Watching the coverage of the natural disasters like Hurricane Harvey in Houston and Hurricane Irma in Florida is gut wrenching. Being in news for two decades, I’ve seen so much tragedy and despair and it never gets any easier to see or emotionally cope with. Aside from prayers, many people want to do more to help those impacted.
And while it’s great to have a giving heart, you also have to be smart to make sure your donations really make a difference. Here’s a few ways to do that. (more…)
How did we even have birthday parties before Pinterest? I can’t hardly remember not scrolling endlessly through a sea of ideas. That’s the good part, endless inspiration. But on the flip side, there’s also scrolling through endless images of immaculate three tier fondant cakes and perfectly dipped cake pops (who can even do that?) knowing anything you do will be a failure in comparison. (more…)
Do you ever read food packaging? Like, really read it? Sometimes it will surprise you. Usually for the shocking amount of calories and sugar it includes. But sometimes labels surprise you in a good way.
That’s what happened to me when I opened this month’s Daily Goodie Box. Last month I explained how Daily Goodie Boxes often contain organic and all natural foods. And this month one product caught my eye not only because it looked delicious, but also because it helps people around the world.
At the bottom of my daughter’s birthday party invitations you’ll see a note that reads, “No Gifts Necessary.”
Why? Because I’m an evil mother and I don’t want her to have any fun.
No, that’s not it. (more…)
I have to admit I am a procrastinator, but and ambitious procrastinator. Case in point, I found this awesome table at a yard sale for just $10 and had grand plans for a DIY refurbish.
And guess what I did this weekend, NINE MONTHS after I found it?! Hey, better late than never, right? (more…)
Do you ever have so much on your proverbial plate that if one more thing gets added, you just might lose your sh*t? If you’re a mother, that’s probably at least once a day. And that one more thing is usually in the form of a sweet little voice (or multiple) saying, “Mommy.” A THOUSAND times a day, “Mommy” “Mommy” “Mommy” “Mommy” “Mommy” “Mommy” .. you get the point.
When I was working full-time I think this made me lose my sh*t at least three times a day. And I’m embarrassed to say I reacted by snapping at them. I mean for crying out loud, haven’t you learned to cook your own meals, wash your own clothes and google your questions yet? Oh wait, no. Because you’re 5.
And every time I would snap at them I would feel like a super jerk. Especially when my exasperated “WHAT!!!?” was followed by, “I colored a picture for you.” (face palm) Talk about a mom fail.
So one day I decided that every single time my children said “Mommy” to get my attention I would answer with two simple words. (more…)
Going back to school can feel chaotic for kids and parents. Check out these ways to get clothes, snacks and schedules organized for a smooth transition.
I’ll cover some awesome ideas for organizing:
1- Homework time
2- After school schedules (with free printables!)
3- After school snacks
4- Clothes (with free printables!) (more…)
The first day of school can be exciting, frightening, liberating, sad, and all of the above. And that’s just for the parents. 🙂 Imagine how the kids feel.
No matter how it feels, it’s a special milestone for your children. And you can make that milestone even more memorable with an adorable sign for them to hold in the gajillion photos you take of them in the morning. You know you do. (more…)
I’ve said it before, teachers are the unsung heroes of life. They teach our kids to be smart and good people, they bandage their boo boos and wipe their noses. Well, depending on the age of your kids. 🙂 And they spend hundreds of dollars of their own hard-earned money on classroom supplies.
That’s why they need all the help they can get from parents.
Each year on your school supply list you probably see a section at the bottom of the page for suggested items that are helpful to donate on top of what you’re getting for your student.
So I went right to the teachers to find out what they really need.. and what they would rather you not spend your money on.
And I’ll include one free thing you can give teachers that’s more important than everything else combined. (more…)
“For crying out loud, how many pencils could a kid possibly use?” I find myself exasperated, asking questions like this every year around this time. Back to school supply shopping time. And the answer is a lot.
It takes a lot of supplies to prime kids for learning. But the good news is school supplies are relatively inexpensive. Just think about 50 cent folders and 99 cent notebooks. If you snag prices like that, it can be manageable. (more…)