perfect snack to add to any holiday gathering. It’s fun, kid friendly, and is a symbol of community and togetherness.
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