We just returned from one of our summer vacations and oh how much we will miss the good times together. To capture our memories, one of the things we do is a bedtime ritual called, “Review the Holiday,” where we recount the highlights of our vacation. A hands-on way to cement our happy memories is with […]
Hooray for vacation and stay at home days! Well, except for those days when the weather is too hot or too cold to get outside and run off all the extra energy from being cooped up. Even though we rotate toys - I hide stuffed animals in the attic and store birthday and holiday gifts in […]
Glitter, upcycling, and independent play: these are a few of my favorite things. When we received a box brimming with Glitter Glue, Painters Markers, School Glue and Glue Sticks from Elmer’s last weekend, I knew EXACTLY what we would do - get our craft on and create a homemade play town with items straight from […]
After our maiden voyage to Disneyland was such a magical success, we can’t wait to visit again. Short and sweet, here are our Top Ten Tips for Disneyland With Preschoolers. Don’t forget to check out our detailed post on Planning for Disneyland with Preschoolers, with tips on when to visit the park, what attractions not to […]
Disneyland is truly the happiest place on Earth. I hadn’t visited the park since 1987, so I was excited to take the kids (4 and 5 years old) on their maiden voyage, but I had no idea how absolutely magical the experience would be. Watching the children’s hearts nearly explode with joy was the best part […]
Keeping the kids occupied (meaning, not putting them in front of the TV and making sure they’re safe and not killing one another) while we prep dinner is sometimes challenging for us. A fun way to turn what can be a difficult time into an opportunity for learning is this simple Counting by Tens math […]
We’ve been in our new house for about half a year now, but after unpacking our boxes and getting our 1950’s Rancher fixed up, we haven’t really begun to make the house our home. Part of the reason is that we will be remodeling eventually, so making a big investment on statement pieces or committing […]
I’m thrilled to be participating in the Second Annual School’s Out! Top 10 Summer Learning Activities series and sharing our Top Ten Ways to Keep Kids Thinking over Summer Break with you. If you’re like me, you want your children to enjoy the beautiful summer weather, play in the dirt, swim in the pool and just […]
If you’re like us, you’re scrambling to make one hundred homemade Valentines for your children’s classroom Valentine’s Day Exchange and need something quick, cheap, and fun. Lucky for all you last-minute crafters, we’re sharing our simple Magic Heart Wands that will help your child spread some love this Valentine’s Day. All you need is: A […]
It’s been over 20 years in the making, but it’s finally happened. We just moved into our Forever House over Thanksgiving week. It couldn’t be more fitting that we moved that week because there is so much to be thankful for. We are right next door to the house I grew up in and the […]
DIY Memory Box Display
DIY Board Games for Kids
Easy Homemade Play Town
Top Ten Tips For Disneyland With Preschoolers
Planning for Disneyland with Preschoolers
Easy Kitchen Math: Counting By Tens
5 Creative Ways To Upgrade Your Home Style
Summer Learning Activities for Kids: Top Ten Ways To Keep Kids Thinking
{Homemade Valentines} Magic Heart Wands
Home Sweet Home
January 4, 2012 in All Posts, Celebrate
After the Make Your Own Monster Gift Kit post, which featured some monster-themed gift ideas, some of you asked what themed gifts Sam received for his pirate-themed birthday party, so here you go! My favorite was this awesome set of pirate-themed gifts from our young hipster couple friends who picked up this cool booty from local […]
June 12, 2011 in All Posts, Celebrate, Popular
Ahoy there, Mateys! You’ve read about my inspiration for Sam’s pirate themed first birthday party and how to make your own pirate party invitation - now here’s how our party turned out and some ideas for your buccaneer bash. The Pirate Ship From the second I came up with the idea for the pirate theme, I […]
June 11, 2011 in All Posts, Play, Toddler Activities
For some reason, every tube or hole Jane can spy through she pronounces a “telescope.” There are variations, like the spy scope, the super scope or the pirate scope. So a perfect idea for a recent rainy day was to break out my teeming stash of toilet paper and paper towel rolls to make some […]
May 31, 2011 in All Posts, Celebrate, DIY
Inspired by this, the first thing I did to prepare for Sam’s pirate themed birthday party was to decide on the cake. After debating a pirate ship, a pirate face or a message in a bottle cake, I finally settled on a treasure chest. A treasure map invitation was a natural complement to the cake […]
April 12, 2011 in All Posts, Celebrate
After a few months of brainstorming, I finally picked a theme for Sam’s first birthday party last week: pirates! While I was mulling it over, the first obvious choice was a character-themed party from one of the television shows he watches. Yes, American Academy of Pediatrics - my not yet one-year old son watches television! […]
