3 cool non-LEGO building sets, just to keep things interesting around the playroom

by Kate Etue | Toys + Playthings

My kids are all about their LEGOs, but I’ve also been keeping my eye on some cool non-LEGO building sets to keep things interesting around the playroom. These three allow kids to build things they can’t with their LEGOs, and I have to say, I’m very...

The Wipebook dry erase notebook: One random office supply gift your kids will absolutely love.

by Kate Etue | Toys + Playthings, Books for Kids

My kids are obsessed with their dry erase boards (it’s the little things, you know?). In fact, my daughter has figured out she can use the dry erase markers on her glossy coloring book covers and wipe those down too. Now, they’re playing games like teacher...

9 fun and easy rainbow crafts to brighten up your St. Patrick’s Day

by Kate Etue | DIY

We’re willing ourselves out of this snowstorm to focus on sunshine and pots of gold at the end of rainbows on St. Patrick’s Day. I searched through our favorite craft and blogger sites to find the most fun and easy rainbow crafts for kids, most of which...

7 cool metallic shoes for girls this spring, because this trend is still going strong

by Kate Etue | Kid Style

Spring is in the air, and the shoes this year are adorable. Metallic shoes for girls (and boys) started trending last year, but from what we’ve seen, this style isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. From sneakers to sandals, we’re seeing tons of cool...

One quick laundry tip that will save you loads (ha!) of time

by Kate Etue | Uncategorized

With six people living in my house, there are days when I feel like all I do is laundry. And that the baskets of dirty clothes just keep piling up. (Stop the insanity!) But there is one quick laundry tip has changed my life in a good way: My family quit using laundry...

Are you paying your babysitter enough? 9 surprising stats about childcare.

by Kate Etue | Tips + Tricks

One of the questions parents are always asking each other is, “how much should I be spending on my babysitter or nanny?” The answer is so tough. The last thing I want to do is underpay someone with the important job of taking care of my kids, but I know...

6 surprising things you should never throw away, because they make great toy storage solutions

by Kate Etue | Storage + Organization, DIY, Tips + Tricks

I’m convinced my kids’ toys are spontaneously spawning in the playroom at night while we sleep. Surely I’m not the only parent who can’t figure out where all my kids’ toys have come from. As a result, I’m constantly in need of new...

10 of the best, thoughtful gifts for newly adoptive parents and their kids

by Kate Etue | Baby, Fashion, Kid Style

As a newly adoptive parent, I’ve received a lot of generous adoption gifts from friends and family that celebrate our daughter’s culture and heritage, and speak volumes about the fact that she came into our family in a way very different from our other...

Three cool LEGO add-on sets that make your builds even cooler

by Kate Etue | Toys + Playthings

I’m not so sure my kids could ever get bored of the LEGO sets that are currently blanketing the floor of our playroom, but just in case, I found three cool LEGO add-on sets that will make their builds even more exciting. These sets are for kids who are able to...

11 cool, modern ABC books for kids that parents will love too

by Kate Etue | Books for Kids

I adore almost all children’s books, and thank goodness for that since I am a mom of four kids. But there’s one genre — the ABC book — that makes my eyes glaze over. Hey, you can only read “A is for apple” so many times. Over the...