Occasionally, I do write more than 2,200 characters (thanks for the limit, Instagram), and when I do, you will find those words here. I also love participating in Calling It Home’s One Room Challenge, which happens every spring and fall. You can find past rooms I’ve worked on here. Want some help with your own One Room Challenge? Let me know so that we can get planning for the next round!
The Elf on a Shelf is everywhere these days. It makes me kind of sad to see all of the products on which our elf’s face have been plastered. My kids, of course, think it is the coolest thing ever. “Look, Mom! I just saw Felix!” I still love our elf. I’m thrilled to introduce you to Felix Navidad.
Read MoreIt is fair to say that I am on Pinterest all the time. This time of year is no exception as the anticipation of the holiday season begins. I really try to get my shopping and meal planning for Christmas done before Thanksgiving so that I can enjoy making things with my kids during the holidays. I also spend some time planning out and preparing for specific crafts so that the kids have an easy and festive craft-break afterschool.
Read MoreI am kind of obsessed with advent calendars. Advent is by far my favorite time of year. For me, advent is about slowing down and spending time with family. Wait, what? Did she actually just say that? Yes, I did. I wasn’t always this way. I spent many years missing the whole season, stressed with all the things that I “needed” to get done. The shopping, the mailing, the lists.
Read MoreI have seven kids. I get a lot of questions about that, especially during the holidays. Most people want to know how I can possibly get all the shopping done. I start early. But there is another reason that I start early. I love Christmas. But five or six years ago, I had begun to dread Christmas. It was all about the presents. It was all about everyone else’s schedule and agenda. It didn’t look anything like the Christmas that I grew up with. I really loved that Christmas.
Read MoreWhen I talk with people about cooking or my blog, they most often comment about my kids. “That’s so great that your kids are helping in the kitchen. Mine would never help out.” Or “I wish I could get my kid in the kitchen but I really like to keep my kitchen clean as I work.” Or “My kid only eats dino nuggets so I guess I’ll start cooking again once he goes to college.” Or “I’ll definitely have my daughter help cook when she’s older.” It goes without saying if you read this blog regularly that my kids are often in the kitchen. Not just my teens, but my four year-olds help out all the time. They’ve been in the kitchen now for at least two years. They are becoming pro. You’ve seen the photos. You’ve heard the rants. Get those kids in the kitchen.
Read MoreThere are about a billion chore charts floating around the Internet. Just do a quick search on Pinterest and you will find a chart for every age child from pre-school to teen, for every conceivable method of praise, for every week or month or day. The chore chart is not a new concept and I am certainly not here to revolutionize it.
Read MoreI’m a fan of pop tarts. I know, I know. Total garbage and I shouldn’t even admit in public that I like them, but pop tarts are happy childhood food to me. That’s not to say that I ate them non-stop during my childhood, oh no. My mom was pretty consistent with the no sugar rule, especially when it came to breakfast foods. It’s cool, though, I don’t need therapy or anything. At least not for that. Anyway, I let my kids have way more sugar than I should. Even I wouldn’t let them eat pop tarts for breakfast. Let’s call it a dessert, shall we? But when I saw these cute little mini pop tarts on Pinterest, I had to make them.
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