We are so grateful for our local library! We borrow dozens of books each week. Because we are approaching the Thanksgiving holiday, this week we picked up numerous books about gratitude. Gratitude can be a difficult concept for young kids to grasp. Books are a great way to introduce the concept because they explain it in a variety of … [Read more...] about 14 Children’s Books About Gratitude
holidays
Monster Protein Balls
My kids love sprinkles. I frequently include sprinkles in new foods I introduce to them because the colorful bits help them get excited about trying unfamiliar items. Thus, when I saw some fun monster sprinkles, I knew I wanted to prepare my kids a new food that utilized the sprinkles. One thing that came to mind, because … [Read more...] about Monster Protein Balls
Christmas Light Safety Tips
The glow of Christmas lights is one of the many enjoyable aspects of the Christmas season. Unfortunately, for many families, the tradition of Christmas lights quickly turns to tragedy. In the U.S., nearly 15,000 people are treated in hospital emergency departments each year because of injuries related to holiday decorating (source). … [Read more...] about Christmas Light Safety Tips
Simple Ways to Streamline Thanksgiving Dinner Preparation
For many families, the focal point of Thanksgiving Day is a table laden with delicious food. As nice as it is to dive into these foods, getting them to the table often requires a lot of work and can be stressful. Last year, for example, we spent the entire day before Thanksgiving preparing various dishes. Then I was up and cooking again … [Read more...] about Simple Ways to Streamline Thanksgiving Dinner Preparation
Finally Fall
We recently drove up to our new house in our new city. When we woke the day after arriving, we were greeted by temperatures in the 50s and movers pulling up to the curb with a truck loaded with nearly all our earthly possessions. I don’t know which I was more excited to see! Having just come through the hottest summer of my life (nearly … [Read more...] about Finally Fall
Pecan Pie Brownies
Though we already planned on having at least a half dozen desserts this past Thanksgiving, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to make Pecan Pie Brownies after I saw the idea for them. I suspected that the flavors of brownie and pecan pie would go well together, and they sure did! These were amazing! They were a huge hit after Thanksgiving … [Read more...] about Pecan Pie Brownies
Have Yourself a Mindful Little Christmas
I often get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of Christmas that I miss out on opportunities to truly savor the things I love about the season. This is unfortunate because there are so many amazing things—people, treats, decorations, activities, etc.—to enjoy. This year, I’m being intentional about slowing down and enjoying the … [Read more...] about Have Yourself a Mindful Little Christmas
Chocolate Peppermint Whoopie Pies
This past week, my girls and I baked our first Christmas cookies of the season. After seeing whoopie pies in a book we read before Thanksgiving, my girls were eager to try some. These did not disappoint! If you have time to make these delightful cookies, then add them to your baking list. Those eating your cookies will be delighted by … [Read more...] about Chocolate Peppermint Whoopie Pies