• What-does-ten-years-old-look-like
    active family travel - adoption and tweens - family - Parenting - parenting

    What Does Ten-Years-Old Look Like?

    April 12, 2015 - By 

    This past month my youngest girl turned 11 and we celebrated with a Minecraft cake and a sleepover and a family dinner at Lone Star Texas Grill. We all learned to ski together as a family in Tremblant the weekend before her birthday party. In many ways, that was the perfect start to sporty spice’s birthday week. This is the daughter I still joke never met a sport she didn’t like. The one who wandered off at Disney when she was four and nearly gave me a heart attack on the spot. The one who sported my eye shadow the…

  • Microsoft-summit-for-21st-century -learners
    family - parenting - special needs - Technology

    Microsoft Summit on 21st Century Learners – EVENT in Windsor, Ontario, April 11 Geared Towards Teachers

    April 9, 2015 - By 

    When I see educational opportunities like this Microsoft Summit on 21st Century Learners happening nearby in Windsor, Ontario I get excited, for several reasons. I am a parent of two children who are still in grade school. Digital kids. I arm both of my girls daily with technology at home and at school and I am abundantly aware of how they absorb media and how they learn. It’s radically different than how I learned 20 to 30 years ago.  Only 20 to 30 years ago we trotted off to school with books and pencils and paper. Now kids carry tablets,…

  • Reese's-Peanut-Butter-Fudge
    family - Food

    Easy Reese’s Peanut Butter Fudge

    April 9, 2015 - By 

    FUDGE!! Who doesn’t love fudge? Seriously. If you don’t love fudge I am not sure you are a person I can trust as a human being. It’s just not natural. I love fudge. I have lately had some challenges getting fudge right though. So when this Reese’s Peanut Butter Fudge turned out, well I was super happy and felt I needed to share it with you. So here you go my friends: Reese’s Peanut Butter Fudge recipe is below. It’s a mighty good thing this turned out because if it hadn’t and I wasted all those yummy peanut butter cups my kids…

  • basketball
    family - Health - parenting

    Basketball #WordlessWednesday #Linky

    April 7, 2015 - By 

    I am the proud owner of a jock. It’s true. Never met a sport she didn’t like. No, strike that. Love. Straight As in phys ed all of her young life. Which makes me laugh because my phys ed marks were pretty much the only ones that were never As. So I signed her up for basketball. And she loves it. I enjoy watching her play sometimes. Mostly I just enjoy seeing her do something she is good at that she also loves. My jock. This is a Wordless Wednesday post. Go ahead and link up and don’t forget to…

  • Dora The Explorer Live Show in London
    family - parenting

    Dora The Explorer Live Show in London April 13th

    April 6, 2015 - By 

    Dora The Explorer Live Show in London DududududududDDDDDDORA!! Even now with a teenager and a tween, I still hear that catchy Dora tune! Hard to resist. What did I love about Dora, as a parent? Well, Dora was a cute, smart and curious little girl. I am a parent of girls and I nurture curiosity. So I loved that. Dora was a polite character without all that snark or sarcasm that is sometimes on television. She is wholesome. I know that’s a strange, and maybe inadequate, word for what I am describing, but Dora was, and still is, a child…

  • family - parenting

    Five Indoor Chores Most Kids Can Do and a Reward Chart Printable

    April 6, 2015 - By 

    Indoor chores are simple for any age. If your children are old enough to stand at the sink then they are also old enough to learn to help. There are many small simple indoor chores even toddlers can help with daily. The trick is making any job fun and encouraging them along the way. We have a few rules at our house. One of them is that we all strive to be respectful. That is a work in progress some days, because my kids are now 11 and 13 and they often argue a lot. But even when they do that…

  • Easter-cute-kid-bookmarks
    family

    Kid’s Happy Easter Bookmarks Printable

    April 1, 2015 - By 

    Happy Easter! If you are sharing some books with your children, or your grandchildren, nieces or nephews this Easter, then don’t forget the bookmarks too. I made these Kid’s Happy Easter Bookmarks for you to share. If you are at all like we are, then you are always hunting for a bookmark. Why is it always impossible to find one? Actually true story here. My older daughter was gifted a phone plan (she already had the phone but it wasn’t connected) last summer for her birthday. This March the phone went missing in a house full of readers and crafters.…

  • Easter-word-search
    Printables

    Easter Word Search for Kids

    April 1, 2015 - By 

    Easter Word Search for KIDS! I already have one here for kids and adults alike and they are pretty popular. So I figured it was time for another printable word game. Happy Easter my friends! I thought it would be fun to offer a few printables for Easter! I am partial to word searches so I thought perhaps you might all enjoy an Easter word search for kids for a bit of fun! Plus it’s free so, hello. Don’t forget to print out these lunchbox jokes too for Easter. My one daughter loves these and I loved them as a child…

  • Ten-Fun-and-Creative-Easter-Crafts
    family - parenting

    Ten Fun and Creative Easter Crafts

    March 31, 2015 - By 

    Spring weather inspires creativity. I have noticed just this week, in the first days of spring, that I am inspired to start new projects. I have also pitched old contacts new ideas and so on. That makes me feel positive and happy about the change of seasons. Are you noticing the same? Maybe it’s the thinner coats and clothes, but I feel somehow lighter and able to see all the possible wonderful opportunities to create. I am sure my kids are feeling the same in some ways. Lately when I knock on my older daughter’s door I see the sewing…

  • Easter-bunny-nail-art-tutorial
    beauty products - family - parenting

    Easter Bunny Nail Art Tutorial

    March 27, 2015 - By 

    Easter Bunny Nail Art Tutorial Happy Easter! Well, soon to be Easter! I enjoy Easter as a rule because it is the first spring holiday and a great relief after all the snowy holidays. I love to see family and have a great meal together. And the weather means you can usually visit with a little less drama from the snowy weather. You could actually still ski if you wanted to. In fact I might actually try to sneak away just to do that very thing at some point. But not before we try this Easter Bunny Nail Art Tutorial…