I remember, about 6 years ago, the twins started crawling. They had a whole world literally at their fingertips and the entertainment possibilities were endless. For small moments of their day, as they fearlessly roamed our apartment, Mommy was off the hook. I felt all those things that moms feel whenever their kids reach new stages in development: Overwhelming joy at this new tiny bit of ...
Family
Taking your Outdoor Entertainment to the Next Level
The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.Who else loves backyard gatherings? Every time I go to a friend's barbecue I start getting the itch to host my own get-together. Of course, when you have people over you have to make sure that your outdoor entertainment space is up to par. I've been getting ...
Summertime Beach Essentials and Packing List
Nothing quite says “summer time” like a day at the beach. When you have the whole day ahead of you and nothing planned except to lie in the sun or splash in the waves… That’s a good summer day. Back when I was young and carefree I would just grab a towel and head for the ocean with my friends. Now that I have kids (and a strong desire to avoid skin cancer), I put a little more preparation into ...
21 Ways to Get the Most Out of Summer Days
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CollectiveBias #MyCafeSteamersAs summer looms on the horizon, it feels like the days ahead are plentiful. But then as September starts to creep up, I always get this feeling of panic like there’s still so much I haven’t done yet! I brainstormed some ways to get the most of summer so I have ...
Ways to Wear Out the Kids this Summer
I can’t believe summer is almost upon us. This year my kids get out of school on May 31st and all I can think of is what am I going to do to keep them busy all summer long? I’m totally outnumbered so the goal is to come up with ways to wear out the kids this summer that don’t take a lot of effort on my part. And let’s face it, the point isn’t not necessarily to keep them busy. I want these kids ...
How to Change Bad Spending Habits
Shopping is a must-do activity, but it can also be a way to pass the time, entertain yourself, or it can be a way of masking emotional distress. If you're trying to stick to a budget, one thing that can help is to identify bad spending habits and work to correct them.It's easy to fall into bad shopping habits that can be of no real benefit. These can escalate into major problems that ...
Raising Daughters with Positive Body Image
When I was young, we didn't talk about our bodies. Maybe it was a cultural thing or maybe it was just my family. As a mom of girls, I'm coming to realize how important it is to talk to my kids about their bodies. Because of some recent- and honestly quite jarring- conversations with my girls, I'm being more intentional about raising daughters with positive body image.Girls' Body Image ...
Family Beach Day | Tips for a Fantastic Beach Trip
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #FreeToBe #CollectiveBias In my younger years I spent as much time as I could at the beach. It was so easy back then - I’d just grab my sarong and sunscreen and be out the door in minutes. Now that I’m a mom of 4, getting everyone to the beach and back home is a lot more work than it used to ...
25 Ideas for a Staycation with Kids
Even though the days are longer, they seem to fly by when you’re at home. Projects and housekeeping can eat away at your valuable free time. Don’t let your summer vacation get away from you! Here are some ideas for a fun staycation with kids. Some links may be affiliate. 25 Ideas for a Staycation with KidsPut the kids in charge of the schedule. Let your kids help choose the ...
Budgeting Tips to Keep you on Track
Our family started using a monthly budget about 3 years ago and I can’t say enough about how much it has improved our lives. Money is one less thing for us to stress over, which means as husband and wife we have one less thing to argue over! 22% of divorces are a result of money issues. Therefore, not having money issues between you and your spouse gives you an advantage in your relationship. Even ...