I've never actually forgotten to send the invites out to one of my kids' birthdays, but I've definitely waited until the very last minute to plan their parties. The thing is: if your child's birthday happens to land during one of the cra…
This summer's hot black-and-white trend (remember the cool swimsuits we found from Nununu and Marimekko ?) is still going strong this fall. So we pulled together our favorite black-and-white fall dresses for girls -- from twirly styles t…
I love having a daughter. Her bright, energetic, and (yes) sometimes emotional personality is such a treat to have in our home. We've had a very open relationship so far, which I am very grateful for, and now she's creeping up on the age…
I have a soft spot for quirky children's books with captivating illustrations , which is why I keep picking up the brand new Pablo and His Chair by the French artist and author Delphine Perret to read to my kids. The story is simple -- a…
I know a little something about dealing with separation anxiety when it comes to young kids and school . Back when my kids were in preschool, this was my routine: drop them off at the classroom, peel around the corner and press my back a…
My youngest child started Kindergarten this week -- sniff -- and he's learning to read so quickly. I'm thrilled to find out he loves books, and I've been scouring our bookshelves and grilling our librarian for some great beginner chapter…
In an increasingly connected world , we parents can feel overwhelmed about making sure our kids are protected and knowing how to talk to kids about safety, strangers, and all that other stuff that we wish we didn't have to. We know it ca…
My younger kids usually need a little one-on-one time to decompress after school, and one of our favorite ways to do this is reading together. After a few minutes in my lap, they're ready to go play again. But, I have to admit, I'd much …
There's something so special about sharing our very favorite childhood books with our kids. When we see our kids falling in love with Anne of Green Gables , or imaging themselves racing through Narnia to defeat the White Witch, there's a…
I've already let my secret out: I'm not one for elaborate birthday parties. In fact, we keep birthday parties simple and on a budget around our house. That said, I love to celebrate the birthday kid and make them feel really special on t…
Ahh, the breast pump. Not the most glamorous part of new motherhood. But for many of us, it's a necessity. Whether you're just pumping and freezing so your partner can take the midnight feedings or you're headed back to work but don't wa…
Oh, our hearts have been heavy watching the devastation from the flooding across Louisiana this week. More than 100,000 homes and buildings have been affected by these rising waters with reports of 30,000 people affected, and as many as …
We've been binging on the Olympics at our house, and it has us seeing gold, silver, and bronze. (Go Team USA!) Now, our love for the medals is spilling over into our closets too, because a little metallic accent is always a good thing. A…
How do you display all of your kids' precious artwork? It's an age-old parenting conundrum. Between school projects, art they bring home from summer camp, or just creative time they spend around my kitchen table, I end up with way more a…
Since sunscreen applications, checking swim diapers, and dragging a bag full of snacks, toys, and towels to the pool all falls on the grown-up in charge, we're up for anything to make it easier. We've found that the new swimsuits from Fa…
Now that I've had three kids, I'm a big believer in only spending money on baby gear that's really worth it . That spendy bottle warmer you'll use for oh, 3 months? Skip it. But a highchair that will literally last until your kids are in…
One of my preschooler's very favorite books of last year was Beastly Babies by Ellen Jackson and illustrated by Brendan Wenzel. An animal lover at heart, he couldn't get enough of its playful illustrations . So when we saw that Brendan W…
We've seen tons of amazing portrait artists we've absolutely loved (and hired) over the years, but the collaboration between photographer Anna Angenend and illustrator Amy Snyder may just be my favorite yet. These artists create custom p…
There have been a lot of hard things in the news this year, and I think we can all agree we need a little more happy in our lives. So when a friend told me that her kids found $5 and a note to buy some candy "on us" tucked into her movie…
After I discovered the magic of swaddling to help my babies sleep for longer than, oh, 15 minutes at a time, I was hooked. And in the way newborns spit up, poop, and find other creative ways to get their clothes and bedding messy again a…
Update: Most of these Olympic crafts work just perfectly for the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics. Yes, the one in 2021. I have to admit, it's been a little difficult to get as excited about the summer Olympics as usual with all the trouble su…
Our neighbors have a trampoline in their backyard, and I'm pretty sure it's been there for the last 30 years. It has no net. No cover for the springs. It's kind of a parent's worst nightmare, but the kids beg to get on it every day. And …
We love a good birthday party around here. In fact, we've loved sharing our ideas for Minecraft , Star Wars , Minion , Finding Dory , and even storybook birthday parties for your kids. But some of the ideas we've seen on Pinterest (or ou…
I'm not even ready to think about back-to-school season yet, but it's coming -- and sooner than later for parents like me in the south! While I've never been the type of parent who attempts to learn Bento arts or making a panda bear rice…
