5 Ways to Break Phone Addiction and Be a More Responsive Parent

January 8, 2016January 6, 2016 - Mama Leave a comment

I was checking my emails. The phone had just buzzed, and I switched from Instagram over to my Gmail to check an email from a work contact. It seemed innocent enough. And then I heard my son say “Mom. Look. Please look.” What started as a momentary distraction to post a cute photo of him turned into a much longer journey through posting the photo, crafting a perfect caption, adding hashtags, liking friends’ recent photos, and then switching over to read emails. It wasn’t intentional– I wasn’t trying to give up attention to focus on my phone. But I had unintentionally stopped watching my son’s craft project because I had stopped to post “just one photo” and gotten lost in my phone again.

Minions BananaBerry Dump Cake (With BananaBerry “Ice Cream”)

December 7, 2015January 3, 2017 - Mama Leave a comment

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MinionsAtTarget #CollectiveBias

Bee-do-bee-do-bee-do… In case you didn’t know it yet, your favorite yellow little creatures are coming out on DVD tomorrow, and I know we’ve already pre-ordered the Minions movie. That meant making the perfect dessert for our Minions watch party, and trust me, you’re going to love this one. Take a break from holiday stress and make these delightful minion mini cakes for your family to enjoy during the movie!

10 Christmas Gifts for Kids (That Aren’t More Toys!)

November 23, 2015 - Mama Leave a comment

Last Christmas, as I loaded up some of the toys my son was no longer playing with to get rid of, I finally stepped on the LEGO that broke the camel’s back… With toys tucked in every corner, I simply couldn’t take adding another one to the house at Christmas time. Zach has a tendency to get toys throughout the year, of course, and our over-stuffed toy bins were clear indicators that he wasn’t exactly hurting for toys. So, I made a decision: No. More. Toys. We weren’t getting rid of the toys he loved, and we certainly weren’t eliminating toys from the house, but instead, my entire family agreed that we would make a conscious effort to purchase a little more creatively for Christmas, and that meant not buying any new toys.

DIY Inside Out Memory Spheres

November 16, 2015November 18, 2015 - Mama 3 Comments

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #InsideOutEmotions #CollectiveBias

Learn to discuss tough emotions-- like anger, sadness, and fear-- with your children. These DIY memory spheres from the Inside Out movie are a craft that gets kids talking! #InsideOutEmotions #ad

Emotions are tough. Seriously, they can be really hard to navigate, especially when you’re young and don’t always have the words to share how you’re feeling. But then, Inside Out showed up and gave kids examples of what those emotion words felt like. Plus, it was a super adorable movie– cute enough that we decided to see it like 4 times in theatres! So as soon as I found out it was available at Walmart, we ran to the store right away to pick up our copy.

How a Highway Turkey United My Hometown

November 11, 2015 - Mama 1 Comment

It all started with a turkey. Just a simple, wild turkey who loved to hang out by the side of the highway just north of my hometown. He was there for about a year before someone made that first post in a community group for ladies in my town… “Hey, has anyone else seen that turkey on the highway?”

Super Easy Halloween Party Games (You Can Play Using Soda Bottles!)

October 27, 2015October 29, 2015 - Mama 1 Comment

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CVS4FantaFun #CollectiveBias

Halloween is pretty much upon us… in fact, with less than a week away, busy moms, I’m hearing your cry. Today, we’re getting ready for Halloween, and whether you’re planning a party with all of your friends, need a last-minute game to become the coolest car at the Trunk-or-Treat, or just want some post-Halloween boredom busters to burn off extra energy, this is the game plan for you.

Pumpkin Carving and Sensory Play

October 12, 2015October 12, 2015 - Mama Leave a comment

I received product from Pumpkin Masters for this post. All opinions are my own.

Pumpkin carving is an excellent family tradition every autumn or fall season, but did you know that with the right tools, even the youngest kids can get involved and turn carving and family time into a learning experience or educational activity? Don't just go to the pumpkin patch this year- help your kids learn while having fun with pumpkins! #pumpkinmasters #ad

Pumpkin carving… it’s a great tradition that many families share. It can be really fun to set up a bonfire or lay out some trash bags to collect pumpkin guts and get the whole family to carve pumpkins together, but did you know it could be a unique learning experience, too? Children learn with all 5 senses, and pumpkin carving offers a great sensory experience that helps children explore all of these, and with the right tools, kids of almost any age can get in on the fun.

Spooky Halloween Pudding Snacks and Classroom Party Craft and Treat!

October 11, 2015January 13, 2017 - Mama 2 Comments

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SnackPackMixIns #CollectiveBias

From Spooky Halloween Classroom Party Crafts to treat toppers fit for a crowd, you'll love these ideas on how to top portable treats and delicious pudding! Zombie Hand pudding cups, brain pudding cups, creepy Teddy Graham pudding cups, Chocolate Cherry Monster Mash cups, and Monster Brains Snack Cups. #SnackPackMixIns #ad

The season of Halloween Class Parties is upon us. Even if you’re not a room volunteer, there are so many big celebrations for Halloween coming up, which is why unique snacks and crafts are key. I’ve got some easy treats and a fun craft that is perfect for one kid or thirty, making it perfect for anyone looking to enjoy a little spooky fun. These pudding toppers are effortless and so fun for everyone!

Top Fall Activities Across the USA and Canada!

October 2, 2015October 2, 2015 - Mama 1 Comment

So you remember a couple of weeks ago when I shared my favorite fall activities in Kansas City? Well, it’s finally starting to really feel like fall here, and my son and I are tackling quite a few of the activities on my list of favorites. But, I recognize that not everyone is from the Kansas City area (as cool as Kansas City is, of course…), so today, I’m back with a list of, well… lists… from the Social Fabric community, which I’m so happy to be a part of. Each list contains some great things to do in specific parts of the USA and Canada, (and heck, even some stuff to do if you’re in the UK!), so wherever you’re hailing from, you’ll find something fun to do with your family.

Being the Hands and Feet: 7 MORE Ways Kids Can Serve Others

September 30, 2015September 29, 2015 - Mama Leave a comment

Giving hugs. Preparing meals. Praying. There are so many ways that kids can serve on their own, or with the help of their parents. We all know it’s important to raise our children to serve others, to be the hands and feet of Jesus. But is that easier said than done? Last year, I shared 7 Ways that Kids Could Serve Others, but today, I want to share 7 more ways that kids can serve others.

Mama Plus One

Making Life Easy So You Can Get Back to What Matters Most

Family Togetherness Ideas