My kids and I decided to make homemade Christmas ornaments using salt dough this year. We haven’t done this before, and I really wanted to start doing things that I’ll be able to keep and look at years from now. Are you wondering how to make great salt dough? All you’ll need is flour, salt, water, a rolling pin, and cookie cutters. Then, if you want to paint your ornaments (we did!), then you’ll also need some paint and paintbrushes. We also made our ornaments scented, although after painting them, they weren’t scented anymore but it was fun while rolling
real mom talk
When I had my first baby, I was definitely learning everything as I went. Breast pads weren’t even on my radar before my first son was born. He surprised us by coming two weeks early and although I had everything I needed for labor and the baby, I was missing things I needed for myself. Thankfully my sweet sister offered to run out for anything I overlooked – one of which was a pack of disposable nursing pads. My First Baby: Disposable Nursing Pads My milk came in pretty quickly, so I was grateful to have them on hand. I quickly discovered
When the number of kids is greater than the number of hands, the holiday season isn’t quite as magical, 24/7. What do you do when there are five kids, two hands, and ten packages to get into the post slot? How do you shop for Christmas presents when you have three of the kids in the buggy? As a mother of five children, 8 years and under at one point, I am going to share my survival tactics and hope that it will make your holiday season just a little bit merrier. Do Not Expect Picture Perfect Whoops, did I
Disclaimer: This article does not seek to offer medical advice, and should not be treated as such. Please do consult your local pediatrician for the best remedies for diaper rash. Your baby starts crying again, and you wonder for the 5th time that morning, what could it be this time? She’s fed, had enough sleep, her diapers was changed barely half an hour ago and the air conditioner is merrily chugging away so she couldn’t possibly be feeling hot. As you open the clasp of her diaper you realize that bumpy red rashes have spread across her bum. Diaper rash
We’re a few weeks into 2021. First, let’s celebrate we made it through the mess that was 2020! New Year’s Resolutions often get a bad reputation, but here are a few I can get behind. These resolutions are specifically created to help make myself a better mom and person. Health Resolution I know, this is the most overdone resolution, but check in on your physical and mental health. How are you doing? I stress ate my way through 2020. My goal for 2021 is to wear a sports bra as a top to yoga class and feel confident. I’m not
This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for all the moms in my life. 2020 has been challenging to say the least, and the moms in my life have kept me grounded and feeling sane. Of course, I am thankful for my husband and kids, but I just want to shout out to the other moms in my life who are the unsung heroes. Sweet Gestures I am lucky enough to have friends who have shown their love and support throughout the pandemic. Whether it’s sharing a funny gif or meme, or sending personalized gifts to my house, I know they have
Dear parents – we’ve got this! 2020 has handed us our butts, but that means we can get daylight savings under control. We have several options. Move. Move to Arizona or Hawaii where daylight savings time is straight-up not observed. I’m pretty sure they are onto something here. See you in Hawaii! I volunteer as tribute. Ignore it. Let’s just be an hour late to everything for the next few months. We’ve got kids, so this won’t really surprise anyone, right? Time travel. Does anyone else remember the show “The Adventures of Pete & Pete“? I always think of the
For the most up-to-date guidelines, check the Centers for Disease Control. Here are some basic tips to stay healthy this fall while enjoying some activities. Safety matters! Take precautions and have fun. Safety First: Wear A Mask By now, the importance of masks has been drilled into all of us. Make sure your mask is clean, fits well, and is made of materials that will act as an effective barrier. When you are out and about, it’s good to pack some extra masks in case of stinky breath, your mask gets wet, or it falls on the ground. You can
Virtual learning has, hopefully, improved for many families since this spring when it was thrust into our lives. After a summer of planning, many are approaching virtual learning with a fresh breath of air. Instead of just barely getting by, we, collectively, have found some things that help to make things go smoother this time around. First of all, none of this is ideal, and all of us are doing our best. Hopefully, these tips will help make things a little bit easier for you and your family. Dedicated Space for Virtual Learning In normal times, most kids go to
Guess what! It’s National Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day. In the past, I’ve shared what my experience was like to have a baby at work. I thought those days were long behind us. Then, COVID-19 happened and I have found myself at home with a 3-year-old and a 5-year-old. First of all, I don’t want this post to come off as ungrateful. I realize that I am incredibly fortunate to have the ability to continue to work from home. With that said, there is nothing easy about this arrangement. What I Love About Working From Home No