Thank you, Fender,for sponsoring this post about guitar lessons at home. Learn guitar at home with Fender Play.Growing up, my husband and I were both passionate about music. He played guitar, I played flute in the band, and music played a big part in our lives. Fast forward 20 years or so and now our children are just as passionate about music as we were. We have half a dozen instruments in this house in addition to multiple stereo systems. Music is an outlet we all enjoy, whether we are playing it or just listening to it! I'm glad that … [Read more...]
Waste Free School Lunch Tips to Save Money and Reduce Trash
July 19, 2017 by · 2 Comments
I know....you are in the middle of summer vacation and don't want to think about school lunches, right? Well, my kids go back to school in 3 weeks so I am thinking about what they will bring to eat this year. Sending a waste free school lunch is important to me but it definitely takes a bit of planning. One of my favorite tips to save money is to ditch the disposables. No sense throwing your hard earned cash in the garbage can, right? If you want to cut down on lunch costs this year, here are a few school lunch tips that might … [Read more...]
Camping Tips for Beginners that Will Make Your Outdoor Experience FUN!
June 26, 2017 by · Leave a Comment
Camping, whether as a family or on your own, offers an amazing experience for very little cost. It is a great way to unplug you and your family from the everyday hassles of life. You will learn to enjoy the simple pleasures of a glorious sunrise or a quiet shared meal. However, you do need to read up on a few camping tips for beginners if you really want to have a pleasant experience. You'll also need to invest in some equipment! However, once you are done planning, you will have everything you need to escape the city and enjoy Mother … [Read more...]
Family Travel Self Care Tips for Low Stress Family Vacations
June 19, 2017 by · Leave a Comment
Family travel has always been very important in our lives. Several times a year, we head out to visit family, explore new locations, or just visit a touristy hot spot or two. We have been tackling the open road since my youngest was 6 months old and have had our share of both good and bad experiences. I thought I would share a few tips for family travel self care from Kristy Rodriguez, author of the newly published book Pure Nurture: A Holistic Guide To A Healthy Baby. If you have family travel scheduled for the coming months, put some time … [Read more...]
Fun Activities for Teens: How to Keep Your Teenagers Busy this Summer
May 30, 2017 by · 2 Comments
Last week was my teen's final week of school for the year. In order to keep them busy over the summer, I am always looking for fun activities for teens that they might enjoy. They work hard during the school year with many gifted classes and extracurricular activities so when summer rolls around, all they want to do is turn into vegetables that are plugged into electronic devices. I am all for a little down time over the summer but I seriously worry that my teenagers will grow roots if I don't come up with a plan! I am pretty sure that if … [Read more...]
Conquer Kids Sports Chaos with TeamSnap Sports Team Management App (Get 3 Months FREE!)
May 24, 2017 by · 7 Comments
This Sports Team Management App post is sponsored by TeamSnap brought to you through ShopShare Network. All opinions expressed here are my own. This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through a link on this site, we receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.Ever since my children were old enough to toddle across a field, they have played sports of some kind. We went through a LOT of youth sports as they struggled to find the perfect one for their personalities. Each sport came with its own challenges, … [Read more...]
Simple Patriotic Party Ideas to Celebrate the Red, White and Blue!
May 16, 2017 by · 7 Comments
Whether you are celebrating the 4th of July, Memorial, Labor Day, Veteran's Day or any other patriotic holiday, having a party is always a fun way to enjoy it. If you are looking for patriotic party ideas, they don't have to be complicated or expensive. A dash of red, white and blue along with some food and a few crafts for the kids is all you really need. Sure, amazing fireworks and giant flags are nice but you don't really need them to get the point across. If you are looking for a few simple patriotic party ideas for your next … [Read more...]
Life Lessons for Boys That Your Son Needs to Know
May 1, 2017 by · 22 Comments
Are you wondering about which important life lessons for boys that you should be teaching your son? It isn't always easy raising boys in today's world. When my son was born 13 years ago I looked into his tiny face and wondered what sort of things he would accomplish in his life. Would he be a famous scientist? Maybe he would discover a cure for cancer or help bring about peace to nations at war. There are so many possibilities when a baby is born that it is just a bit overwhelming to realize that YOU are in charge of the fate of this … [Read more...]
Creative Ways to Save for a Vacation and Why Your Family Needs to Take One!
April 14, 2017 by · 4 Comments
Family vacations aren't always cheap but they are a great way to relax and reconnect with your family. Vacations don't always need to be expensive to be one of the best times of your life. You don't actually need to go to a 5-star hotel and eat only in the most exclusive restaurants. Some of the best memories you can make with your family will be on a family vacation. Your child won't remember the quality of the hotel you stayed at but they will remember the card games, trips to the beach and all that togetherness that you enjoyed. That … [Read more...]
Unique Kitchen Science Experiment for Kids
March 7, 2017 by · 2 Comments
I spent this past weekend declutter my book collection and donated dozens of science experiment books to a local science teacher. My husband and I both have degrees in science and we loved sharing an assortment of fun science experiments with our children when they were young. It makes me sad to say goodbye to that time in our lives but I'm happy the excitement will live on in another generation. I thought I would share with you our favorite kitchen science experiment for kids as well as a few others I found that can teach a few valuable … [Read more...]
