parenting

a must-see for working moms (only if you’re stretched too thin!)

Oh, friends. Whether you’re working full-time, working part-time, working some of the time, being a working mom is not easy. Heck, being a mom …

make free ICE [In Case of Emergency] cards for your kids

Friends. I’ve shared that this month is National Preparedness Month. Have you checked it out? Have you created your Emergency Prep Kit? Your …

Harris Teeter ExpressLane and Gatheredtable saves our family’s sanity: teachmama fab find

Friends. If you are like me and were spending an hour–or more!–each week roaming the aisles of the grocery store, then this is for you. If …

teachmama fab finds: a must-read for every parent — (really, it’s a life-changer)

For years and years I have had a copy of this essay printed out and taped to the inside of a cabinet door. I first read it in 2004 when I think it may …

national preparedness month: what you need to know

I don’t know about you, but for my family, September is pretty hectic. We’re all adjusting to new schedules, getting used to new faces, …

an open letter to my neighbors during the last month of school

Hey Neighbors– I feel like I need to explain something to you. There’s been a whole lot of noise and chaos and crazy coming out of our …

migraines and kids: managing the ups and downs

When Owen first started suffering from migraines, we had no idea what was going on. He had no idea what was going on. Out of the blue, he would be …

busy mom? 100 reasons to plan a girls’ getaway weekend now

Last weekend, I spent time away with some of my girlfriends in beautiful Destin, Florida. Ten busy moms all left their families for a girls’ …

how to prepare your family for a weather emergency (especially in the dc metro area)

Originally published on 10/28/12 but republishing because there’s a winter weather emergency declared in the DC Metro area …

free 2016 calendar download: start the year off right!

Oh, friends. I am so excited about 2016. I really am. I’ve got so much planned, so much on my mind, and so much in the works, that I don’t …

learning on the go: 3 ways that busy families can make learning a priority all year long

I really feel like one way to really rock it as a parent is to be prepared. For anything and everything. That may mean something …

8 things all kids must hear their parents say

You guys, I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again: this parenting gig is hard. I mean hard. Yes, it’s the most awesome thing …

win at the family game: getting past the fights and mess

Confession: I often feel overwhelmed when I look at the mess in our house. Confession: Many days, I feel like a failure as a mom. Confession: …

talk with kids about emotions: ‘inside out’ mini-book and card game

With an 11, 9, and 8 year old, you’d think that we would be over talking about and identifying emotions over here, but we’re not. In fact, …

anchored: finding hope in the unexpected: a book for all parents (giveaway! #AnchoredHope)

Confession: There are days I don’t appreciate my life the way I should. I stress over a sink full of dishes, crumb-covered counters, and …

haircare stress and kids: eliminate the stress with these three tips

I have always been a fan of short hair on little girls. Always. I just think it’s super cute and easy and fun. I kept Maddy and …

how to have a family meeting: what works for us

Oh, friends. How things change as our kids get older, right? After years of doing what we can to give our kids choices, listening to …

must-have conversation after taking kids to see cinderella

Last Friday, we saw Cinderella. The new and improved Cinderella from Disney. And it was gorgeous. It was beautiful. From start to …

finding time for what you love: The Fringe Hours

It’s funny how things work out sometimes. When I first started this blog seven years ago, I was creating, photographing, writing, …

3 ways to organize your finances: oh my gosh

Yes, Oh my gosh because this post was hard for me to write. And it has morphed into a whole lot more than just three ways to organize your …