September 26, 2019 Halloween will be here before you know if and most of us will have a pumpkin of some sort to help us celebrate the day. If you plan on having a real pumpkin rather than a plastic pumpkin, you might consider what to do with it once Halloween is over. The first…
October 15, 2019 Any month is a great idea to practice random acts of kindness. This month consider doing some of the following. You’ll help others and feel better about yourself in the process. Do you have an elderly neighbor? Consider raking and tidying up their yard as the leaves finally fall from the trees….
September 13, 2019 As a mom of a child who is gluten-intolerant, Halloween is not the most allergy-friendly holiday out there. Until we learned our daughter was gluten-intolerant, we never considered allergies when choosing our Halloween treats. If the candy was on sale and had a cute Halloween picture on the front of the package,…
September 3, 2019 Labor Day has come and gone, which means that summer is almost over. How does this happen so fast when winter seems to last forever? It’s been a quieter week for celebrity news, but everyone’s probably out enjoying these last long days of sunlight before pumpkin spice season officially begins. Be honest,…
September 3, 2019 As I write this, I am in the first week of my senior year in high school. Having accumulated first-hand knowledge of the ups and downs of freshman year, I understand how hard it can be for tweens to get adjusted to a new, big, and scary school. As your child hesitates…
September 10, 2019 Late September to early October, I’m always caught off guard a bit by our family’s grumpiness and lack of motivation in just about everything. It happens almost every year. After the hectic beginning full of new and different, school settles into a predictable somewhat dreary routine. The same-ness of each week wears…
September 12, 2019 Compared to 100 years ago, the amount of added sugar in our food supply is staggering. While the initial risks of having so much sugar in kids’ diets was downplayed, it’s looking more and more like something we should be taking seriously. The American Heart Association recommends that children consume no more…
September 5, 2019 This might not be the most glamorous topic, but as the seasons change, it’s a good idea to get your home’s heating and cooling system ready for Autumn. Not only will it help your HVAC unit operate more efficiently (which saves you money on your monthly energy bill!), but you can greatly…
September 6, 2019 Fall calls for new routines, new beginnings, and changes galore—and we don’t just mean the changing colors of the leaves! Forget New Year’s Eve: Fall is the perfect time of year to swap out the old and usher in the new. When it comes to beauty, Autumn is a good time to…
September 30, 2019 Beaujolais Nouveau is the most popular vin de primeur, a young wine that is produced quickly, fermented for just a few weeks before being released for sale on the third Thursday of November every year, just in time for the start of the holiday season. Lighter-bodied and lower in alcohol than most…
September 4, 2019 If your child hasn’t already gone back to school this month, chances are that they will be in the next few days. As parents, we spend a lot of time buying school clothes, backpacks, new sneakers, notebooks, crayons and a host of other back to school supplies. But, have you thought about…
August 29, 2019 You know those stories that every family tells? The ones that become legends and are required to be dragged out to laugh, sigh, or cringe over every time anything happens that might relate? I added a new one to our story ledger this summer. Along with the humiliation, though, I had a…
September 11, 2019 A trip to the City of Angels leaves no shortage of things to do. You could fill an entire week with activities listed on various tourist lists for the area. However, not everything on those lists is family-friendly. Typical destinations, like The Avenue of Stars or the Santa Monica Pier, are generally…
August 26, 2019 There are a lot of back-to-school stories coming out of Hollywood right now. Celebrities go through this time of year just like us. Although, they probably have a little more help than any of us can afford. While the youngsters head back to familiar schools and classrooms, it’s the moms who are…
September 27, 2019 It’s the beginning of the craziness of holiday season. October is a great month to do any or all of the following! Plant seeds to plan ahead for spring! Plan a family planting afternoon with tulips, daffodils , hyacinths and anything else you’d like. Spring will be in full bloom before you…
September 20, 2019 Do you know what part of your body shows aging as much as your face (or possibly more)? Your hands! Women spend hundreds of dollars a year on face creams to look younger. We use sunscreen, wear hats, or avoid the sun altogether so we can protect our skin from aging. But…
August 28, 2019 I cannot tell you how many times I forget to defrost something for dinner before I leave for work. Then, I arrive home at the end of the day and am at a loss. I want to serve my family a healthy meal, but I am short on time and need something…
August 21, 2019 It’s a little quieter than usual this week. Could it be that people are trying to soak up those last few days of summer? Maybe all of our favorite famous moms are busy with back-to-school preparations? Either way, we’re hearing crickets aside from a few eye-catching headlines. Have you heard about these…
August 27, 2019 Back to school is here, leaving many parents wondering about healthy lunches that the kids will actually eat. It can definitely be a challenge to come up with new ideas for lunchtime, especially when you try to rule out a lot of overly processed ingredients. The first thing that most parents think…
September 16, 2019 I’m a huge library person. I rarely miss a week and have been known to stop at libraries when we travel to other states. So when recently I spoke to several moms who said they don’t go to the library, I had to extoll all the virtues. I told them all the…
August 14, 2019 Back to school can be downright scary and stressful for some kids, especially for those entering kindergarten or starting over at a new school after a move. Turn back to school into a day of happiness and excitement for the academic year to come by creating a special family back-to-school tradition. Here…
August 15, 2019 It’s that time of year again! Back-to-school! Are you ready to pack a lunch five days a week once again? Are you hoping that your kids will actually eat what you’ve packed? Skip the sandwich and add these easy ideas to your lunchbox packing repertoire. Kebabs Kids know that everything is more…
August 18, 2019 It’s last-minute for back to school and your wallet is slim. Very slim. Don’t panic! I know some kids need new shiny school outfits for the first week or two, but not all do. Ask your children if a particular element is very important to them. For some, it’s not. My sons…
August 22, 2019 With school right around the corner, many people are wondering how to juggle parenting and a full-time job. Except for perhaps five weeks after my second child was born, I have always had a full-time job along with the main responsibility of parenting and homemaking. And, while it’s not always easy to…
August 6, 2019 Some weeks, you can almost hear the crickets chirping. This first week of August, though, the stories started churning. Is everyone in a big rush to enjoy these last days of summer? Maybe! If you’ve been so busy soaking up the sun that you’ve missed all the action, don’t fret. Here are…
August 8, 2019 It’s that time of year again. Kids go back to school and (most) parents are celebrating the return of peace in the house and a routine for the day. Whether happy or sad, there is a lot that goes into making that momentous occasion happen. Here are five videos that will keep…
August 7, 2019 Have you seen all of the big changes happening down at Universal Orlando Resort? The family of theme parks has been making some bold moves with the goal of keeping their valued guests happy and entertained. In recent years, they’ve made every effort to continue to enhance the Universal Orlando Resort experience…
August 19, 2019 It’s back-to-school time, which means we’ll start seeing pics of parents celebrating the end of long summer days with their children at home. If you’re a homeschooler, you might have a very hard time identifying with that. Still, getting swept up in some aspects of this time of year can be beneficial…
August 9, 2019 We hear a lot about the benefits of mindfulness these days. Basically, the concept refers to finding ways of focusing on the present moment while acknowledging and accepting everything that we are thinking, feeling and experiencing. It can take practice, but the calming benefits are entirely worth the time invested. Back-to-school time…
August 20, 2019 Remember when the networks put a lot of effort into promoting the new and returning shows each fall? With so many accessing programming through devices, we don’t really see that anymore and it can be hard to know what’s on the lineup. Fortunately, we’ve got you covered! For the list of shows…
August 13, 2019 Back to school means new clothes and supplies for most parents. But, for parents of children with special needs, it also means reviewing and renewing their child’s 504 or IEP plans before the school year starts. Both 504 and IEP plans were created to help provide children with learning disabilities or special…
July 30, 2019 Can you believe it’s almost August? This summer has flown by! We’ve still got one more month to soak up all the fun before returning to that back-to-school grind, so why not take a few minutes to catch up on some celebrity news? Here’s the scoop! Meghan Markle Edits British Vogue The…
August 12, 2019 Is it the end of summer madness for you? Or maybe the kids started school already? Either way, it’s that time of year where we end summer vacation, get the kids in school gear, and head into Fall. Routines begin, beach bags get put away, we all know the drill. Let’s take…
September 3, 2019 Have you ever taken a trip to Canada? The weather can be extreme, especially during those long winter months, but the people are friendly, the food is delicious and you’ll learn a lot from the local culture. Canadians love to travel—66% hold a valid passport as compared to 42% of Americans—which means…
July 25, 2019 Nine-time Tony Award winner The Book of Mormon is definitely not your traditional musical. The show is often raunchy, condescending, and sweet—but always hilarious, as long as one can get past the cursing and perversion. Which I can and have . . . three times now! The Book of Mormon is satire at its best…
July 25, 2019 The summer before my freshman year of high school, my mom basically forced me to “recommended” that I volunteer over the summer as a way to appeal to colleges and fill my summer with activities. Because of my love of animals, I decided to volunteer at my local pet adoption center in…
July 29, 2019 If you’re like me, your vegetable garden is probably going crazy right now and, you may be wondering what to do with the excess produce. I personally always end up with far too many zucchini and cherry tomatoes. I never plan on having quite as many as I end up with, but…
July 30, 2019 Annabel Karmel is the mother of three children and the UK’s leading expert on feeding children. Her latest family-focused cookbook will show you how to make family mealtimes fun and healthy with over a hundred easy-peasy recipes. REAL FOOD KIDS WILL LOVE (August 20, 2019, St. Martin’s Griffin) features dishes designed to…
July 26, 2019 Toronto is Canada’s largest city and it’s cultural and entertainment hub. The city makes for a great long weekend escape for families, especially those traveling with tweens and teens. Expect adventures galore—from walking on the edge of the tallest freestanding structure in the world to sleeping — literally! — with the sharks….
July 24, 2019 Most people agree that adding vegetables to their child’s diet can be a bit of a challenge. Even if your child loves vegetables, they probably have a few favorites that they like to stick to and they are probably more than a little bit hesitant to try something new. If you try…
August 1, 2019 If your family looks anything like mine, summer loosens just about every rule and routine that was in place. Basically, it’s barely contained chaos. True, your time off might have been a bit more strategic than mine. But whatever your feelings on the end of vacation, the transition can be rough on…
July 26, 2019 San Francisco is a city full of amazing sites, culture, and activities for every person’s interest. A list of all the adventures in the city would be pages long, but there are a few hidden gems seldom mentioned in guidebooks that cater specifically to families you might not want to miss. They…
August 30, 2019 Many parents read to their toddlers as a nightly routine. It’s a fun, warm, bonding activity. Of course, it also teaches the little ones new words and engages their imagination. Yet as children grow up, many parents stop reading aloud. Their children get busy with activities, they go to bed early for…
July 16, 2019 It’s already halfway through July! Where is the time going!? Why do the summers seem to drag on forever, but summer speeds by with no signs of slowing? It’s kind of like the celebrity news cycle—there’s a new headline every minute. Struggling to keep up? We’ve got you covered. Meghan Markle’s Busy…
July 18, 2019 Vacations and holidays can be wonderful, but they can also mean you’re forced to spend time with family members and friends where you don’t feel the most comfortable. You might be headed to a barbeque with intense family friends or going to spend a week at the in-laws that the kids don’t…