Preparing your family for a potential winter storm with blackouts or a power grid failure due to energy shortages is essential if you live in an area where winter storms are common or even possible. Warnings have started to trickle out that there may be winter blackouts that could leave large portions of the Midwest […]
04
Aug
Aug
Homeschooling in the Fall is one of my favorite seasons. There’s apples, pumpkins and harvest, mushrooms and nuts, leaves and hurricanes, owls and halloween. Let’s not forget the exciting experiments like blowing up pumpkins, apple pie, hay rides and many other activities that makes it a favorite for the kids. HOW TO USE THIS FALL […]
30
Jul
Jul
Homeschooling is one of those decisions that you debate with yourself about, doubt your abilities and even decide against it when you fear you’ll let your kids down. The resources we have listed below (in no particular order) are books that encourage, inspire and uplift experienced, new and those considering homeschooling their children.
27
Jul
Jul
Planning your homeschool curriculum is probably the most stressful part of homeschooling for most parents. If that’s you – you’re not alone. There are SO many options, it’s easy to find yourself a little overwhelmed. When you combine the fact that you might be teaching multiple children at multiple ages/levels, it’s easy to see why. […]
27
Jul
Jul
I want to preface this post by asking you a question…. Who loves your children most in the whole world? The answer is undoubtedly that YOU do. Right? I have no doubt in my mind that you’re here researching because you want to do what you feel is best for your child(ren). That right there […]
09
Apr
Apr
Did you know your kids can send and receive calls and messages, send an emergency alert and even make purchases with apple pay – all without a smartphone? If you’re looking for a way to stay connected with your kids while limiting their access to games, video, internet and more – this idea just might […]
06
Mar
Mar
For decades we, as mothers, believed that everyone that came into contact with our kids had their best interests at heart. It was passed down from our mothers, a trust for anyone “educated” that took an oath to do what was best for our families. For generations we gave physicians a pass for mistakes, because, […]
06
Mar
Mar
Something has happened to our food supply in the United States. You know it, I know it – everyone knows it. There isn’t one simple explanation as to why our population, particularly children, in the United States are failing to thrive – academically, emotionally, physically – but I do believe we can start chipping away […]
22
Aug
Aug
In my first ever real podcast episode, I talk about parents advocating for their children and why we should be proud of them. Listen here.
01
Jul
Jul
PLEASE NOTE: This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a commission if you purchase. This is at no additional cost to you. If you’re like us, squeezing study units into Summer can be a bit of a challenge. Thankfully, there are some amazing designers out there that have really stepped up to provide […]
30
Mar
Mar
If your family is like ours, you probably spend a lot of time in the pool, at the lake or on the river during the warmer months and safety is always on your mind. When we opened up the pool at the house we bought earlier this year, we quickly realized that the pool liner […]
04
Feb
Feb
It’s National Tooth Month!! I know, I know. I didn’t know it was a thing either. But, since it is, we had to come up with a printable for the kiddos out there who love counting teeth. This started with a hand drawn tooth that is just for our teeth printables, so you get this […]
22
Dec
Dec
I rolled over to turn off the fan that was blowing wisps of hair across your face. When I returned to my previous position, your arm popped out of the covers and wrapped around my neck. Your leg soon followed and landed on my stomach before you let out a sigh and rolled again, leaving […]
25
Nov
Nov
Kids love chickens, especially if they’ve had the opportunity to grow up around them. Either way, most kids enjoy playing with chicken related toys. We’ve rounded up some of the best toy chicken gifts for kiddos for this blog post. We were sure to include a few items that our daughter loves the most – […]
24
Nov
Nov
Here’s your chance to grab the entire Elle the Elf three book series. This giveaway ends Friday, November 27th and is open to all who enter their email here.
19
Nov
Nov
Is your elf preparing to make a grand entrance this year? No matter how your elf on the shelf arrives, it’s sure to be special. So many kids are looking forward to it this year – mine included. Whether you’re planning something special, or just wanting to bring your elf back in style, you’re sure […]
07
Nov
Nov
I know, I know. It’s a touchy subject, but it’s something we felt very strong about this year. We absolutely refuse to mask or Quarantine our Elf on the Shelf. While some might feel it’s cute or even funny to mask their Elf or put them in quarantine so they don’t have to move them […]
21
Oct
Oct
If you have mass numbers of kids like me, you totally get it. This easy printable is a great way to add a little humor to your Halloween decor, while keeping it fun and ghoul-free. You can grab this easy printable below. You’ll be able to grab this download again, year after year. AND, if […]
21
Oct
Oct
The weather is changing and the leaves are about to turn. It’s my favorite time of the year, so rounding up some of the most amazing fall leaf craft ideas had to happen. We have a wide range of kiddos – from teens to toddlers, so these ideas had to include everyone in one way […]
20
Oct
Oct
We love Halloween. We love decorating on a budget even more. These printables are great for your basic black frames and dollar store finds. You can print them as 8.5 x 11 or as a smaller 5×7. Choose your favorites or print them all. Kids In Area I mean, they’re scary little critters, these kids. […]
09
Oct
Oct
This is most easy peasy apple volcano you’re ever going to make – and – it’s fun for all ages. Our kiddos ranged from 2 to 14 and every one of them had a blast. All puns intended. You’ll need: Apples – the bigger the better Baking Soda Vinegar Food Coloring (Optional) Apple Corer or […]
09
Oct
Oct
Yes, it’s a lot. Yes, it is a LOT of fun! If you’re looking for a great Apple Study Unit, here it is! Our group session included several teens all the way down to toddlers and everyone had a blast. We dove right in and made a day of it. We started with a read […]
05
Oct
Oct
Are you ready to jump in to the letter D? This week we are going to learn the letter D by playing, painting and play doughing our way through it – it’s going to be SO fun!! Ready to get started? Here we go… Side note: Every kiddo is ready on their own time, the […]
01
Oct
Oct
October is the Month for Moms, for raising awareness for so many things women & children face. I know that people might disagree with that statement, but it really is true. Take a look at the list below. October Awareness Campaigns & Their Colors October is Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness October is Autism Awareness […]
28
Sep
Sep
Barn Owls are notoriously adorable. They are also super effective at keeping rodents and other pests under control. With a mix of homeschooling teens all way down to four years old, our group lessons look more like science and art had a baby. Mostly hands on, sometimes disgusting. What better way to learn about barn […]
22
Sep
Sep
Printables are AMAZING tools. They serve as decor, crafts, homeschool curriculum and SO much more. We have used printables for parties, birthdays, decorations, bathroom signs, science class, math worksheets and even used them to teach our daughter how to write her name. We have bought and created homeschool curriculums for preschoolers all the way to […]
20
Sep
Sep
Salt dough is such a universal crafting and keepsake tool. Whether you’re making Christmas ornaments, handprints or other crafts, you’ll want to bookmark this recipe. Ingredients 1 Cup Flour 1 Cup Salt 1 Cup of Water (But You May Use Less) Supplies Baking Sheet Parchment Paper Rolling Pin Mixing Bowl Let’s get started with this […]
17
Sep
Sep
Fall baking is here!! The windows are open, the breeze is blowing through, the sound of rustling leaves and playing kids is everywhere and that amazing zucchini bread you just pulled out of the oven is filling the house with an aroma that can only be described as heavenly. Right? Are you with me? There […]
16
Sep
Sep
Fall is my favorite season. I know, I know. You thought I was going to say Spring since I LOVE planting, chicks hatching and flowers, but alas, my favorite season is Fall because of the cooler nights, hoodies, colorful leaves, pumpkins, Halloween, Thanksgiving (Okay, this list is LONG) and a thousand other things I could […]
29
Aug
Aug
If you’ve been wondering if this homeschool thing is for you – I would invite you to read the ONE BOOK I honestly believe all parents should read to get into the right mindset about this journey. And that’s what it is – this is a JOURNEY, not a destination. The Call of the Wild […]
19
Aug
Aug
In this podcast we talk about what we’re all about, the guests we have coming on the show and so much more. You’ll get to hear our new intro and extro (both of which we’d had professionally recorded by a pro before we decided to ditch it for what you’ll hear on this episode).
19
Aug
Aug
First, I just have to say, I am 100% sure you’re not alone. Not 99%. Not 67%. I am 100% sure that there is a mama in your state, your town, even on your road that is exactly right where you are right now. This year has been insane for our kids – and for […]
14
Aug
Aug
We fell in love with this solar system bundle that we found on Etsy. There’s SO MUCH amazing curriculum being published right now with thousands of parents choosing to homeschool. This set by Steph Hathaway Designs caught our attention because of the detail, but once we purchased it, we were even more amazed at what […]
12
Aug
Aug
My daughter has been getting into LOL dolls more and more over the last six months. We have literally thrown a few away the minute they were opened because of what they were wearing. Apparently, there’s a lot more to be concerned about than what is actually visible. Hilary Williams discovered that there’s more than […]
11
Aug
Aug
The molluscum contagiosum virus is nonsense. Straight up complete nonsense. It is itchy and irritating and not fun for a toddler to experience. While there are various assumptions about how it is spread, there is mostly two main theories, but neither of them help when it comes to getting rid of it. It is estimated […]
10
Aug
Aug
Looking to supplement your kiddos school this year with a monthly subscription box? We’ve rounded up the boxes that add the most value to your kiddos education or exploration while making it fun and exciting. There’s a box for every kid. We’ve rounded up everything from cooking subscription boxes for kids, travel subscription boxes and […]
04
Aug
Aug
As a breastfeeding advocate that has spent 91+ months of my life nursing my own children, I love celebrating and encouraging breastfeeding. I personally feel that the connection I had with my children was even stronger due to nursing them. I have to add, however, that I was not able to breastfeed ALL of my […]
29
Jul
Jul
In March, many parents were thrust into a form of learning from home when kids were all but kicked out of school due to the pandemic. With more than 60% of American households having dual incomes, this presented a problem. While more than 40 million Americans lost their jobs – this was not the case […]
10
Jul
Jul
New to homeschooling this year? If so, welcome aboard. So many parents have taken the leap to home educate their kiddos this year, for obvious reasons. The first thing you should know about homeschooling is – YOU’VE GOT THIS! There’s no better place for kiddos to learn than in an environment where they are free […]
19
Jun
Jun
It looks like a picture out of a dystopia film. Fullerton School District (now deleted – see their post below) was so proud when they posted their “sample” of what it could be like when kids go back to school. Fullerton was all to proud to share the album of behind the scenes photos from […]
22
Apr
Apr
If there’s one thing we’ve all noticed lately, it’s the mass amount of toxic cleaning supplies that have been purchased over the last two months. So many have been purchased, in fact, that there’s a shortage of available cleaning supplies at the stores. Click here to use our special code and get 10% off your […]
06
Apr
Apr
Moms all over the world have started to baking bread – partially because they’re home and partially because there’s limits to how much bread you can buy or there’s simply none to be had. I have to admit that I jumped on this bandwagon early and went to the local Amish store to stock up […]
03
Apr
Apr
I’m going to say it …. You can cut your own kids hair. GASP!!! If you’re like us, you probably shuffle your little helmet head into the barber every two to three weeks like clockwork. You tell them over and over that they need a two in the back and they want it faded into […]
01
Apr
Apr
Teddy Bears are popping up in house windows all over the United States as a nation-wide scavenger hunt, designed to entertain the kiddos found themselves stuck at home as quarantine orders swept the country. With playsets, schools, museums, play dates, dance classes, preschool, sports and more closed, parents with house-bound kiddos looking for a reason […]
27
Mar
Mar
There has been so many social media posts outlining why 2020 graduates are so sad or why they should be grateful they aren’t graduating only to head to war, but I want all 2020 graduates to look at this another way. You were just handed the biggest, most valuable lesson of your lives – and […]
04
Feb
Feb
The National Park Bucket List If you’re planning on traveling to see the National Parks with your kids, you’re not alone. We’ve been working on our National Park bucket list for a few years now. The National Park Bucket list seems so long when you type it all out. You wouldn’t think there would be […]
13
Oct
Oct
Women who are pregnant and are expecting to deliver in the coming months should begin to think about the hospital bag that they’ll pack. Delivering a baby requires a few days of a stay in the hospital, making it important to have the essentials on hand to feel comfortable. Before the contractions begin, there are […]
Part of being “out West” is exploring all of the sites and attractions. We’re a nature loving family, so most of the things on our travel bucket list will revolve around natural attractions, but, with three small kiddos, theme parks and kiddo attractions are making the list. These are listed in no particular order. We […]