Preteen: 10-13 years

A few years ago, inspiration struck in the form of mini red Solo cups and fond memories of my college drinking days… and the festive holiday party games for kids – Jingle Bell Toss – was born. Would you believe I was actually hesitant to hit publish on the post?…

Every year, for as long as I can remember, my family has spent the weekend before Christmas baking cookies by the baker’s rack full.  We test new recipes annually, but there are two we ALWAYS make – Whipping Cream Sugar Cookies and Gingerbread Cookies. Our Family Christmas Cookies As promised…

This post is sponsored by Carter’s; however, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. Family Christmas pajamas are a part of everyone’s holiday – learn how to get the most wear (and precious photo ops) out of yours! Every year for as long as I can remember, my mom has…

The pages of Martha Stewart Living and Better Homes & Garden are graced with gorgeous tablescapes and decor ideas for adults.  But what about the kids’ Thanksgiving table?  That’s where all the real fun happens (and not much eating except for rolls!).  Check out how we decorate the kids’ table…

Spring has sprung!  The sky is blue, the flowers are popping up, the birds are chirping… and after reading Lois Ehlert’s Garden boxed set, my girls are chomping at the bit to start our seeds for this year’s garden.  Unfortunately, it’s a few weeks too early here, with overnight temps…

This post is part of a series on College Savings Plans sponsored by CHET, the Connecticut Higher Education Trust’s 529 College Savings Plan. As always, opinions remain 100% my own. Now that you have started a college fund and are saving money to it every month, what is the best…

This post is part of a series on College Savings Plans sponsored by CHET, the Connecticut Higher Education Trust’s 529 College Savings Plan. As always, opinions remain 100% my own. This back to school season add one important item to your school shopping list – if your child is starting…

This post is sponsored by Kleenex Facial Tissue. As always, opinions remain 100% my own. This back to school season, Kleenex® Facial Tissue wants to help you be a Classroom Hero. Learn 15+ ways you can go the extra mile to support your child’s teacher with parent volunteering… whether by…

Thank you Mardi Gras Napkins for sponsoring this post. Visit your local retailer to get the conversation going in your home! “Mom, Annie’s mom puts notes in her lunch box for her everyday.” This wasn’t the first time my 6 year old had mentioned this touching gesture from her friend’s…

I’m all for celebrating the red, white and blue… all summer long. From decorative stars and stripes banners to festive patriotic food. I just wish the food didn’t always require food coloring. And guess what? Our family’s favorite Red White and Blue Cookies, perfect from Memorial Day to Independence day,…

This is a guest post by Jennifer Terra, a Local Childcare Consultant for Cultural Care Au Pair, the leading provider of intercultural live-in childcare. Learn how an au pair my be the flexible childcare option your family has been searching for. I will never forget my childcare search when I was…

One of my most popular kids learning activity series is Art History for Preschoolers. Kids love exploring grown-up topics, like Art, and the works of the masters, are incredible creative inspiration for them. One of my personal favorite artists is Claude Monet. If you loved my Monet Inspired Water Lillies…

Big M (age 4) is obsessed with the movie, Brave, and pretending to be Merida.  So much so, that she often runs around the house with a plastic coat hanger (her bow) pretending to shoot arrows.  My husband and father-in-law have fed her obsession by taking her for archery practice…

This is a sponsored post for Vicks Humidifiers. As always, opinions remain 100% my own. With 3 kids, a single cold can take over a month to work its way through our entire house. Learn how Vicks Humidifiers help to prevent spreading cold and flu for kids. When you have…

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Learning Resources. As always, all opinions remain 100% my own. For more ways to ask your kid, “How was school today?” be sure to check out why we think playing school is just as important as the REAL thing this month over on…

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Learning Resources. As always, all opinions remain 100% my own. Be sure to check out our Oktoberfest for Kids post this month over on the Learning Resources blog for more ways to celebrate Fall with your kids! I absolutely LOVE Fall. Especially…

Learn how visiting PhysicianOne Urgent Care for kids can save you and your family time, worry and money. This is a sponsored post with PhysicianOne Urgent Care centers. As always, opinions remain 100% my own. My 5 year old fell ill out of nowhere. One second she was singing and…

As the daughter and daughter-in-law of lifelong teachers, I know first hand just how much money teachers invest in their own classrooms out of their own pockets. So as our kids head back to school, teacher gifts that help offset any of that expense are immensely appreciated. And the best…

Do you have a project you did as a child that really stayed with you? For me, this is it… one summer, I went to a summer art program my mom was teaching and we made Japanese Fish Art, or gyotaku. It was the summer after second grade, I was…