Backyard Obstacle Course– Using ONLY Chalk!

August 15, 2016October 21, 2016 - Mama Leave a comment

Getting kids to play outside is a must-- only 31% of kids play outside today, compared to the 70% of moms who played outside during their childhood. Get them moving with this outdoor obstacle course-- all you need is a piece of chalk! #CLIFKid [ad]

Hey, mom… remember playing outside as a kid? Hours spent enjoying the grass or the swingset or making crowns out of flowers or playing at the park… it’s crazy how many memories I have of outdoor play. That’s because as kids, most of us played outside– 70% of us did, actually. Compare that to today, when only 31% of kids are spending any kind of significant time outside at all. Busy schedules, cuts in recess time, and just all-around love for all things electronic could be to blame, but it could be that we just aren’t focused on outdoor play like we used to be. Today, I’ve got the absolute easiest way to get kids moving outside with an obstacle course– all you need is a piece of chalk!

DIY Hidden Cord Charging Station

August 11, 2016August 22, 2016 - Mama 6 Comments

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BTSwithHP #CollectiveBias

Back to school is such an exciting time... but it can mean an extra need to stay organized and powered up. Here's a simple way to make a DIY charging station for your desk that clears up those crazy cords, too! Plus, I share a few ways we use computers in our homeschool lessons! #BTSwithHP [ad]

I’m seriously having the hardest time handling the fact that summer is pretty much over… we’re in the last few days of the pool being open for the summer, back to school sales are in full swing, and the curriculum has arrived, which means it’s pretty much time to get back in the swing of homeschooling… and that means a major need for organization and staying powered up. Today, I’m showing you an impossibly easy DIY charging station for YOUR desk!

End Of Summer Road Trips from Kansas City

July 21, 2016 - Mama 1 Comment

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #RoadTripOil #CollectiveBias

Summer may be almost over, but there's still plenty of time to sneak in a little last-minute road trip. If you're from the Kansas City area, there are a ton of nearby options for places to travel, so you can sneak in that family bonding time before back to school hits. #RoadTripOil [ad]

I cannot even handle the fact that we’re over halfway through summer. I mean, I looked at the calendar, and we have like… 3 weeks left of the pool being open for the year. As much as I’m looking forward to my fall favorites returning in just a few short weeks, I also know that I want to squeeze out every last drop of summer I can. It’s about this time of year every year that I itch to take a little road trip, a short end-of-summer vacation, a last hurrah before the fall returns and we remember that school is just around the corner… and when you’re from the Kansas City area, you’re incredibly blessed with tons of nearby places that are really awesome to visit, without having to go too horribly far for a last-minute road trip. That means it’s not too late to visit them now… just hop in the car and enjoy!

Backyard Splatter Painting

April 27, 2016April 27, 2016 - Mama 4 Comments

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #allEssentials #CollectiveBias

Kids bored this summer? Let them be kids with this awesome messy play activity! This splatter painting uses water balloons, medicine droppers, squirt guns, and more to create a unique piece of abstract art your kids will love creating. Don't worry-- kids and clothes are both washable! #allEssentials

“I’m bored.” Come on, it’s almost summer… you know you’re going to hear it at least once or twice or a million times. That’s why now is a great time to start arming yourself with ideas to keep the kids busy this summer! One of my favorite ways to keep kids active, busy, and having SO much fun they forget to be bored is through some good old fashioned messy play! That’s why this backyard splatter painting is tons of fun to create– and it’s super easy, too.

Online Safety For Teens

March 25, 2016March 25, 2016 - Mama Leave a comment

Keeping our teens safe online is becoming harder and harder as more apps and technology become available. Here are a few tips to help keep your kids safe online! | Online Safety | Safety for Teens | Internet Safety |

The Internet can be an amazing place at times– endless pages of content and information, music and videos, books and movies, stories coming together and people crossing paths. But it can also have a very dark side to it… it’s a dark side that I’ve experienced firsthand, but also witnessed far too many teens going down the same path. Even when I was a younger teen, and even though the internet was a relatively new thing at the time (as in, we were still on dial-up), I managed to have some close calls that could have ended really badly. Luckily, I had parents who kept a watchful eye over my online behavior and were quick to stop these issues in their tracks. You can help your teens experience better online safety– here are a few ways to keep your kids safe online.

Eggheads Roll a Face Game for Easter!

March 23, 2016February 18, 2017 - Mama Leave a comment

This post has been sponsored by PAAS Easter Eggs. All opinions are my own.

Want to keep the kids entertained while you cook Easter dinner? Here's a great way to do it-- this eggheads roll a face game is a super fun Easter game that kids will love! Perfect Easter Boredom Buster or great Easter hostess gift for any hostess with kids. #PAASEaster [ad]

The best thing about Easter Dinner? Totally Easter Dinner– who can resist all of the amazing food on the table at Easter time? The worst part, though? Kids getting bored while you’re preparing it. It’s just a fact of life that kids are going to get bored while you’re preparing easter dinner, and when they’re not bored, well, they tend to get underfoot and make glazing ham and making scalloped potatoes a little bit more difficult.

But I have the perfect game that will keep everyone entertained, and to make it a little bit sweeter, I’m including a free printable for this fun Easter game to get you started. This roll-a-face dice game using the Eggheads kit from PAAS Easter egg is so easy to play that even young kids will have a blast, and this Easter game is sure to be a part of your Easter traditions for years to come.

Dino Dig Sensory Box

March 17, 2016 - Mama Leave a comment

This post has been sponsored by PAAS Easter Eggs. All opinions are my own. Please note that synthetic eggs will yield a different result than real eggs– your mileage may vary.

Looking for a fun sensory box for your future palentologist? This dino dig sensory box is perfect for all ages and stages! With

It seems like every child goes through a dinosaur phase. The growling, the roaring, the stomping fun that comes with dinosaurs is one of the most fun phases to watch. As a child, I remember watching dinosaur movies again and again, and now my son is the same way. This dino dig sensory box is the perfect way to tap into that dinosaur obsession!

How to Set a Resolution You’ll Actually Keep!

December 31, 2015 - Mama Leave a comment

This year, I’m quitting resolutions altogether. I know that’s an odd statement to make in the very beginning of a post all about making resolutions you’ll keep, but stick with me here… the best way to set resolutions you’ll actually keep is to STOP MAKING RESOLUTIONS. That doesn’t mean not to resolve to do anything… but it means changing your mindset and your tactics so you can experience resolution success.

DIY Inside Out Memory Spheres

November 16, 2015November 18, 2015 - Mama 3 Comments

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #InsideOutEmotions #CollectiveBias

Learn to discuss tough emotions-- like anger, sadness, and fear-- with your children. These DIY memory spheres from the Inside Out movie are a craft that gets kids talking! #InsideOutEmotions #ad

Emotions are tough. Seriously, they can be really hard to navigate, especially when you’re young and don’t always have the words to share how you’re feeling. But then, Inside Out showed up and gave kids examples of what those emotion words felt like. Plus, it was a super adorable movie– cute enough that we decided to see it like 4 times in theatres! So as soon as I found out it was available at Walmart, we ran to the store right away to pick up our copy.

Pumpkin Carving and Sensory Play

October 12, 2015October 12, 2015 - Mama Leave a comment

I received product from Pumpkin Masters for this post. All opinions are my own.

Pumpkin carving is an excellent family tradition every autumn or fall season, but did you know that with the right tools, even the youngest kids can get involved and turn carving and family time into a learning experience or educational activity? Don't just go to the pumpkin patch this year- help your kids learn while having fun with pumpkins! #pumpkinmasters #ad

Pumpkin carving… it’s a great tradition that many families share. It can be really fun to set up a bonfire or lay out some trash bags to collect pumpkin guts and get the whole family to carve pumpkins together, but did you know it could be a unique learning experience, too? Children learn with all 5 senses, and pumpkin carving offers a great sensory experience that helps children explore all of these, and with the right tools, kids of almost any age can get in on the fun.

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