We’re getting ready to head off to Michigan to visit my in-laws. This week I’m focusing on planning and packing.
I keep a Master Packing List [you can find a version of it from a previous trip HERE], which makes packing so much easier. Each time we have a trip planned, I pull out our master list and modify it as needed for the particular time of year and circumstances under which we’re traveling. … Continue reading
My dear friend Lainie is back with another household tip. This time, she discusses how she gets her kids involved with preparations for a special occasion. Her tip about Teaching Kids to Clean with Lines (HERE) has made a huge difference in our house. I can see her suggestion about a Post It Note Wall being equally effective (especially once both of my boys can read!).… Continue reading
Recently my 7-year-old has started voicing concern over our schedule. During his free blocks of time, he has been building complex machines out of Legos, and he wants more time to engineer his creations. He’s worried that on any particular day he won’t have enough time for his own projects.
In order to help him to see how we allocate our time each week, I’ve started making a Family Calendar that I post on the refrigerator. … Continue reading
There is a lot of value in doing things well. And often throughout our lives, and especially as children, we’re admonished to “Always Do your Best.”
I think this is great advice. Except for when it’s not.
Some of us have walked away from a lifetime’s worth of such encouragement with the notion that every single thing we do needs to be representative of our best work.… Continue reading
I am fortunate to have several wonderful women in my life with whom I have shared friendship and guidance over the years. My parenting and my heart have been blessed by their wisdom, love, honesty, and good humor. Last week my friend Lainie wrote about using Lines to teach kids how to clean up (see HERE). This week, Donna, true heart-friend of 18 years and mother of 3 lovely girls (ages range from 1 to 16), writes about Grazing Trays. … Continue reading
Our credit card number was just hacked for the third time in the last year. While this isn’t a problem for our day-to-day purchases, it’s a huge inconvenience for all of the bills we have set on auto-pay with this card.
The last time this happened, I made a list of all the bills we pay automatically along with their contact numbers (see HERE).… Continue reading
What is freezer cooking? you might ask. Freezer cooking, also sometimes called batch cooking, is making meals in advance and then freezing them so they can be defrosted and cooked at a later time.
For instance, if you’re making a batch of Bean-Free Beef and Vegetable Chili (recipe HERE), why not make a large batch and freeze half of it for later.… Continue reading
When you’re running late or barely on time, every little hiccup feels stressful. The fact that your child wants you to help him with his shoes, the need to run back upstairs to grab your reusable shopping bags, or having to slow down on the road due to road construction or a biker taking his time riding down the hill can all feel frustrating.… Continue reading
A conversation I had with my son this week struck me as something that might benefit more than him.
My son frequently takes off his clothes and then leaves them in a pile on his room’s floor. Then, he feels irritated when I walk past his room and remind him to pick up his clothes and put them in the hamper.… Continue reading
Decluttering and getting rid of stuff is great, but it can be easy for stuff to accumulate again if you’re not diligent about it. In our house, I find this to be especially true of books.
I love, love, love books. I love to read them. I love to hold them. I think they make fabulous decor. They bring me great joy.… Continue reading