After such a long winter, it's finally bike-riding season: Hooray! And, whoa are you all getting on those bikes! I've seen so many kids riding bikes in our neighborhood, that my son's mountain bike team has doubled in size since last yea…
Want an alternative to blowing all over the birthday cake? These 5 clever ideas keep the make-a-wish tradition and the germs to yourself.
We've hit spring. So yay! But, that also means we've all been inside for a long time now. A year of quarantine has taught me this, at least: it's time to update my home decor. A new rug or dining set may not be in my budget, but do you k…
We keep looking for the silver lining in the past Year That Was Like No Other, and as we talk to other parents, one thing comes up over and over: "my kid discovered they really love _____." Whether it's manga or chemistry, dystopian fict…
I'd like to put in a plug for supporting indie bookstores right now, even if it takes a little extra effort. I'm seeing a lot of people trying to get through this looooong February (what's that even about?) by recommitting to reading. I …
If you’re like me, you’re currently on your whatever month (because who is counting at this point) of The Great Confinement. It's not over yet! So I’m sharing my ways to stay fabulous ...while staying home and staying safe . If you read …
Over the last week, I've read a number of articles recommending that we start double masking to increase the level of coverage we're getting. Even Dr. Fauci says that it's just "common sense." And let's just say, when Fauci talks, I list…
Acts of kindness have never felt more important than they do this year. And since kinds are naturally inclined toward kindness, we wanted to give this post a bump this year. Because when Christmas is over, Santa is back at the North Pole…
Yesterday, my daughter who is attending graduate school for social work in Denver, called to tell me that she thinks it is best for her to cancel her planned trip home for Thanksgiving thanks to the new COVID warnings and restrictions in…
Target rolled out their Black Friday deals way early this month, and we've been scouring the deals here. If you missed our post on last week's Black Friday deals , don't worry! Several of them are still marked down this week, like the Be…
Target has rolled out their Black Friday deals way early this month, so there's no need to wait until after Thanksgiving to do your holiday shopping. Which is good, considering we are so down with the retail therapy right now. So we've p…
You might have heard, but there's this election coming up in the US on Tuesday, November 3 and it's kind of a big deal. Not just because we'll be electing the next president, but a lot of Senators, Members of Congress, and important loca…
It's official: I'm writing about safe trick-or-treat alternatives after weeks of putting it off. The CDC has even officially recommended against trick-or-treating during COVID-19 , at least in the traditional way, and oof. I need some sa…
We've had quite a few readers ask for some trick-or-treat-signs for candy to help keep a socially distanced Halloween. This is a time that we may want to hand out candy but uh, maybe in a less-contact way. And hey, we found some great on…
I know that this year, a lot of teens, including my own 17 year old, are even more motivated to get out and do something to impact November's election. But for socially conscious teens under 18, it can be frustrating that they can't make…
My kids' eyes flew wide open when they stepped into the living room last night and caught some of the fiasco (or you know, Dana Bash's more colorful term ) that passed for a presidential debate. This morning, our team discussed that whil…
I'm in several politically-minded Facebook groups, and lately, the women there have been asking what everyone is planning to wear to the polls this year so we can identify each other. Some said they'll be in all blue, others will be wear…
The past few weeks, my Instagram feed is full of my friends' adorable kids in their back-to-school outfits... complete with fresh, new face masks.I'm so proud of these kids for being responsible about in-person schooling, and for parents…
I just read that nearly 30% of Americans sometimes, rarely, or never wear a mask in public and it makes me want to bang my head on something. Nothing too hard though, because our hospitals have been through enough and don't need the like…
Some of us have older teens who are really excited to vote this year. But because each state manages their own voting policies, it can be confusing as to how, when, and where to register to vote. We all know that if you're 18 on or befor…
With school districts all over the country releasing their preliminary plans for school this fall, I'm hearing so many parents trying to determine whether or not their kids are going back full-time . The requirement between states and di…
I'm trying to do a better job of raising anti-racist kids , and I believe that starts with learning more about the history of the Black experience in America. An essential part of that education is the understanding of Juneteenth , a hol…
We have spent more time listening than talking this difficult weekend. But I woke up this morning knowing I want to make it perfectly 100% clear where Kristen and I stand: Black Lives Matter. Black Lives Matter. Black Lives Matter. This …
Our Facebook groups have been asking for graduation ideas during Covid-19 and quarantine , and as a mom to a rising senior, and a high school grad last year, my heart goes out to all the 2020 grads. While school kids everywhere have had …