How to Stay Cool on Your Patio While the Kids Play in the Yard

August 17, 2018 by Marissa Leave a Comment

How to Stay Cool

Learn how to stay cool on your patio as the kids play in the yard. (This post contains affiliate links).

My kids LOVE to be outside. We have a nice sized yard with a fun treehouse my husband built, and they have a whole bunch of toys to play around with.

When the big kids play outside, I’m able to get some work done indoors while being able to check on them from the back door in my kitchen. I trust that they will stay in the yard and stay away from any strangers walking by on the railroad property a few yards from our fence.

But when the toddler is outside, that’s another story. [Read more…]

Update Your School Morning Routine: Make Your Mornings Less Crazy and More Delightful

July 25, 2018 by Marissa Leave a Comment

School Morning Routine: How to Make Mornings Less Stressful

Update Your School Morning Routine! Easy Ways to Make School Mornings Less Crazy And More Delightful

Easy Ways to Make School Mornings Less Crazy And More Delightful (This post contains affiliate links)

How to Make School Mornings Less Stressful

Get your shoes on! Grab your lunch! What do you mean you had homework last night? You just had your shoes on. Where did they go?!

Does this sound familiar?

School mornings can get crazy really fast. Like, as fast as it takes for your kid to lose his shoes that he just had on…

While I can’t make your mornings completely easy going, I can assure you that by following these tips, your school mornings can become less crazy and less stressful.

Will these tips work all of the time? Hey, I’m a mom of four kids. I know that not all plans are perfect! But trying to stick to a plan is way better than no plan at all, am I right? [Read more…]

When Mom Needs a Time Out: How to Take a Break When You Feel Like Snapping

July 16, 2018 by Marissa 1 Comment

When Mom Needs a Time Out

Mom needs a time out, but how can she take a break? (This post may contain affiliate links)

The toddler has been up since the crack of dawn. You tried to help her fall back asleep in her room for a while, but that’s a no go. You take her downstairs to make her breakfast, but she doesn’t want anything that you offer.

As you’re trying to diffuse the potential meltdown, your preschooler walks in, pours himself a bowl of cereal, spills the milk, and then lets you know that he used the bathroom but couldn’t find toilet paper.

You know he didn’t wipe the seat or even attempt to wash his hands.

Meanwhile, your daughter walks in crying because her older brother told her she couldn’t play on his Minecraft world. He’s angry because she called him an ‘idiot’.

All of this happens before 7:30 am.

You feel like snapping, but you try desperately to keep it together.

Mom needs time out, but how? [Read more…]

Amazon Prime Free Trial: How to Get Amazon Prime for FREE for 30 Days!

July 11, 2018 by Marissa 26 Comments

Amazon Prime Free Trial

Learn how to get the Amazon Prime Free Trial! (This post contains affiliate links.)

Is Amazon Prime really worth it? Do you wish there was a way to find out?

About five+ years ago, I signed up for a 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime, thinking I would just use it for the free 2-day shipping around the holidays and then cancel.

Nope. I decided to keep it. Why? [Read more…]

How to Make a Chewable Necklace for Kids

July 1, 2018 by Marissa Leave a Comment

DIY Chewable Necklaces for Older Kids

How to Make a Chewable Necklace for Kids

Learn how to make a chewable necklace for older kids that can also be used as a fidget necklace or a sensory necklace. (This post contains affiliate links)

Does your child chew nails or clothing? Does he or she have a need to fidget or manage sensory overload? Chewable jewelry might help!

What is Chewable Jewelry?

Chewable jewelry, sometimes known as chewelry, is a combination of the words chewable and jewelry. There are chewable bracelets and chewable necklaces that, yes, kids can put in their mouths!

Chewable necklaces are like teething necklaces made for babies, but the name suits older kids.

[Read more…]

Why You Should Start an Amazon Baby Registry

June 24, 2018 by Marissa 6 Comments

Why You Should Start an Amazon Baby Registry (This post contains affiliate links)

Amazon Baby Registry

Will you be starting a baby registry soon? Even if you plan on registering in brick-and-mortar stores, it’d be a good idea to create online registries as well. Why? [Read more…]

Thank You, Teachers, For All You Do

June 20, 2018 by Marissa 1 Comment

Thank You, Teachers

This post may contain affiliate links.

Thank you, teachers, for another great school year.

Thank you for standing at your doorway every morning, greeting each and every child with a welcoming smile.

Thank you for setting your classroom up in a warm and inviting way, so that every child has the best learning experience.

Thank you for starting off the day right, getting the kids excited about the day ahead with a fun opening activity, even when you didn’t get to have your morning coffee just yet. [Read more…]

How is a First Pregnancy Different from a Fourth Pregnancy?

June 11, 2018 by Marissa 12 Comments

How is a First Pregnancy Different

How a First Pregnancy is Different from a Fourth Pregnancy

How is the fourth pregnancy different from the first? (This post contains affiliate links)

How Is a First Pregnancy Different?

Remember your first pregnancy? How you were bursting to announce the news? How you bought every baby book you can find?

Yeah, I remember mine too, and it was definitely different from my fourth pregnancy (officially it was my fifth, but that’s a different story). I can just remember now how new it all was! How exciting it all was!

But after having three kiddos, things certainly do change. [Read more…]

How to Easily Create Free Printable Quotes to Frame

May 7, 2018 by Marissa 1 Comment

DIY Free Printable Quotes

How to Easily Create Free Printable Quotes to Frame (This post contains affiliate links)

Did you ever see a framed quote in a store and think, “I wish could make something like that!” ? I see them all the time and finally realized that yes, I can do that!

It’s actually pretty easy to create free printable quotes once you figure it out. When you start, you’re not going to want to stop!

I’m going to show you how to easily create free printable quotes using the free graphic design platform Canva. It is fairly easy to use once you try it and has plenty of features that are totally free. [Read more…]