Outdoor Fun

  Summer is officially upon us! The temperature (and humidity) is steadily rising, and  your little darlings are home from school for the summer and constantly searching for ways to beat the heat. Popsicles are surely one of childhood's simplest pleasure, but unfortunately the boxed grocery store variety can contain ingredients that are less than appealing. With multiple teaspoons of sugar per popsicle, your kids may find sweet relief from the heat but with some pretty unhealthy ingredients. Making your own popsicles is quick and easy, (seriously, you can have a batch ready to go into the freezer in about 5 minutes) and a great way to combine healthful ingredients with a tempting sweet treat that even adults will enjoy! I'll...

Having fitness as part of my lifestyle has enriched my life in so many ways. It has allowed me to learn something new about myself in nearly every stage of life. As I look back I almost always had a fitness goal in mind, which helped to keep me focused and develop my skills and strength. The Season of Life as a mom with young children can be demanding and may make us feel like we don't have time to give back to ourselves. Unfortunately, as moms, we do not have coaches requiring us to show up to practice at certain times each week to work towards our goals. We actually have little coaches that demand our full attention...

I'm happy to announce that we have FINALLY moved into our new house! It was a long and very difficult 5 1/2 months, and we are so thankful that it's over.  Everyone says that building a home tests your sanity, and I knew it would be difficult, but WOW that was hard. In Part 1 of my series, I focused on getting the process started.  Part 2 covered the financial side of home buying. Today, I have a few tips and tricks to make home building, packing and moving a tiny bit easier on you. Do your research. Before you pay someone your life savings to build your house, do lots of research.  We decided to move into a neighborhood in which...

Our grocery trips, or any trip to the store for that matter, are completely toy free. No toys, almost ever. Let me start by saying that I never set out to be the mom that didn't buy toys.  I didn't make a vow to myself pre-motherhood.  I just simply didn't see a need.  I find that I raise my kids based on my own childhood.  I think about the times that stood out most to me, the things that truly left an impact.  When I'm staring off into space thinking about those days, there aren't many toys involved in my thoughts, just lots and lots of happy times.  Lots of laughter, LOTS of time spent together. Our kids have toys and we do actually buy toys for them...

My two boys love few things more than swimming in their grandparents' pool.  Neither of my boys have ever been afraid of the water, which might seem like a good thing.  But for this momma, it is TERRIFYING.  I knew very early on that in order for us to be able to enjoy the pool, my boys would need to start learning safety rules as soon as possible.  After all, drowning is the number two cause of accidental death among children, and more than 1,500 children are killed in water-related accidents each year.  Thankfully, my mother-in-law is a well-respected and amazing swim instructor, so she has (for years) been teaching me proper techniques and tips for keeping children safe...