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I received complimentary product from Oriental Trading to facilitate this post. As always, opinions remain 100% my own. This summer, we celebrated my 4 year old, who had never had a birthday party of her own, in true Hawaiian luau style… with a Moana birthday party theme at our local…

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…

One skill preschoolers are expected to master before entering kindergarten is shape recognition. My 3 year old is a much more active learner than her older sister, so I often have to get a little creative with more active, hands-on play activities to hold her attention. This simple activity, re-purposing an…

Spring is officially here… even if mother nature hasn’t seemed to get the memo yet. I don’t know about you, but my body is craving lighter, healthier fare. So get you and your family ready for warmer days, swuim suit season with this week’s Real Mom Meal Plan, featuring lighter,…

I received complimentary product from The Innovation Press to facilitate this post. As always, opinions remain 100% my own. My little kindergarten scientist discovered a kindred spirit in Zoey, the main character in the latest series from The Innovation Press, Zoey and Sassafras.  Seizing on her enthusiasm and to encourage her…

Nothing represents Easter more than planting a seed and watching it come to life. It is a season of rebirth, renewal, and growth – whether you subscribe to the religious story of Easter or a more secular celebration of Spring. If you are looking for Easter gift ideas that truly capture the meaning of…

Have you seen it? Have you heard? There’s a new Dr. Seuss book out… Spread the word! In 2013, a box of Ted Geisel’s work was rediscovered by his widow and longtime secretary.  In that box, they found the nearly complete text and illustrations for What Pet Should I Get?,…

Conversation hearts are synonymous with Valentine’s Day. Like candy canes at Christmas, you can find them everywhere – in individually packaged boxes or giant bags. The famous pithy phrases continue to evolve with the times (TXT ME and #LOVE were in our bag this year), but the chalky flavor never…

One of my favorite reasons to meal plan is that you can leverage your efforts from one night to the next. Use ingredients that overlap to buy in bulk and save money. Cook double the protein one night, and use the rest the next to save time. And that is…

The girls favorite book changes weekly – lately, they’ve been on an Elmer kick. For those unfamiliar with the story, Elmer is a brightly colored patchwork elephant, who just wants to look like all the other elephants, but ultimately celebrates his unique look.  At the end of the story, all…

Ten Apples Up on Top has been one of the girls’ favorite books for as long as I can remember.  It started with the board book version, and now my youngest takes the full  ‘Apples on Top’ book to bed with her almost every night.  Using a favorite book is a…

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Fujifilm Wonder Photo Shop. All opinions are 100% mine. The world of STEM is fascinating for little learners. And you don’t have to spend a fortune on supplies to share simple science activities for preschoolers at home with your child.…

My mom is retiring this year after more than 30 years as an early elementary educator. A parent is throwing her a retirement party and via the beauty of Facebook events, the outpouring of congratulations and appreciation from her former students and parents has been incredible to read! But don’t wait…

We have been on a quest for indoor entertainment this winter, and this (mostly) Indoor Scavenger Hunt for Kids definitely provided it! Last week in my Architecture and Engineering for Kids series, the girls Made Monuments with Mega Bloks, learning about the majesty of famous and historic architecture.  This week, by…

I had a huge mommy fail this weekend.  Every morning, I let the girls watch one show while I get breakfast together, lunches made and feed the baby.  These days, it is usually Sofia the First.  And for weeks, Big M (age 4), has been begging me to write her…

“…27, 28, 29… Mom, what comes after 29?” This became a recurring conversation with Big M (age 4) over the holidays. She has mastered counting to 20, and quickly caught on to the pattern thereafter. When she starts asking repetitive questions on a subject, I like to seize on her enthusiasm.…

Even if your toddler can’t stay up to ring in the New Year with you, they can still help you decorate. This is a super simple, sparkly and festive New Year’s Craft for Toddlers.  The end result is so fun though, you might want to make it for grown-up party…

Our Nutcracker party planning continues… and no party is complete without themed decor.  This week we created a simple burlap holiday banner featuring Nutcracker silhouettes for less than $10, with great Pottery Barn-esque effect! DIY Nutcracker Silhouette Holiday Banner For Day 3 of our Nutcracker series, I created this simple holiday…

Andy Warhol was a leading figure in the Pop Art movement.  His artistic exploration of pop culture produced mixed media series featuring icons of the day, from Marilyn Monroe to Campbell’s Soup cans.  For our latest project in the Art History for Preschool series, the girls (ages 4 and 2) were easily…