These holiday notes may turn out to be one of your family's most coveted and meaningful traditions! It's so easy for our little ones (and even adults sometimes!) to lose sight of what the holiday season is all about. So in 2008, when I saw this idea on a late-night, dvr'd Oprah, I knew I wanted to use it. With a little prompting, my family tried out Holiday Notes with both sides of the family. Even though some interpreted the exchange a little differently, it was a success overall. Most … [Read more...]
gifts that give back: ideas for kids and family #givingtuesday
Did you know that today is Giving Tuesday? It's a really simple concept: give. Any way you are able, to anyone. Give. The concept of giving is especially important at this time of the year, and lucky for us, many organizations have made it super easy--and so meaningful!--to give at holiday time. Looking at my kids' bedrooms and our playroom, I see we need very little. So I'm encouraging all of our family members to do something this year that packs a bit more of a punch: buying gifts that … [Read more...]
5 ways parents can show thanks for teachers and schools
Between Election Day, parent-teacher conferences, and field trips, it always seems like things get nutty in November. The novelty of the new year has worn off, and kids—and parents—start slowly slipping into the mid-year blues or pre-holiday anxiety. And if things are crazy for our family, I can only imagine how difficult things can be for our teachers. So November is a great time for us all to step back and extend a bit of thanks to those teachers with whom our children spend hours and … [Read more...]
help end childhood hunger: free resources to get started!
Young leaders are moving mountains with Generation No Kid Hungry, a national movement of young leaders who are dedicated to the goal of the No Kid Hungry campaign. I am amazed and energized by what they're doing, and I'm thrilled to be partnering with them to spread the word. Your students--and children--can help solve the hunger problem by participating in Powered by Breakfast which is an important initiative of Generation No Kid Hungry. Here's the skinny. . . Help End Childhood … [Read more...]
get involved in Red Nose Day’s Joke-Ha-Thon and make a difference in children’s lives
First of all: What is Red Nose Day? You might vaguely recall seeing people wearing silly, red clown noses in the name of raising money for children in poverty? That's Red Nose Day! Red Nose Day really makes a difference in children's lives. And what's the Red Nose Day Joke-Ha-Thon? The Joke-Ha-Thon gives students the chance to tell—and sell—their best jokes in their classrooms, schools and communities to spread some much-needed joy and raise some life-changing cash. Why am … [Read more...]
thank you delivery people: free printable for families
This time of the year is insane. We're moving so quickly, our to-do lists are nuts, and often we're totally forgetting to breathe. At least I am. So when I saw my sweet and smart friend Danielle Smith, of Pretty Extraordinary, take a minute to say "thank you" to the delivery people, I stopped and smiled. This is so simple. But it can really make someone's day. Here's the skinny. . . Thank You Delivery People -- Free Printable for Families It's a simple "thank you" that you can … [Read more...]
create summer sparks with everyday acts of kindness
Sponsored by author T.A. Barron and the Spark Goodness Program. If you want my expert opinion, teaching our kids about the importance of being a good, kind person is the greatest lesson we could teach them. It's the absolute biggest, most important lesson ever. And it's not like we can just say, "You've got to be kind to others," and we're done. Nope. Teaching our kids about kindness is something we need to do nearly on a daily basis from the time they're toddlers until they … [Read more...]
quick and easy flower wish boxes
It's amazing how easily you can create sweet and easy gifts sometimes when you have a bit of inspiration. Sometimes it's a walk in the craft store. Sometimes it's a stroll through the park. Sometimes it's a glance through a photo album. Sometimes it's a movie, tv program, or book. These quick and easy flower wish boxes were inspired by a book series that we've recently discovered. It's a book series that Maddy and Cora have devoured, and it's a series that I love as … [Read more...]
teacher appreciation gifts for all of your kids’ teachers
Friends. Teacher Appreciation gifts can sometimes break the bank, and I know that can be hard. But being a teacher myself, I can tell you that really, sometimes simple and heartfelt is a much better way to go. Teachers appreciate hearing 'thank you' any day of the week. Really and truly. Having three kids in school and about a million teachers to recognize, I know it can also get super expensive to give gifts to these important people in your children's lives. Here's a sweet and … [Read more...]
teach kids to give back: $250 volunteer grants for students
I am thrilled to be able to share with you some super ways to teach kids to give back to their communities. WeAreTeachers has asked me to help spread the word about $250 grants that teachers can earn thanks to the Allstate Foundation WE Volunteer Now. Friends, if ever there was a blog post to share with your child's school, this is the one! We all know that volunteering--or giving back to our great, big world--has profound effects on all parties involved. Now your child's school can … [Read more...]
what can you do about gun control? start here.
Friends, it's time to stop talking and start doing. No matter which political party you stand with, the gun violence in our country has gotten way out of hand. It's time to really, truly do something. But before I get all nuts about things, I must be clear: this is not about gun control; it's about gun sense. I am by no means trying to take away anyone's 2nd Amendment right to bear arms. That's not my jam. Rather, I'm advocating for better gun sense laws--laws designed to keep … [Read more...]
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