When I saw this printable diverse summer reading list challenge for kids over at the Oaxacaborn homeschool group on Facebook, I immediately had to share it. Schools here in Nashville have already dismissed for summer break —I know the re…
My family recently celebrated the fourth anniversary of our daughter's adoption . It's always a special day for us, in which we try to honor her heritage; we pull out photo albums, eat at a Korean restaurant, and send updates to her adop…
With my almost 17-year old graduating from high school this summer (WHAT?), I've been spending a lot of time thinking about the things she needs to know before she leaves. Suddenly, I've got an urgency to make sure she remembers how to b…
I never thought I'd be writing about packaged avocado, as a die-hard "just the fruit, ma'am" avocado shopper. However as I'm gearing up to stuff myself with as much homemade guacamole as I can fit into my belly this year on Cinco de Mayo…
One of the simple things we can do to make the earth just a little healthier is to bring more plant-based foods into our diets. And I say this as an avowed burger eater. So in honor of Earth Day (but not just for Earth Day!) consider cho…
A while back, I asked our Recipe Rescue group on Facebook for recommendations for the best oven mitts for kids. I got so many terrific ideas (thank you everyone!) -- but I had really specific features I needed. My youngest is kind of ter…
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…
My favorite part of any holiday is the food, and Mother's Day and Father's Day are no exception, so you can see why I'm so taken with food bar ideas. I mean, hat I want most this year (especially this year!) is to sit around the table wi…
As someone who didn’t grow up around animals, I’ve learned a lot raising kids who love them, especially my youngest who is an avid horseback rider. When she first asked to take riding lessons, I thought it might be a passing phase, espec…
With Easter around the corner (this Sunday!!!), I'm thinking about how I'm going to fill three Easter baskets and dozens of plastic eggs before this holiday hops onto the scene. Instead of running all over the place, hitting the drugstor…
In our latest TikTok recipe adventure , we decided to give crispy tofu a try, as recommended by our very own Christina Refford. Now, when I made the suggestion to my son, I let him search for the recipe, and here's why: a) Kids are much …
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…
If you have picky eaters or family members with different dietary restrictions , it can be challenging to make a meal that pleases everyone. One of my favorite hacks is DIY dinners. I just set out all the ingredients and let my family me…
The idea of starting a food garden can be a bit overwhelming, especially if you were not gifted with a green thumb. But pandemic life has us considering doing all kinds of new things that we may never have attempted before (see also: sou…
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…
Whether you're slapping lunch together for the kids before they run out to catch the bus, or preparing a quickie lunch between breaks in their virtual school day, I'm sure lots of us are sick of trying to figure what's next for lunch. So…
The beginning of 2021 feels just as heavy as 2020, with the pandemic still in full force , and then our friends in Texas getting hammered with snow , ice and power outages. But as an Asian American (4th generation American-born Chinese, …
The stories and photos I'm seeing in the wake of the Texas storm, some from close friends, are shocking. Right now, all 254 counties in Texas have been hit, with 2.5 million Texans still without power at the time of publishing. Many of t…
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 …
I'm not quite sure why I've always been afraid of the Instant Pot . People I love and respect in my life swear by it. I'm even a member of the Instant Pot Community on Facebook (that also might be why I'm afraid of the Instant Pot, now t…
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 …
Despite my commitment to be healthier this year, I'm going to cave and buy some Girl Scout cookies, because another resolution I've made is to spread goodness as much as possible. When I was reminded that I can buy Girl Scout cookies onl…
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…