I wrote the below post 2 1/2 years ago and never posted it. All three of my younger children suffer from sleep difficulties, and it’s now been 6 years since either my husband or I have had a solid night of sleep. We recently got bunk beds, so we’re hoping that might help – but …
10 Super Easy Cocktails You Can Make Right Now (Guest Post)
Today’s post comes from Heidi Jones. My personal favorite cocktail is a tie between The Last Word, a Martini and a Manhattan. Here are some simple cocktails you can make for your next get-together. Learning how to make a variety of cocktails is one of the best ways to prove your skills to your friends. …
Words of the Year: Focus, Prioritize, Finish
It’s 2020. I don’t know about you, but I’m kinda struggling with the fact that I’m not quite where I want to be in terms of my life goals and just, well anything. I have a lot of irons in the fire, I have a lot that I’ve started. I want to make it to …
How to Find Opportunities for Kids to Get Involved
I’m a Girl Scouts troop leader, so one of the challenges I have, given that my troop is made up of kids in K-5th grade, is finding opportunities for them to perform community service that aren’t restrictive. I also want to find more opportunities beyond food drives and gathering donations for organizations. While those are …
Child-Friendly Kitchen Appliances and Items
Today, we have a guest post from Mark at Mr. Cabinet Care. One of the best parts of the house is the kitchen because it is where the family can bond, learn new skills, and share the gift of having tasty food that everyone can enjoy. Upon reaching a certain age, kids would want to …
Review: Djeco Bugs
My 5 year old loves to color. She goes through coloring books so frequently that we’ve taken to purchasing them at the Dollar Tree so we can keep up with the demand. When I was offered the opportunity to review Djeco Bugs, a scratch-off art kit carried by Timberdoodle, I knew that it would be something she might …
Review: Timberdoodle’s Batik Painting Kit
I’ve long-admired batik fabrics for their vivid colors and beautiful designs. Mr. 3 loves to paint. So when there was an opportunity to review the new batik painting kit from Timberdoodle, I was happy to sign up. About The Kit There are five options for the kit – Turtle, Seahorse, Fish, Macaw, and Hummingbird. We chose …
Motivation Monday: How to Prioritize When Everything is a Priority
We’ve all struggled with days where it seems like everything on our lists is a top priority – I know I have, but how do you get started? Where do you start with your action items? Here are some suggestions for things you can do when everything feels like it’s super-important. Create an Eisenhower Decision …
Q & A with Cecilia Aragon Writers in the Secret Garden: Fanfiction, Youth and New Forms of Mentoring
Where did you grow up/live now?I was a shy, nerdy girl who was too smart — and, as the daughter of immigrants from Chile and the Philippines, a complete oddity in the Indiana town where I grew up. So I left early and headed for college in California. Then I spent 20 years in the …
Sometimes, You’re Just a Hot Mess (And Maybe That’s Okay)
Anyone who has known me for any time at all knows I’m the super type-A list-maker and scheduler. I like to know what’s going on, when. I don’t do well with ambiguity, ambivalence, or up-in-the-air stuff. Even my lists are part of lists. But sometimes, you have three kids ages 5 and under. Sometimes, your …