Indoor Fun

When TV saved the day ... I honestly never thought I would say that. We own a TV, but it consists of a whopping 10 channels thanks to rabbit ears and there is no remote. It's one step up from the tube TV of the 90's. Connecting it to Netflix is really the only function, and that happens occasionally at best. Sure we could buy a nicer one (or at least a remote) and pay for cable, but it serves our lifestyle as is. After long work hours inside, we usually spend as much time outside as possible when we're home. Our two-year-old is in love with trains, so how could we not let him watch episodes of Chuggington and...

I've never been able to get much out of any 'how-to' parenting books. Maybe it's the part of me that hates being told what to do, but they never seem to help. A friend knew my distaste for them and suggested Bringing Up Bebe by Pamela Druckerman. After reading just the summary I could tell it was my kind of book. An American journalist, Druckerman is living abroad in France and gives birth to her first child. She quickly begins to notice the differences among French and American parenting styles and subsequently how the children behave. What I enjoy most is that it's simply an observation of some of the differences without saying one is right or wrong. A new perspective...

With the constant hustle that is life these days, quality family time can be quite a challenge. Yet it is essential in order for the family to thrive and bond. Work here, school there, lessons, practices, and recitals make for lots of time in the car and minimal time at home. It seems to be that we’re only home to sleep Monday through Friday, so the weekends are often the only time we have to catch up and spend that quality time together. Sometimes it takes active planning and an expectation of tradition to ensure quality time is to be had. I’m constantly looking for new adventures to go on and experiences to be had by our family of three, but I also...

I love to read. Deep in my soul. I've been known to stay up all night because I can't find a stopping point in a book (the end is the only stopping point!). I've also been known to go into a short term funk after finishing a great book or series.  Serious readers will understand exactly what I mean. When Brene Brown talks about the importance of "play" for adults, she is describing reading for me.  I come by it honestly.  My aunt is a librarian, my cousin a teacher, and my mom is a regular at the public library.  When we go on vacation, we spend more time planning who will bring which books than we do packing...

My 3 year old is a lot like most 3 year old girls, obsessed with all things dressy, and sparkly, and princessy. As the tutus and crowns started to pile up, I found myself needing a good storage solution.  Her dress-up box was bursting at the seams. Of course, I started by scouring the internet.  After checking out all of the options, I decided that DIY was the way to go.  I found examples made out of old entertainment centers and dressers. Despite my best Craigslist skills, I couldn't quite find anything that met all of my criteria.  Then it hit me! The perfect piece was already in her room.  Her bookcase was exactly what I was looking for...