Simple food swaps to for a healthier family
These easy comfort food swaps will lighten up your winter meal planning.
This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com. All opinions are my own.
CREATIVE CIRCLE LINK PARTY #179
Come join us at The Creative Circle, a weekly link up for all things home decor, design, and DIY.
Welcome to The Creative Circle link party – a place to share and find decor and DIY inspiration for your home!
This weeks feature is so simple but bold, blue and beautiful. Keep reading to check out this contemporary take on a traditional fall look.
DIY Writing Skills Workbook
custom Writing Skills Workbook for less than $1
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PlayWithPlaymobil #CollectiveBias
Create a custom writing skills workbook in minutes
When I was a young kid, I was blown away one day when my dad brought home a little toy doctor kit, little candies (aka pills – it was the 80’s, okay?) and flashcards for me.
Not an earth shattering story, right?
Except, my parents NEVER just brought home gifts for no reason, so it’s a memory that firmly planted itself in my mind.
Only recently, (many, many years later)I learned the rest of the story.
CREATIVE CIRCLE LINK PARTY #178
Come join us at The Creative Circle, a weekly link up for all things home decor, design, and DIY.
Welcome to The Creative Circle link party – a place to share and find decor and DIY inspiration for your home!
This weeks feature is so simple but bold, blue and beautiful. Keep reading to check out this contemporary take on a traditional fall look.
Lazy Mom’s Guide to Halloween Dinner
This post is sponsored by Tyson Foods, Inc. but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.
Can you feel that? The chill in the air is already creeping in, and so are the Halloween decorations in every store I visit. As you’re well aware, I’m not a big fan of fall, but the holidays of the fall and winter seasons sure make the nip in the air a whole lot more tolerable.
While I do love delighting my kids with a fun themed meal every Halloween season, I don’t always have the same zest for pulling off the details.
Today I’m sharing my lazy mom’s guide to Halloween Dinner. I’m including three, super-simple ideas for pulling off that cute themed dinner, without the prep.
That’s right: if you’re decidedly *not* a Pinterest mom, this post is for you.
CREATIVE CIRCLE LINK PARTY #177
Come join us at The Creative Circle, a weekly link up for all things home decor, design, and DIY.
Welcome to The Creative Circle link party – a place to share and find decor and DIY inspiration for your home!
I just love a good before and after, so I’m super excited to share this week’s feature with you!
Keep reading below for the sneak peek of the reveal!
CREATIVE CIRCLE LINK PARTY #176
Come join us at The Creative Circle, a weekly link up for all things home decor, design, and DIY.
Welcome to The Creative Circle link party – a place to share and find decor and DIY inspiration for your home!
This week I’ve been in a vintage frame of mind, so when I saw this week’s featured project, I knew I had to share it with you!
15 Genius Way to Upcycle Vintage Books
Inspirational Ideas for Upcycling old books
Are you a lover of vintage books? Or, do you simply own old literature that you hate to store, but don’t want to toss?
Me, too.
I often find myself perusing the bookshelves at vintage shops and thrift stores, searching for treasures. I’ve used them to decorate my son’s room, and also as the occasional book prop.
However, with no bookshelves to speak of, our vintage book collection has max capacity. So, what does any crafty DIY mom do? Scours the internet for ways to upcycle the books she loves.
These 15 ideas are not only clever, but totally functional. These ideas take the functionality and the beauty of hardcover books and turns them into truly remarkable, functional items.
Which one is your favorite??
Creative Circle Link Party #175
Come join us at The Creative Circle, a weekly link up for all things home decor, design, and DIY.
Welcome to The Creative Circle link party – a place to share and find decor and DIY inspiration for your home!
50 Totally Free Day Dates With Kids
50 Frugal (mostly indoor) activities to do with your kids
Looking for ways to spend more quality time with your kids, one-on-one? I’ve pulled together 50 totally unique and creative ideas for building memories and bonding with your kids.
Of course, you don’t need to have an expensive outing to get a little quality time in. That’s why these ideas are all frugal or free. 
Southwest Breakfast Scramble Meal Prep
The Southwest Breakfast Scramble is perfect for prepping healthy, high-protein breakfasts, all week long
A big thank you to Nellie’s Free Range Eggs for sponsoring this recipe, Southwest Breakfast Scramble. All opinions are mine alone.
School’s been back in session for just a few weeks, and we’re already on the struggle bus. Despite all of our planning and the best of intentions.
We passed right through the optimistic honeymoon phase – where lunches are prepped the night before, mornings run smooth, and projects are completed well in advance, instead of at the last minute.
We lingered in that happy place for about a week before reverting right back to where we ended school in the spring.
The crazy is real.
But.
I have been doing one thing right: meal prep.
Creative Circle Link Party #74
Welcome to The Creative Circle link party – a place to share and find decor and DIY inspiration for your home!
The Best Advice I Can Give My Kids + Giveaway!
advice for kids this back to school season
This post is sponsored by Everywhere Agency on behalf of OshKosh B’gosh; however, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
If I can think of one piece of advice I’ve given to each of my kids multiple times over the years it’s this:
Family Friendly Getaway Weekend
Back To School Countdown Banner
Free Library Card Printables for pretend play
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BackToSchoolGoals18 #CollectiveBias
T-minus 1o days until school starts in our area, and we are not ready mentally…or emotionally…at all. I’m not that mom with the glass of champagne at the first day of school bus stop. I’ll miss the easy mornings of summer and the lack of homework and activities in the afternoon. Life is crazy enough with all of that, but what can you do?
For starters, we can prepare ourselves with a good old fashioned back to school countdown banner.
Loving Lately: Friday Favorites
What Gets me Through the Weekday Hustle
This post is sponsored by Dannon® Oikos® Traditional Greek Yogurt but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.
I’m not gonna lie – it’s been quite a year. Somedays, I have so many plates spinning, I have no idea how I can do it all….until I miraculously do it. Between blogging deadlines, freelancing, teaching ESL and the kids being home for summer…well, it’s busy! Still, I do it because I love it – as well as being home with the kids.
Years ago I used to share my “Friday Favorites” – products and tips that made my life better. Today, I’m resurrecting the theme with useful tips and resources that make my weekday hustle easier.
morning routine
I wake up at ridiculously early hours to teach ESL. This works great for me – because I’m more naturally a morning person anyway. Waking up early gives me time to start my day right. I’ve been really regimented about being sure I fill myself up with good things before adding anything else to my mind and spirit.
That means every morning I’m very intentional about writing in my gratitude journal, reading a devotional and filling my mind with good, positive, grateful thoughts. It’s also an opportunity to pray about the day and release anything that is on my mind, so I’m free to move forward with my day with a clear mind that’s calibrated toward “gratefulness.”
Printable Morning Routine Chart
Free Printable Back to School Morning Chart for Kids
This shop, Morning Routine Chart, has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SnackToSchool #CollectiveBias
I can hardly believe I’m writing this post – but, believe it or not, school is almost back in session. HOW did the summer fly by so fast?? The more relaxed morning routine of summer will soon give way to the chaos of the school year, so today I’m sharing a Morning Routine Chart designed to make life a little easier.
Butterfly Ice Cream Cake
How to Throw an Impromptu summer Party In Minutes
This shop, Butterfly Ice Cream Cake, has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and I Love Ice Cream Cakes. All opinions are mine alone. #IceCreamCakeBreak #CollectiveBias
One of the things I love best about being able to work from home is the ability carve out little moments with the kids throughout the day in summer. Don’t get me wrong, working full-time and taking care of three kids during the summer months is a wild ride, but I truly wouldn’t have it any other way.
This month is finally feeling like summer here in the Midwest, which means living up all the summer goodness as much as we can! Since this is National Ice Cream month, we decided to combine three of our very favorite summer things: ice cream, butterflies, and impromptu parties.
Creamy Lemon Vanilla Ice Cream
The Right Amount of Tart & Sweet for the Perfect Summer Treat
A big thanks to GiftsForYouNow.com for sponsoring this Lemon Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe. All opinions are my own.
As the saying goes: When life gives you lemons…make a creamy, homemade Lemon Vanilla Ice Cream. Just the right amount of tart and the right amount of sweet for the perfect summer treat. Serve it up on a sugar cone, or in a glass of lemon-lime soda for a refreshing summer ice cream float.
Road Trip Travel Tricks for Moms
Printable Travel Journal and Car Activities for Kids
A big thank you to Firestone Auto Care for sponsoring my Road Trip Travel Tricks for Moms. As always, all opinions are mine alone.
Summer is road trip season, and our family is always on the go. Mr. Marigold and I are both from Iowa, so we try to get back as often as we can to visit our families. While that isn’t nearly as often as we like, it’s often enough to have perfected the art of traveling with three kids. Today I’m going to share my favorite road trip travel tricks for moms – including a free printable travel journal for kids.
