What tradition marks the beginning of the holiday season for you? In our house (and now our friends’) it’s coffee. And surprisingly, this tradition has nothing to do with Seattle, but rather Minnesota… by way of Chicago…
Here’s an idea if you need to decorate on a budget or are thinking ahead to DIY holiday gifts. I recently made a bunch of tinted mason jars in bulk for a friend’s wedding, and I was pleasantly surprised by how they turned out. We filled them with candles and used them in the table centerpieces, … More Tinted Mason Jars (in Bulk)
I heard a song on the radio the other day and remembered singing it to Szaba during the wee morning hours when she was a baby. Now my “baby” is three, and though I’m not particularly a Bruno Mars fan, I still take this song’s message to heart. It’s up to me to keep Szaba believing she’s nothing … More Birthday Song
Now that vacation season is in full swing, what kind of souvenirs do you buy on a trip? Do you wander the trinket shops, aimlessly looking for something that strikes your fancy (grumbling husband in tow)? What if souvenirs could be part of the adventure of your vacation, like a quest for a specific piece … More Souvenirs
Need a last-minute gift idea for Father’s Day, a birthday, or just because? Create an upcycled photo frame! It doubles as a kids’ activity, too. Step 1: Find an old frame.
In honor of Children’s Book Week, here are 87 great kids’ books. (That should help keep your minions busy this summer.) Bookmark it, load up your library queue, or head to your local bookstore to pick up a few for someone special. Most of these are for younger kids, but if you scroll down to … More Kids’ Books
As a progressive, free-thinking mom with a daughter, I’m always looking for girls’ toys beyond the traditional options, like Barbie and Disney princesses. Not that there’s anything wrong with those (with some exceptions), but why limit burgeoning imaginations to such a small field of options? Research shows we shouldn’t. Same holds true for boys. That’s why I’m thrilled … More Top 3: New Toys for Girls
Love poetry? Hate it? Don’t get it? Now’s the perfect time to give it fresh look. It’s National Poetry Month! Here are a few quick ideas for anyone: readers, teachers, parents, kids, writers, and even the “I’m not really a writer” word dabblers (you know who you are). Read Want to join my “poetry club”? … More National Poetry Month
Would you rather watch a movie than play a game together? That might be the fault of the games you’ve played. Think outside of the Candy Land and Monopoly box. Here are my top 3 board games for people who don’t play board games (which hopefully will change after you give these a try). 1. Settlers of … More Top 3: Board Games for People Who Don’t Play Board Games
What do you do with all those postcards and travel brochures amassed on trips? Store them, only to ditch them on a future organizational rampage? Add them to that scrapbooking basket gathering dust on the shelf? Hope they’ll magically transform into something amazing? Well, it’s time to save them. Here are 10 easy ways to … More 10 Uses for Postcards and Travel Brochures
