Nothing beats a great hike in the woods; a chance to get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life and be outdoors. But scheduling a day to escape can sometimes be difficult. Between kid activities and work, you may not always have the time to travel far for a trek through the trees but even with just a few hours you can take advantage of the best family hikes in ... Read More
Creating a Family Valentine’s Mail Station
About the time my oldest son was starting to read and write, I came up with the idea of making a Valentine's Mail Station as a simple invitation to encourage all of us to write to each other. Easy setup, budget-friendly, and self-sustaining, this project is the perfect way to create some authentic literacy experience in your house and build some fun family traditions. Related ... Read More
Unique Teacher Appreciation Gifts
Got a favorite teacher you want to spoil this year? Teacher Appreciation Day is just around the corner and you might be looking for some special teacher appreciation gift ideas for your favorite teacher. Skip the apple mug or gift card this year and really knock their socks off with these unique teacher appreciation gifts. As a former teacher, I can tell you that these ... Read More
A Mom-Approved List of the Best Graphic Novels for Kids
Got a graphic novel fan in your house? There are literally thousands of options to choose from and finding the perfect book can be a bit overwhelming! If you've got an early reader in your house who is a fan of graphic novels, you know it can be a bit of challenge to find titles. My older son has been reading this genre for a couple of years now and it's been tough to find ... Read More
Make Your Own Simple Thanksgiving Tree
This time of year the lists of "I want" and "Give Me" can get fairly long. It can be hard to develop a heart of gratitude, especially in my own kids. Gratefulness often needs a bit of space and stillness in order to show up and that isn't always easy to carve out this time of year. For our family, one of the ways we're giving space for thanksgiving is with a simple Thanksgiving ... Read More