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...]
Tips for Choosing the Right Pet for Your Family
February 6, 2017 by · 4 Comments
Spring is approaching and with it comes lots of new baby animals. If you are considering adding a critter to your house, I encourage you to check out these tips for choosing the right pet before you shop. Animals are a huge commitment and they deserve to be a full-fledged member of your family.Growing up, I had a dog until I was about 10 years old and he passed away from old age. That was the first time I had ever seen my father cry and that memory has stuck with me for decades. I begged and pleaded for years after that to be allowed to … [Read more...]
4 Examples of Personal Financial Goals I have Added to My To Do List
January 20, 2017 by · Leave a Comment
Our personal budget has been stretched fairly thin for the last few months and I'm researching examples of personal financial goals to help me save money. After the slightly out of control holiday spending came a trip to London (not cheap!) and a few first of the year expenses (darn you Home Owner's Association!) and now we are looking at a very slim balance in the bank. With two teens who one day soon will want to go to college, we need to learn how to save money in ways that don't involve me giving up my organic food or my iPhone. A girl … [Read more...]
How to Connect with Your Teen and Bring More Peace to Your Family
January 9, 2017 by · Leave a Comment
When my children were small, it was relatively easy to connect with them. A few minutes building a LEGO castle or coloring in a princess coloring book was pretty simple to accomplish and they were always happy to participate. Learning how to connect with your teen, however, can be a bit more challenging. Teens are often busy or tired or in a bad mood or just plain not interested in hanging with mom and dad. But, teens really need you to connect with them, whether they realize it or not. Staying connected with your teens means that they … [Read more...]
