Parenting – Page 4

How to Make Reading Fun: Learning to Love Reading Early On

March 12, 2016 by Danielle

Igniting a love for reading in children is important, and the earlier you do so the better! Children who learn to love reading at a young age master sight words quickly, develop larger vocabularies, and tend to read above grade level later in life. And the early years of development between 0-5 years of age are crucial for setting a foundation for a lifelong love of reading and learning.

I remember the love I had for reading. How I could get lost in a book and transform my world around me into the place I was reading about. It was an amazing way to escape real life and immerse myself into an adventure. The magic that comes from reading a book continued with me and still to this day I can become absolutely consumed with the book I am reading. That passion and love of reading is something I’ve always wanted to pass on to my children. And as my oldest begins his reading journey, I hope to share that love with him.

If you want to inspire a love for reading in your own child, take a look below at 5 helpful tips on how to make reading fun, and ignite a love for reading early on. These tips can help you inspire their own love for reading and make them readers for life!

Tips on How to Make Reading Fun

1. Model reading.

Can you recall your own parents being readers? Let your children see you enjoy reading. Keep your own books on hand and next to your bed or on the coffee table. Let them see you enjoying your books, and you can even tell them what your favorite parts where about the book. If you aren’t into novels, even modeling reading the newspaper or magazines is a great start! If they see you reading for pleasure, they are more likely to do the same. You can even do a book club together, and meet over snacks to talk about the book!

2. Let them choose their own texts.

When you explore the library together, let them gravitate towards texts that interest them. Even if the book is above their reading level, let them have practice handling it and exploring it. If they seem to enjoy magazines, short stories, or even online reads, let them lead in navigating. While it is wise to choose skill appropriate texts, giving them some freedom helps keep the experience a more positive one and gives you an idea of what interests them.

3. Find words all around you.

We are surrounded by words, and it is fun and important to point this out to children. Show them words on cereal boxes, billboards, candy wrappers, and anywhere else you may seem them. Invite them to point out words they recognize, and help them with words they don’t or they are curious about. Go on a word hunt and see all of the places in the house you can find words to read. To make your environment really rich in text, make flash cards using the sight words you want to work on. Hang these up all over the house so your child can practice and identify the word as they walk by.

4. Read nightly, and read enthusiastically.

Do you have fond memories of being read to at night? Set aside time each night before bed for at least one book. You can read it, or they can along with you. Don’t let this appear to be a chore but something you enjoy doing. Do the best you can to show enthusiasm, using the voices and any hand motions or props that may make the story better. Make it a wonderful and enjoyable experience that you look forward to each night.

5. Make reading interactive.

Give children sticky notes that they can use in their books to mark pages they enjoy, have questions about, or want to remember to show you. You can also use highlighting tape to highlight words they know or don’t know as they read, or to mark the page number they left off on. You can give them puppets or stuffed animals to read to or act out the stories with, or let them draw about what they read when done. This makes the reading experience interactive, fun, and continues the learning process.

Reading is such an amazing part of life, and one that you don’t want your child to miss out or get behind on so starting young is important! By talking, reading, & singing with our children, we help them learn and grow in the world around them. The importance of recent brain science in child development cannot be overstated. More than 80% of a child’s brain is developed by age 3, so it’s no wonder that the first three years of a child’s life are referred to as the “Golden Years” for brain development and strengthening. Give these tips a try and see how you can help them find a love for reading that is sure to stay with them throughout their lives.

First 5 California as a great, free resource for information. From activities to use with your children, to PDFs of books and videos that help parents learn how to teach their children in a variety of ways. Plus, there are so many articles to download and use for later.

How do you inspire your children to Talk.Read.Sing.®?

Filed Under: Parenting, Uncategorized Tagged With: books, First 5, Reading, Tips

Teaching My Daughter To Find Her Dreams + a DIY Vertical Toy Storage Tutorial

February 26, 2016 by Danielle

This shop featuring a tutorial on DIY Vertical Toy Storage has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #InspireBigDreams #DreamBigPrincess #CollectiveBias

My daughter. She is so strong. She’s always known what she wanted since she was a small child. I’m sure many of my family members remembered how she’d refuse a bottle because she knew she only wanted to nurse. She’d make my husband drive her all the way to my work to nurse her at lunch time. And then would wait until I got home to eat again. She still, to this day, knows exactly what she wants. And for the most part she knows how to get it.

From finishing fun projects she’s set out to start, to learning new things and going on fun exploratory journeys to do so. She is so brave. And so generous. And just the kindest girl I know. Sometimes I look at her and wonder how I got so lucky to have a daughter like her. She’s a lot like some of her favorite Disney Princesses. Inquisitive like Ariel, adventurous like Rapunzel, and smart like Tiana.

The other day she came to me asking if she could help kids who might not have as much as her. We had talked about how blessed we are as a family a few nights prior and how much we have after one of the kids had a meltdown after not getting a toy at a store. We went over how not everyone was blessed enough to have a huge birthday party every year, or is able to go to theme parks with their family, or even get new toys at Christmas and on birthdays. So my sweet girl asked how she could help make sure other kids got the gifts and toys they deserved. How could I not help her with this?

So we set out to make a list of all of the places we could ask for donations. We also thought about how we could also chip in a bit to purchase new toys. And we came up with a game plan. Any time we head over to Toys ‘R Us to window shop or pick out a gift, we’re going to grab one extra. Guess what Molly’s doing to help? She’s saving up her dollars to use on the extras we purchase. Yup! She thought of that all by herself too. That kid. She makes me proud.

And then she asked if we could make a toy chest for her room so she could put all of the extra toys we collect somewhere as we collect them. Since I’m not one to squash her ideas and dreams, we set fourth to make a great DIY vertical toy storage with her help, of course. Why not build up her dreams literally and figuratively?

With the help of a few princesses, some tiny field mice, a dad’s guiding hand, and a mother’s encouragement our project came together quite nicely. I think it’s absolutely amazing that both of our older kids love helping my husband and me with our projects. Whether it’s sanding, glueing, hammering, and even using a drill, they’re up for the challenge. It doesn’t hurt to have a super handy husband who can make just about anything. So when I drew out my vision he was 100% on board with creating a plan.

Now her new dolls have a home, and we have designated to top box for new toys we’ve collected to donate. At the end of every quarter we’ll collect up our toys and find a local charity in need to donate them to.

The best part about all of this? Now my youngest will have her own person to look up to and learn from. And I know her sister is going to teach her every thing she knows about following her dreams. Sure she’s only 1, but it’s never too early to encourage them to be strong and think for themselves even if it is a bit difficult at times. I’m up for the challenge!

DIY Vertical Toy Storage

What you need:

2 2’x6’x8′ doug fir boards
3 1’x8’x8′ western red cedar boards
wood glue
miter saw
3/8ths inch drill bit + drill
pocket screw jig
12 1 1/2″ pocket screws
12 2 1/2″ 5/16ths bolts
12 5/16ths T nuts
12 5/16ths washers

What you do:

Build 3 Boxes

For the first box, cut one 1 x 8 x 8′ board into the following:
– 2 – 24″ sections (front and back of boxes),
– 1 – 22 1/2″ section (bottom),
– 2 – 7 1/2″ section (sides)
Screw and glue the pieces together.
Repeat again to make 3 boxes total

Build Side Box Supports

Cut 2 x 6 x 8″ boards to 74″ long. These will become the side supports of your vertical storage.
Lean one of the sides against a wall. Put a straight edge on ground against 2 x 6. Trace angle on 2×6. We used a 50 degree angle. Cut along line you have drawn. Transfer angle to other 2 X 6 and cut to match.
Now put straight edge against wall and trace line on 2 X 6. Cut along line. Repeat for other 2 X 6. Both pieces should be identical.

Attach Boxes

Lay one of the 2 x 6’s flat on the ground. Position one of the boxes in the lowest spot (bottom of box should be about 8-12 inches up from bottom of the board). Make sure to adjust box so that it’s level once it is resting on the wall. Next, lay out the second box. Finally position the third.
When happy with the spacing, use screws to attach box to 2 x 6 side. Now put other 2 x 6 side flat on the ground. Flip partially assembled side to rest on 2 x 6. Attach with screws once lined up.
Reinforce with bolts once unit is assembled with screws.

If your daughter is interested in following her dreams and ideas, check out this great video from Disney on how she can be a champion too. You can find the full line of Disney Princesses at Toys ‘R Us including my daughter’s favorite Disney Princess Royal Shimmer Dolls and Little Kingdom Ariel’s Sea Castle. They’re easy to find when you look for the dedicated Disney Princesses aisle in store.

How do you support your daughter’s dreams?

Filed Under: Crafts/DIY, Disney, For the Home, Organization, Parenting, Uncategorized Tagged With: Ariel, daughter, disney, Disney Princesses, DIY, dream big, Rapunzel, Storage, toy storage, vertical storage

When Babies Find Freedom: Tools For Pre-Walkers

February 20, 2016 by Danielle

This post featuring tools for pre-walkers is sponsored by Huggies Little Movers Diapers.

When I had my first child the only thing I could think about was what he would learn to do next. When would he sit up? When would he crawl? Was he going to walk soon? Once he was standing and walking along the furniture I’d try and get him to take steps to me by standing him up away from the object he was holding onto and letting go. He’d normally just sit back down on his diaper-cushioned butt. I didn’t really get that we had to do this on his terms. He needed to find the balance and confidence on his own. Sure our encouragement could have been helpful, but finding that he could do it himself was more important.

With each additional child, I’ve found myself struggling with taking over or pushing a little too much when it comes to encouraging them to try new things. I want them to grow and explore in new ways so I can keep checking things off my list. But as I watch my 11-month-old (how did that happen??) start to pull up on furniture and move around the house or transfer from the couch to the coffee table right in front of me and wonder when she’ll take her first steps, I remind myself that they’re doing it on their terms, and I shouldn’t push or expect more than what they’re willing to give.

When babies find freedom – the freedom to move on their own, the freedom to take their first steps, the freedom to start making their own decisions – a whole new world opens up. They gain confidence, strength, and knowledge about the world that they didn’t already have. And it’s amazing to watch. Along with this newfound freedom is the need for tools that help along the way. Now that Norah is at that pre-walking stage, I am trying to make sure she has those tools to ensure success.

Tools For Pre-Walkers

1. Huggies Little Movers Diapers –

Any active baby needs a great diaper to ensure that they will have the freedom of movement as they explore their environment. We’ve come to know Huggies Little Movers Diapers very well over the past few months and love that we can rely on them to keep our little one dry and happy throughout the day even when she’s moving around the house like crazy. They have a Moving Baby System that is made up of three key features including a DryTouch^® liner that absorbs on contact, double grip strips for a fit that lasts, and a contoured diaper shape that allows baby to move freely.

I’ve found that the double grip strips are probably my favorite feature. I don’t have to worry about the tab coming undone like I’ve had happen in the past with other diapers. And the contoured diaper shape stays in place and fits securely around her. Plus the fact that we haven’t had any leaks is an added bonus!

2. Push Toys Instead Of Baby Walkers –

While some may think of walkers for their babies to help them, I’ve found that push toys can do the exact same thing but limit the number of injuries possible. The best part about push toys is that you have options. You can go through the various products out there and choose one that fits your house, your life, your baby. There are standard push toys, ride-on push toys, and I’ve even found walking tables like these that are intuitively designed to provide stability for children while transitioning from sitting to kneeling, standing and walking!

I was at an event a few weeks ago and found a walking table that would have been perfect to get for the kids when they were a little younger. It is the perfect thing to pull up on, help stand and help walk around. I didn’t pull the trigger because we have other push toys available right now and Norah is so close to walking. But had she been younger, that would be the product I’d purchase for her. I just wasn’t sure what we’d do with it when she actually started to walk since it’s really not a seat, it’s a table.

3. Soft Soled Shoes –

While I believe that barefoot is best for beginning or pre-walkers, when out and about where there may be some rough or rocky terrain, I love soft soled shoes. When we go on walks to the park as a family and the ground may be too cold for her little feet, or too wet for socks, soft soled shoes allow her to move around or crawl without hurting her toes. Plus when she does start walking, she can continue to use the soft soled shoes as she gets more comfortable with shoes on her feet. After she becomes more confident in taking steps, we head to the local shoe store to get properly fitted for walking shoes.

What tools do you provide your pre-walker?

Try Huggies Little Movers Diapers today, and share a photo of your active baby using #SetBabyFree for the chance to be featured on Huggies social channels.

Visit the Huggies website for more information.

Filed Under: Parenting

5 Reasons Why Date Night Helped Our Marriage

January 27, 2016 by Danielle

Photo Courtesy of Grin & Share It Photo

I don’t talk much about my marriage here on the blog. It’s something I like to keep just between my husband and myself. But one thing I have shared on here are our date nights. I’ve even offered tips on making date night a priority. Ever since having my son (almost) 7 years ago, it’s been an important part of our marriage and something that allows us to connect with each other a monthly basis.

It’s important to schedule date night in advance if you can. Put it on both of your calendars and set a reminder! We’ve even purchased season tickets to the local theater so we have a built in date night already paid for a few times a year. But date nights don’t have to be elaborate or expensive if you don’t want them. They can be as simple as take out and a bottle of wine at home in front of the TV. As long as the kids are either sleeping over at Grandma’s or fast asleep in their beds. And the tablets, laptops, and phones are put away.

And when the kids are little, consider date afternoons. Since I prefer to put our kids to bed when they’re babies, we move our schedule around and enjoy afternoons together instead of evenings. It still gives us the time together but then we’re home in the evenings with the kids. However when they get older, it’s also nice to schedule 1-2 nights away from the kids as well if you can!

5 Reasons Why Date Night Helped Our Marriage

1. Communication Without Interruption

If you have kids you know why this is so important. Whenever my husband and I have conversations at home and the kids are around it’s in short bursts here and there because we’re constantly getting interrupted to tie a shoelace, get a snack, or stop one kid from beating on the other. Being able to have alone time with one another without interruption is something that’s allowed the both of us to talk about anything and everything that’s been going on lately. Whether it’s the job, finances, our upcoming plans for the next month, or the next birthday, we can start and finish a conversation during date night all in one sitting.

2. No Talking About The Kids (Mostly)

While date night is great for communication without interruption, we try to leave talking about the kids to a minimum. We can do that at home after bedtime. Or via text message throughout the day. Leaving the kid talk to a minimum gives us the opportunity to chat about ourselves. Our relationship cannot just be based on our children, because that wouldn’t be marriage, that’d just be co-parenting. So we take this time to talk about our relationship and the topics we want to discuss but might not have had the chance during our busy days.

3. Finding New Interests

Through date night we’ve both been able to plan events that the other might not necessarily love. I give in to an action movie he wants to see, and he sits through a play I want to see. Or we try a new restaurant out together. It’s fun to explore and create new memories with him that we can share. It keeps the time we spend together interesting.

4. Alone Time

With the craziness of our lives, work, the kids, meetings, after school commitments, sports, etc, sometimes it’s hard to find alone time. There are some days where I see my husband only in passing. And the only conversations we have are about who’s picking up the kids or what bills need to be paid. We’ve realized that with the crazy, we need the calm. We need alone time together so we don’t forget how to talk to one another.

5. Reconnecting

Every date is an opportunity to reconnect with my husband. I get to know him more, we get to talk about what’s important to us (or just chat about nothing at all), and we spend quality time together. And when you’ve been together for 15 years (married for 8.5) that reconnection is what keeps the relationship strong. Sure, there are difficult times. But that doesn’t mean we stop date night. It means we continue to get together even when we’re mad in an effort to continue to keep that conversation going. Because marriage is fluid. Marriage is constantly changing just as we as individuals are. And we need that reconnection, that continuation of growth, to keep our marriage strong.

Do you have regular date nights with your significant other?

Filed Under: Date Night, Parenting, Uncategorized

Fight Hanger In Kids: After School Snack Hacks

January 13, 2016 by Danielle

We’re chatting about my favorite after school snack hacks so I don’t have to deal with hangry kids thanks to our sponsor, Tree Top.

Life is crazy right now. Work, volunteering, kids, life. It’s all just overwhelming sometimes. But this year I’m focusing on being more organized. I update my Google calendar with everything going on, even if it’s just a quick 5 minute meeting before or after school. And I try to plan ahead and stick with a routine.

We’ve gotten mornings down to a science. Wake up, brew coffee, make lunches and breakfast while stealing sips, get kids dressed and fed, and nurse the baby while checking email before heading out the door to drop off. I even call out a 5 minute warning so the kids know they need to get their shoes on.

But we’re still struggling with afternoons. Between meetings and soccer practice and everything else in between, I try to keep everything written out so that as we’re driving to school I can give the kids a heads up on what to expect after they get out of school. Most days they come straight home but others are spent at after school care or they’re picked up by a relative.

With all of the craziness that our afternoons bring us, I have to remember to pack snacks for the kids and hide them everywhere. Because if I don’t? This is what I have to deal with:

Yup. She’s hangry.

Luckily I’ve experienced enough meltdowns that I can sense when they are going to come on and I can whip out a snack so quickly that all of a sudden that frown turns upside down. Want in on how I do it? Check out my after school snack hacks!

After School Snack Hacks

1. Bowl Of Fruit –

Now I know this sounds like a duh kind of idea but I’ve found that putting a bowl of fruit out on the table or counter puts the responsibility of eating in my kids hands. They know when they feel hungry that all they have to do is go grab something from the fruit bowl. Plus fruit is portable so I can grab a few pieces before heading over to pick up the kids so they can snack on the drive home.

I keep a variety of fruits on hand to satisfy both of the kids tastes. And if they don’t eat it fast enough, I turn the fruit into muffins! Another awesome snack choice that doubles as a breakfast food.

2. Snack Drawer or Shelf

In the pantry I have a snack shelf filled with great snacks that the kids can grab on their own as soon as they come home from school. This shelf is also used for my go-to lunch items too so I can quickly go in and grab what I need after I finish making sandwiches and grabbing fruit.

One thing I always have on my snack shelf is Tree Top Apple Sauce Pouches. They’re mess-free, taste great and are made with pure USA-grown fruit and local ingredients. No spoon? No problem! Pouches are squeezable and fun, making them perfect for on-the-go snacking.

We also have a snack drawer in our fridge. We purchased the fridge we have because it had a secondary refridgerated door that would be easily accesible for our kids. I keep yogurts, cheese, and other snacks that I don’t mind the kids eating in there along with some bottled water and juices.

3. Roll Ups

When I know the kids are going to sports practice or I have a meeting after school, I make super quick roll ups out of whatever ingredients I have on hand. Depending on the size, I’ll sometimes cut them into wheels or leave them whole.

Here’s a few great ideas for flavors to get you started:

PB&J Roll Up – tortilla, peanut butter, jelly | Add some bananas or apples
Ham & Swiss Roll Up – pita, sliced ham, sliced swiss cheese | Add some spinach leaves and a spread of ranch dressing or hummus
Tuna Roll Up – bread, tuna, mayo | Add some diced celery and dill pickles

4. Cheese Platter

Now don’t laugh but sometimes I just cut up some cheese and open up a package of crackers and call it a day. We even turn to that as a dinner option on crazy busy nights with the addition of some salame or pepperonis. Cheese platters are very versatile. From delicious brie and gouda with fancy crackers to string cheese and gold fish, the possibilities are endless. And when you’re having a bad day, both pair nicely with a glass of wine. For the parents… not the kids.

All of these options can easily be put into a bag and taken with us wherever we go. I have an easy way to keep snacks on hand and the kids don’t get hangry. Win win!

Tree Top knows that avoiding those hangry moments require a quick and reliable solution. We want to see how you help your kids overcome those stressful times! Share a photo of your child’s “hangry2happy” moment on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Make sure to use the #Hangry2Happy hashtag and tag @TreeTopInc in your post, so we can check it out.

You’ll be entered to win one of eight survival kit backpacks full of Tree Top apple sauce Pouches, so you’ll be ready when your kids reach their limit and desperately need a snack. We’ve all been there, and Tree Top wants to help you take your kids from hangry to happy! Official sweepstakes rules can be found here:on.fb.me/1kTw5b5

What are your go-to snack hacks to avoid hangry children?

I will be giving away one kids backpack and filled with Tree Top applesauce pouches. Approximate Retail Value of $50.

View Rafflecopter to see the ways in which to enter and show Tree Top your child’s Hangry2Happy Moments!

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Disclosure: This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Tree Top.

Filed Under: Parenting, Snacks, Uncategorized Tagged With: after school snacks, apples, snack hacks, Snacks, Tree Top

Baby Gift Ideas For The Third Child

December 16, 2015 by Danielle

Today we’re sharing some great baby gift ideas for the third child with help from our sponsor, Huggies. Read on to find out what we’re leaving under the tree for our little one this year.

As a mother of three I never thought there’d come a day where I was clueless at what to get one of my children for Christmas. There’s always something that they are wanting for even if it’s a small book or toy. But for Baby’s First Christmas, it’s hard to look at everything we have handed down to our third child from the first two and think of something else she needs for Christmas. I did what I always do in these situations and reached out to my mama tribe. You know, that group of online women who will help out whenever you need them? And who would have known? Every.single.idea was something we already had or gifted to the other two previously.

Why not wrap up something they don’t play with anymore and give it to her, right? Wrong. The other two would be mighty suspicious if I just wrapped up a bunch of their old toys to give to her. So, instead of wasting money on things she won’t use, I’ve come up with some practical gifts to place under the tree this holiday season for the third child. Especially on their first Christmas.

Baby Gift Ideas For The Third Child

1. Diapers

So maybe this sounds boring, but after making the switch to disposable diapers after our third child was born, I realized the importance of staying stocked up on the basics. Even if it’s a bit boring. And with the hustle and bustle of the holidays, why not wrap a box of Huggies Little Movers diapers to put under the tree for your little one? My baby loves playing with the diaper boxes. In fact, she’s pretty obsessed with the babies ON the boxes and continues to talk and wave to them every time she finds the box in my closet. So a box of diapers is not only fun for my 10 month old, but something we’ll be using in the near future!

And like everyone else this time of year, I need to be able to easily grab what I need for baby and the family. Three kids means lots of parties, events, and presents to organize. So I get a little help during the holiday season – and throughout the year – with my Sam’s Club membership. I can use Sam’s Club pick up and have everything I’ve ordered ready for me when I arrive. Wrangling 3 kids in the store isn’t always the most fun so the option to have everything ready for me when I arrive makes the trip a lot smoother.

Our go-to brand of diapers for Norah when we made the transition was Huggies. We used the Little Snugglers and loved how soft and absorbent they were. We weren’t woken up to find that they leaked at night like the others we’ve tried to use, and they kept her dry during the day as well. I was a huge fan of the wetness indicator! Now that she’s moving non-stop (Did I mention she’s cruising along now? Crazy how fast that happens!), we’ve switched over to the Huggies Little Movers. With DryTouch liner, contoured shape, Double grip strips, and leak lock protection, it’s Huggies moving Baby System!

2. Wipes

Just like diapers, wipes are something we use for EVERYTHING. Not just wiping bottoms! From washing toys that fell on the ground at a restaurant, to cleaning off surfaces, to wiping faces, wipes are not only useful in various situations, but they’re fun to pull out too. Just ask Norah. She’s emptied a wipe container faster than any of the others. And I only had my back turned for a second! They also serve as a chew toy if you aren’t fast enough to grab it too. Mmm… wipes!

I stock up on the big box of wipes from Sam’s Club and then wrap each individual wipe up so there’s more ripping and tearing. Then you can add the wipes back to the big box and wrap that up too! Who doesn’t love more presents to open?

3. Clothes

Now for older kids this is the most boring present to receive, at least for my son. My daughter jumps for joy at the sight of clothes. As long as she approves and loves. But babies… babies love to play in clothes. When Norah see’s a freshly laundered pile of clothes on the living room couch she makes a bee line for them. And promptly pulls each and every piece off of the couch and onto the floor. So the dog can lay on them. FUN stuff right?

Since kids are constantly growing, and finding new ways to dirty up and stain their current clothes, new clothes is always a fun way to add more boxes under the tree to unwrap. Plus, if your baby is anything like mine, she’ll have it out of the box and playing with the outfit on the floor in no time.

4. Sippy Cups

Sippy cups and bottles are always disappearing in my home. I can have a full cupboard one day and later in the week there’s none to be found! Now that Norah is getting closer to a year, we’re starting to make the transition from bottles to sippy cups so we’ll be gifting her with a lot of varieties under the tree this year. The big man himself has even mentioned putting one or two in her stocking. The straw kind, of course. Because that’s what she prefers right now. Easier to spit out the contents when she’s sucking it out with a straw!

5. Boxes

Now of course the most obvious gift of all, and one we’ve been talking about all along, are boxes. Norah is a climber. You put down anything on the ground and she’s climbing right over it. Even if it’s only 2 inches up. Boxes are a huge deal to her and she loves being able to play with them. So we’re practical and stock up on the boxes that come in the mail with other presents (remember that Sam’s Club pick up? Well they also deliver too from online! Boxes galore here…). You can choose to wrap them, or leave them unwrapped. We prefer using some of the packing paper that came in the mailed boxes and recycling that as wrapping paper. Then grab a sharpie and start writing away!

What will your baby be enjoying under the tree this Christmas?

Filed Under: Parenting Tagged With: gift ideas

A Colorful Affair: Adult Coloring Party

December 15, 2015 by Danielle

Sometimes you just need to sit down with your girlfriends, mimosa in hand, and color! And that’s just what I did last week at the adult coloring party I hosted with the help of our sponsor, Prismacolor Premier®. Read on to see how easy it is to host an adult coloring party with your friends!

Over the past few months, the only thing I’ve heard a handful of my friends talk about is adult coloring. No, not adults coloring. But adult coloring books with beautiful intricate designs and themes for grown-ups to sit down and color with. With this craze comes a little bit of sanity for those who hop on board. It’s been confirmed that those who sit down to enjoy a few minutes of coloring each day have actually found that they’re less stressed!

Since so many of my girlfriends have expressed an interest in adult coloring books, I was pleased to host this adult coloring party for a few local blogger friends with the help of Prismacolor Premier® products last week. It was a wonderful morning filled with great conversation, good food, and relaxing coloring for all. I don’t remember the last time I sat down to color but I’ll be doing it a lot more frequently now that I’m hooked!

Tips for Hosting An Adult Coloring Party

1. Fun and Easy Food

Egg Bake + Cinnamon Pecan Pullapart Bread + Fruit and Cheese Tree

When I host get-togethers for the girls I always have one homemade item, and then the rest store bought. Not only does it make things easier on me as I get ready for things but it also allows me to focus more on the guests the day of because I’m not running around trying to finish up making this or that.

For this event, I chose to make a delicious egg bake with bacon, cheddar, and broccoli. I picked up a cinnamon pecan pull apart bread from the store and made a festive fruit and cheese tree with cubed cheese and grapes. The tree was very easy to make. I added two mandarin oranges to the top as a tree topper and the bottom as a tree stump and then added pretzel crisps to the last layer to use with the cheese for snacking.

The egg bake and pull apart bread were served on the main buffet spread and the fruit and cheese tree was set out on the dining room table so we could munch as we colored. Who doesn’t love to munch along as they color and visit?

2. Drink Options

Mimosa Bar

Mimosa bars are perfect for morning get-togethers! They pair perfectly with the breakfast foods I was serving and guests can choose to either pour a mimosa or just drink the juice. For this simple mimosa bar, I grabbed a few glass juice carafes and some champagne glasses.

I paired together orange juice and cranberry juice to bring more color to the spread. As for the champagne, I grabbed my favorite local almond champagne. And some non-alcoholic sparkling grape juice for the non-drinkers.

Grab a few gift tags and Prismacolor Premier markers to make name tags for the drinks!

Hot Cocoa Bar

Another great addition to any brunch or evening event during the winter months is a hot cocoa bar. It adds a little sweetness and some warmth to the event. Plus there are so many fun additions and toppings one can add to their hot cocoa to make it personalized to their taste. Grab a pot of coffee to add to the mix so guests can make mochas too!

I chose to use my single serve coffee machine and some hot cocoa cups I had, however, I’ve also made a delicious batch of slow cooker hot chocolate in the past with this recipe for a little adult fun. I’ve also passed out these cute hot cocoa snowmen as gifts and favors at parties before.

3. Adult Coloring Books + Colored Pencils

And, of course, for the star of the event, adult coloring books are a must! Each guest should have either a few adult coloring print-outs or a coloring book of their own to enjoy during the event. Pair with Prismacolor Premier coloring pencils and you have the perfect outlet for moms to relax, de-stress and re-energize during the often-stressful holiday season.

In the living room and the dining room table I put a few coloring books out with packs of Prismacolor Premier colored pencils. I also used a roll of butcher paper as table runners for both the coffee table and dining room table so guests could doodle and find out what colors they wanted to use.

Coloring together allows friends, families and co-workers an opportunity to take a moment together to reflect and reenergize, sparking creativity and inducing productivity. It’s a relaxing way to reconnect with each other. We enjoyed chatting around the table about work, life, and everything else in between.

What do you love to do when you get together with your girlfriends?

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Prismacolor Premier®.

Filed Under: Mom's Night Out, Party Ideas, Uncategorized Tagged With: Adult Coloring, Adult Coloring Party, adult parties, Coloring, Girls Night, Girls Night In, party ideas, Party Planning, Prismacolor, SITS Girls

Building Your Child’s Holiday Wishlist With Ease: A Tutorial On Using The Amazon App In Store

October 27, 2015 by Danielle

When I was little I would get excited around this time of year. Because this time of year was when we would start to receive the big catalogues in the mail from various stores and toy companies. My dad would save them up and hand over the big books and the catalogues that came in the mail during the week so that we could go through and circle what we wanted for the holidays and upcoming birthdays.

It was an easy way for him to figure out exactly what we were asking from Santa as well as get some tips on what he should surprise us with as well. He was always good at figuring out exactly what we wanted under the tree each year. That may or may not be a result of him waiting till the night before Christmas to do all of his holiday shopping with those catalogues. So he was limited in what to get us and had to go off of our scribbled down lists and circled items.

Nowadays with my own kids we build a wishlist throughout the year. Constantly changing and removing things. Not just for gifts, but as ways to remind ourselves of what we want to do or get as rewards for other things too. My kids love to save their pennies and cash in to purchase the latest toy they have their eye on. And now making those lists has gotten even easier.

When I was at Target yesterday perusing the Halloween aisles, my son asked to head up to the toy aisle to take a look. I obliged and the whole family headed over. As I was walking over I realized that I needed a batman mask for my costume (I had just put a batman shirt complete with cape in our basket). Since Target didn’t seem to have any, I hopped onto Amazon and quickly purchased one using my Prime account. Shortly after my son was running up to me asking me to put a Minecraft lego on his list.

Since I already had the Amazon app out, I figured I’d take a look and see if I could just search and add his item quickly while we were in-store. And that’s when I saw it… the option to scan a barcode right from the app to find an item. That way I could not only scan the items the kids wanted to add to their list in-store, I could also note which items were cheaper to purchase on Amazon or in the store! Talk about a win-win. And it’s so simple!

Here’s how:

Using The Amazon App In Store

Building Your Child’s Holiday Wishlist With Ease

As you peruse every single toy aisle with your kids as you do every time you visit the department store – wait, is that just my husband? – let your kids start to choose what they’d like to ask for on their holiday wish lists. As they choose items, grab the item, and using the barcode in the Amazon app, scan the item.

Once the correct item is found via the barcode, simply click on the item title and then scroll down to Add to Wish List. Click on the Add to Wish List button.

A list of your current wish lists will appear and then you can select which child’s wishlist you want to add the item to.

As soon as I selected Molly’s Wish List, the baby doll she chose was added. Easy peasy and onto the next item! I don’t know what I’ll do if she asks for a pony but at least I’m covered for most in-store items.

How do you make wish lists easier during the holidays?

Filed Under: Parenting, Uncategorized Tagged With: Amazon, Amazon App, app, holiday tips, shopping app, wishlists

Tips On Securing Volunteers At Your Next Fundraiser

October 18, 2015 by Danielle

Today we’re sharing tips on securing volunteers at your next fundraiser with help from our sponsor, VolunteerSpot. You can read on to find out our success at our most recent Fall Festival fundraiser.

As I’ve mentioned, over the past few months I’ve worked on the committee to plan and run the Fall Festival at my children’s school. Over the span of 6 months we worked hard at finalizing all of the details about the festival, including how to secure volunteers for the various game booths, food booths, and more. From the beginning we knew that our volunteers would make the event a success.

And they did! From the parent volunteers who manned the booths, to the church volunteers helping to sell raffle tickets, to the teacher volunteers who helped sell tickets and everyone else in between. Our event was a success because of those supporting and helping run it. Along the way we learned a lot about what we did right, what we did wrong, and how to make next year amazing.

Tips On Securing Volunteers At Your Next Fundraiser

1. Make It Easy –

It all starts with signing up volunteers. And that needs to be easy. Early on into our planning our Volunteer Coordinator set up a VolunteerSpot account and was able to set up shifts for all volunteers for each day of our festival. We were able to share the link via email, posters, social media and our website to allow volunteers to choose a shift and sign up. It also allowed us to keep track of each volunteer and send them reminders before the event. Plus? It’s easily accessible on mobile and desktop!

2. Have A Point Of Contact –

At the event we printed off our volunteer list from VolunteerSpot and as volunteers came to the event they checked in with our Volunteer Coordinator 10 minutes prior to their shift start. By having the Volunteer Coordinator share her contact information (email) with the volunteers, she was able to field questions, pass along information, and create a smooth and easy experience for all. She was also a friendly face to check in with at the event. For those who were new to volunteering at the event, they didn’t have to search for yet another person they might not know when they arrived.

3. Give Clear Instructions –

Communication really is key so we would also give the volunteers a run down on how each booth was running and if we ran into anything in the previous shift. Along with checking in, each volunteer was given written instructions on what was expected and how the area they were in was being run. We not only had clear signage at each booth sharing how to play each game but also instructions for the volunteers on how to take care of game tickets coming in as well as what prize tickets to give out.

4. Provide Childcare –

One bit of feedback we had received in years past was that our parents could not volunteer their time because they lacked the proper childcare for their shift. So this year we reached out to the preschool staff to ask if they were willing to provide childcare at the event. Not only would we be able to help our parent volunteers, but we were also able to market our preschool to potential families looking to send their little ones to our school.

5. Thank Your Volunteers –

After any fundraiser, there’s nothing more powerful than a heartfelt, handwritten note. Now while it may sound like a lot of work, thanking your volunteers personally will let them know just how important they are to your cause and how much you appreciate them.

Have you had success when recruiting volunteers? What are your tips?

Filed Under: Parenting, Uncategorized Tagged With: education, funding, fundraising, School, school funding, sponsorships, volunteering

Ways To Find Me-Time As A Busy Mom

October 15, 2015 by Danielle

Life is busy. But that doesn’t mean you don’t deserve a little me-time. These ways to find me-time as a busy mom are sponsored by Texture. Use Texture to enjoy your me-time when you find it and catch up on all of your favorite magazines.

I don’t know about you but my life is busy. This week marks the end of a very long few months for me as I help my son’s school plan their Fall Festival.And it’s about to get even busier as we head into the holidays. Not only are the holidays busy because of friends, family, and events, but it’s also my busiest time of the year as a digital influencer.

For me, I know what my limits are and how much I can handle. But without a little me-time, I woiuldn’t be able to handle much. As a mom of three, all in different stages, I’ve come to realize that I need to take advantage of any me-time I can get. Even when that means asking someone for help watching the kids while I take care of myself. If I don’t take care of myself, how will I take care of the kids, right?

Finding breaks when I can may get a little tricky, but by taking advantage of even the little bouts of quiet I have in my life, I’ve been able to reduce my stress and relax a bit. And I just found an app to make breaks a lot more enjoyable. Now with Texture, I have all of my favorite magazines right at my fingertips. So when a break presents itself, I take full advantage! Including those few minutes I have in the bathroom alone to myself with the door closed (and locked). I may or may not go in there just to get a break sometimes. Hey! It works…

Ways To Find Me-Time As A Busy Mom

1. Find Time For A Hobby You Love

I have many hobbies that I love. Sewing, crocheting, DIY projects, cooking, etc. But one thing I don’t have much of is time. So I incorporate my hobbies into my lifestyle. As part of the planning committee for our Fall Festival, I took over a few crafty things on the list so I could get my creative juices flowing and create things.

Whether it was building an easel sign, creating a cardboard cut out for the photo booth, or painting a banner, by volunteering and committing to a group of people, I “made” myself find time for my favorite hobbies. By either scheduling time for your hobby, or volunteering your skills for a local school, church, or organization, it’s easier to make the time available for yourself.

Need ideas? You’ll find plenty when you subscribe to Texture through the Next Door app. Not only do you get all of your favorite magazines right at your fingertips, there’s also ones in there that may inspire a new hobby!

2. Challenge Yourself

Similar to finding a hobby, consider creating a challenge for yourself. When I first got married I knew nothing about cooking and baking. I mean I could scramble an egg and make some toast but I was nowhere near comfortable in the kitchen. So I brought it upon myself to learn how to cook. I would take recipes from my favorite magazines like Cooking Light or Bon Appétit and choose 3 new recipes a week to try out. I’d make a list of groceries I needed to buy and slowly began not only learning how to cook, but also stocking my shelves, spice rack, and fridge with the staples our house needed for meal time.

Recently I also started to challenge myself to eat clean. Not only for me but my kids as well. By trying to prepare whole foods and reduce the amount of pre-packaged items I bring in the house, I’m starting to change my kids way of thinking. This is a HUGE challenge for me. With the help of Clean Eating magazine, I’ve been able to get a few tips on incorporating this new lifestyle easily. Now this may not sound like me-time to you, but if I can get 10 minutes to read a magazine I’m interested in, and get tips on recipes to try or snacks to eat, it eases my mind and reduces the stress that may surround change.

3. Take Advantage Of Naptime

It’s hard for me right now because my 8 month old usually naps on me, but I take full advantage of naptime when it comes. As I type she’s happily nodded off in dream land and I can watch her eyes flutter and hear her little sounds. Naptime equals me-time. And each time one my kids stopped taking naps, I shed a little tear. During naptime I not only work, but I also take advantage of the down-time and grab my Surface Pro 3 to catch up on the fun magazines I have in my library on Texture. I have an article on Wired open up right now that I’m dying to finish about Marvel.

The one thing I don’t do during naptime unless absolutely necessary? Clean. It’s just not worth my me-time. It’s all about balance, right? And cleaning can happen either when the kids are playing outside or another time I find during the day. My sanity is a little more important than a clean house so I choose taking a moment to relax a bit or work.

4. Hire A Sitter

I’m pretty lucky. I have family around that I can call and ask to help watch my kids if I just need to get out of the house. Whether it’s getting a pedicure or massage, taking a walk to the park, or sitting outside catching up on the latest issue of National Geographic, having that time available and knowing that my kids are somewhere safe in loving arms is important.

I’ve even done a little exchange with friends where I’ll go to their house or they’ll come to mine. My girlfriend would bring all of her mail over and sort it as I watched the little ones playing in the playroom. Or I’d get an article written while she played with them outside. There are a lot of ways that one can find a few minutes to decompress before jumping back into life.

How do you find me-time?

Running October 1-29, anyone who uses the Texture app will be entered to win their choice of either a GoPro HERO4 Session, a Tory Burch Quilted Clutch, or an Xbox One. Every other day, we’ll be randomly selecting a Texture user to win.

To enter, users just need to visit http://bit.ly/1RiAnnj, start a free 30-day trial, and use the app.

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Texture.

Filed Under: Parenting, Uncategorized Tagged With: magazines, me-time, Next Door, Texture

Tips on How to Make Reading Fun

1. Model reading.

2. Let them choose their own texts.

3. Find words all around you.

4. Read nightly, and read enthusiastically.

5. Make reading interactive.

How do you inspire your children to Talk.Read.Sing.®?

DIY Vertical Toy Storage

How do you support your daughter’s dreams?

Tools For Pre-Walkers

1. Huggies Little Movers Diapers –

2. Push Toys Instead Of Baby Walkers –

3. Soft Soled Shoes –

What tools do you provide your pre-walker?

5 Reasons Why Date Night Helped Our Marriage

1. Communication Without Interruption

2. No Talking About The Kids (Mostly)

3. Finding New Interests

4. Alone Time

5. Reconnecting

Do you have regular date nights with your significant other?

After School Snack Hacks

1. Bowl Of Fruit –

2. Snack Drawer or Shelf

3. Roll Ups

4. Cheese Platter

What are your go-to snack hacks to avoid hangry children?

Baby Gift Ideas For The Third Child

1. Diapers

2. Wipes

3. Clothes

4. Sippy Cups

5. Boxes

What will your baby be enjoying under the tree this Christmas?

Tips for Hosting An Adult Coloring Party

1. Fun and Easy Food

2. Drink Options

3. Adult Coloring Books + Colored Pencils

What do you love to do when you get together with your girlfriends?

Using The Amazon App In Store

Building Your Child’s Holiday Wishlist With Ease

How do you make wish lists easier during the holidays?

Tips On Securing Volunteers At Your Next Fundraiser

Have you had success when recruiting volunteers? What are your tips?

Ways To Find Me-Time As A Busy Mom

1. Find Time For A Hobby You Love

2. Challenge Yourself

3. Take Advantage Of Naptime

4. Hire A Sitter

How do you find me-time?

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