Helping Moms Build Happy Homes
Today I am participating in the National PTA's Family Reading Challenge! This week the National PTA is encouraging families to keep reading a priority during the summer months to help prevent learning loss. You can find out more about the Family Reading Challenge by clicking HERE. I am a … [Read more...] about Books Your Kids Will Love #FamiliesRead
Looking for a delicious drink to serve at your next summer cookout with friends? THIS IS IT. Seriously, you will THANK me for this recipe - it's that good. I promise. Step 1 - Pick up some Crystal Light Peach Flavor Iced Tea Mix. Step 2 - Pour 1 packet into a pitcher and add 5 cups of cold … [Read more...] about Recipe – Peachy Iced Tea
We were at a friend's house last week and Happy Buddy got extremely grumpy when it was time to go. He completely forgot his manners and headed down that spiraling funnel of whining, negativity and impoliteness. I was feeling a bit embarrassed as all of this was playing out in front of my friend. … [Read more...] about How to Turn Your Child’s Frown Upside Down
We took a quick trip to Target yesterday afternoon to make a special little purchase that I know is going to supply us with a TON of summer fun over the next 2 months. We headed to the aisle that has summer-y items (beach toys, bubbles, etc.) and picked up the little beauty you see below. We also … [Read more...] about The Best $20 You Will Ever Spend at Target this Summer
My mom has asked if I can drive the boys up to visit them in Georgia this summer. But I can tell you confidently that 10+ hours in the car with my monkeys and no hubs (who would need to stay home for work) sounds like I'd rather wash 100 crock pots (which is not my favorite thing to do - … [Read more...] about Road Trip Tips
I am a DO-er. I am always moving, cleaning, typing, working, reading, talking, folding, laundering, imagining and any other action verb you can think of. This makes an interesting dynamic in our home because Happy Buddy's love language is quality time. All day long he asks me to play with him and … [Read more...] about The Quality Time Kid and the Martha Mommy
I am so excited to share one of my sweet friends from high school with you today! She has some of the yummiest recipes and a lot of great tips for keeping things uncomplicated in the kitchen - but without sacrificing delicious flavor. I love her heart and her posts make me laugh out loud. The … [Read more...] about The BYOM Potluck Cookout (The Easiest Way to Entertain this Summer)
Do you remember the project I did with my preschool class for Mother's Day (find it HERE)? Here is the same idea, but specialized for dads! I cut a large D and A out of poster board and took photos of my students holding the letters. I printed 3 photos spelling D-A-D as 3x5's and pasted them at … [Read more...] about A Father’s Day Project – FREE Printable
A few weeks ago we celebrated Happy Buddy's last day of preschool with a big party and I was asked to bring a game. This is what we came up with... Pin the Head on the Teacher! For this project, I picked up a piece of poster board and printed some large photos of the Happy Buddy's teacher's head as … [Read more...] about End of Year Party Game
Last Saturday was my first official day of summer vacation and let me tell you something - I FELT LIKE A DIFFERENT PERSON. Without the impending doom of my alarm clock going off at 5 am on Monday, I may or may not have frolicked around the house on Saturday like a My Little Pony. I was also … [Read more...] about My 2015 Summer Bucket List
We have been on summer break now for 3 whole days and it has been HEAVEN. Well, except for the part where my kids have already destroyed the house in 456 different ways. It's going to be a lonnnng 2 months. :-) Do you remember my Favorite Things Christmas Stocking Giveaway? Well, today I am … [Read more...] about Favorite Summer Things Giveaway and Blog Hop
A few years ago, after sharing my heart with a counselor-type friend, she turned to me, looked intently into my eyeballs and said in an authoritative therapist voice, "What does Julie need?" I think the answer she was looking for was perhaps along the lines of, "Freedom from this particular sin … [Read more...] about Grace for When Your Pants are Snug
I always like to find meaningful ways to honor my kids' teachers at the end of the year. They are worth it. **This idea comes from the lovely LeAna at A Small Snippet.** I drew up a simple questionnaire (FREE Printable at bottom of post), printed them, placed them in large manila envelopes, and … [Read more...] about End of Year Teacher Gift – Book of Memories (FREE Printable)
Things have been so crazy busy around here lately! I feel like my family and I are kind of snowballing our way toward the finish line. I heard someone recently say that May is like the new December but without all the yummy sugar cookies, happy carols, and twinkly decorations to keep you from … [Read more...] about End of Year Gift for Classmates – FREE Printable
I received an email today from a company that sells kid shoes and it read, "Happy Mother's Day! Today is ALL ABOUT YOU!" and it made my heart a little sad. Sad because we buy into the idea that we need a day to be pampered. We think that we need roses on the nightstand, cards from our kiddos, a … [Read more...] about Don’t Waste This Day
