Some people are still getting blasted with snow and we’ve seen more rain than sun in months, but when March arrives, no matter the current weather, we know that Spring is around the corner! If you have older children, they are probably itching to get outside (and will soon enough be itching because of bugs)! They can feel the fresh air and sunshine calling their minds and bodies. After months of being cooped up inside, they are ready to embrace the outdoors and longer days ahead. So out the door...

I don’t know about you, but where we live, the rain has not let up in days!  I joked to my husband, asking him if there might be some ark around that we don’t know about!  It seems like the rain has been endless! Maybe I would appreciate the rain if I was snuggled up on the couch with chinese takeout and a whole season of “The Crown” to catch up on.  But unfortunately, my two toddlers probably wouldn’t let that happen for more than, oh, two minutes. So what...

Easter is one of my favorite holidays.   The fresh blooms of flowers, the darling decorations, the delicious food and the family traditions. Cadbury eggs, jelly beans, pastel colors, and perfect Easter outfits for Sunday morning.  We’ve put together some great Easter activities and traditions you could begin with your family this year! ~Decorating Easter Eggs - Whether you’re making your own dyes, getting a store bought kit (love this natural dye kit!), doodling with markers, or decorating with stickers, getting crafty with hollowed out eggs can be a great...

A few years ago, my family started talking to an employee at our grocery store. We became fast friends. Every week my children would look forward to seeing him on our regular Monday visits. He got to know our children often telling us stories about his children when they were young and now stories about his grandchildren. One day, he told us about how his son would work in the yard with him every weekend doing this and that. My children had wide eyes that screamed, “Wow! That’s a lot...

Over the last 50 years, the time fathers spend with their children has doubled, according to a book published by the American Sociological Association.  Whether it’s coaching sports, helping with homework, or being involved in the home, fathers are contributing in more ways than ever.  But sometimes with big changes within the home, like a new baby, or toddlers going through a hard stage, dads can take a back seat.  They may feel helpless, lack confidence, or may even feel like YOU (mama) can handle it all just fine!  Here...

Applesauce, macaroni and cheese, crustless peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  These are just some of the food favorites among toddler and young children.  But what if these were some of the ONLY foods your little ones would eat?  If you deal with picky eaters, first of all, you are not alone.  In a study done by the National Library of Medicine, approximately 39% of children between the ages of 3 and 11 are identified as “picky eaters”.  If your tiny tot falls into this category, I’ve come up with a...

As a little girl, one of my favorite things about Valentine’s Day (besides the  chocolate of course!), was picking out Valentine cards for my classmates. I thought long and hard about which card would go to which friend or which boy. Sending the right message was of the utmost importance to me. Once I got married, I felt the same way. I spent too long (and still do) picking out the right card at Hallmark, hoping to find the perfect card with the perfect words. I want to convey how...

It's not easy staying on a schedule, and with a growing baby who feeds at different times of the day, it's easy to get lost without a routine. Here's a suggestion for planning your day around your baby's changing needs so you can both get some much-needed shut eye! 

Out with the old, in with the new, but do it with recycling in mind! Kids collect so many toys from every single place they go. This is how we suggest keeping your little one's toys from piling up.

Here's our favorite diaper bag essentials for your on-the-go lifestyle. Whether you're expecting your first wee one and aren't sure what to pack, or always have a ton of stuff in your bag but don't seem to have what you need, this list is for you! Check it out, then let us know what's on your diaper bag must-have list.

Your whole world changes when you bring home your first little bundle of joy. Who knew you could be so exhausted and still be happy? So many things change when you welcome a new member of the family into your home. This includes your relationship with your spouse. Before, it was just you and him or her, now there is a little one taking up much of your spouse’s time and energy. It can be a hard adjustment at first but it will eventually get worked out. It is important...

Reading a bedtime to your kids is what all of us parents aspire to do. We have been told how important reading to your kids can be and that it can benefit them but let’s face it, after you spent all day cleaning, cooking, and trying to keep up with the kids, it can be pretty tempting to put them to bed and call it a day. Some days that may happen but trying to squeak in some time spent reading to your kids at some point in the day...

I promise the idea of independent play is not one born of selfishness or of the need to start dinner (although it can certainly help with that). Independent play is something that can actually help your child to learn confidence, boost self-esteem, minimize dependence later in life, increase creativity, and even help them with language skills. Wow! How can you afford not to encourage some solo-play for your child? It is no secret that babies and toddlers like to have their mommy (or other primary caregiver) close at hand. Toddlers...

There are days being a stay at home parent can bring tears of frustration to your eyes. Arguing with your mini-me about anything and everything while chasing them around all day can really take it out of you. Not to mention that you usually are trying to catch up on housework and other life tasks while they are napping. Trying to manage a two-year old that has been recharged while you are still running on fumes can make it easy to snap and lose patience with you child. The good...

Being a mother, particularly a stay at home mother, generally means that you do not get a lot of alone time. I mean, it is lovely and amazing to get in all the time with your son or daughter (or multiples) but there are days where you would give anything for ten minutes of you-time. Not even the bathroom is somewhere you can escape to in peace! Whether you can see their little fingers under the door or they are standing outside saying, “Moooooommmmm.” Desiring a bit of time to...

These days you are more likely to find kids indoors than playing outside in the backyard. Kids are quick to learn how to use mobile devices such as tablets and phones. They are enthralled with screens. It can be tempting to use screens as a babysitter as well. There are days when the house is a mess, the dishes are piling up, and you are exhausted and giving your toddler the tablet or setting them down to watch a movie is highly tempting. This is actually ok. The problem comes...

For most of the first year or so of your new baby’s life you spend cleaning up after them, trying to keep them safe and trying to keep them out of everything when they start getting mobile. It is quite the cardio workout trying to pace your new toddler even when they are just crawling, much less when they master walking! It can be really easy-and pretty tempting-to stay as protective as you were when they first arrived even as your baby starts to grow up. This can have negative...

It is always heart breaking to see your baby or child suffering. Here are some more natural and homemade remedies to treat common complaints and colds. Herbal Teas For colicky babies or babies suffering from gas, you can try giving them some herbal teas made of chamomile or fennel, or a mixture of the two. Some herbs, in fact many, are not meant for babies and can even be dangerous for them. Chamomile and fennel have been given the green light by doctors, but it can still be a good...

  It is unfortunately a part of life that your little one is more than likely going to get sick, not feel well, or need something to help them get back to one-hundred percent. Facing the inevitable doesn’t have to mean you are helpless. Medical help is available if needed but it can be a good idea to try some natural remedies first. Here is a list to to help guide you while treating your precious little baby’s symptoms and colds.   Before trying any of these home remedies you...

There are countless numbers of flashing, light-up, and talking toys out there for your baby. These are all made of plastics that contain chemicals and can have small parts that can be dangerous for your little one. There is nothing quite like the intense sudden fear as you see your child put something small and unsafe into their mouth, especially when it was some part of a toy that was supposed to be safe! It can be hard enough trying to keep up with your little adventurer on a normal...

Having a cranky baby, whether it is because he or she is too tired or overwhelmed and stressed by something, can be a very frustrating situation for a parent. Particularly if it is cutting into any rest and relaxation you might need to stay at the top of your game. It can be hard to figure out what to do to help calm your baby or to get them to sleep when they are overtired or cranky. What are some ideas that you can try? Here’s a short list. Snuggle...

For a long time it was thought that women should not participate in physical activity while pregnant. These days it has been proven that it can be beneficial to both mom and baby for a woman to be physically active throughout her pregnancy. It is important to make sure that you are feeling well enough and that there are no complications with your pregnancy before beginning to exercise. Exercise could exacerbate some issues in a pregnancy so it is vital that before starting to exercise you discuss with your doctor...

Every mother has faced it at one point or another...the little baby that came home from the hospital is growing up! They don’t stay tiny and snuggly forever. Each little baby unavoidably starts to grow up, they lose their baby looks and learn to crawl and then to stand. Pretty soon they are walking and then running! As your baby grows up their nutritional needs start to change. You already transitioned from formula or breast milk to smooth baby foods and now it is time to change things around again....

You may have noticed the explosion of popularity that coconut oil experienced and how it seemed to be everywhere and used for everything. While it may seem to be a magical substance with unlimited uses, we are here to discuss some of its uses in relation to your baby. Coconut oil is a particularly exciting for parents who are looking to minimize the use of unnecessary chemicals on or for their babies. There are about five different types of coconut oil that are available for purchase today. Look for types...

Having a new baby in the house is exciting but can be a little scary, too! As a new parent you want to do what is best for your baby. The great news is there is a lot you can do that also is eco-friendly. The first thing that you can do is choose to go with breastfeeding if possible. This is really the best option and has benefits for both baby and mommy. This can help mother and baby bond, as well as provide all the health benefits of...

It might seem a little intimidating to choose to use reusable cloth diapers but there are many benefits! It isn’t as scary as it might seem. One misconception about cloth diapers is that they are less convenient than disposable. This is not exactly the case. Let’s talk about some of the benefits you can experience when you decide to try them out. Cost One of the most celebrated benefits that you will see is that the cost you spend on diapers over the years that your children are in diapers...

Being a responsible parent goes farther than just the everyday safety, feeding, and play that you give your baby. Parents are responsible for the nurturing and helping their little ones grow up to be strong individuals with bright minds. It is important to teach them life lessons and skills to help them succeed in life, but one thing that is often neglected is teaching them about our responsibility to the planet. Making eco-friendly choices and taking care of the planet is not just something that needs done for us, it...