DIY Writing Skills Workbook

October 10, 2018October 11, 2018Leave a comment

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.

DIY Writing Skills Workbook Kindergarten Back To School

Continue reading →

Lazy Mom’s Guide to Halloween Dinner

October 2, 2018October 2, 2018Leave a comment

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.

Continue reading →

50 Totally Free Day Dates With Kids

September 12, 2018Leave a comment

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.

Continue reading →

The Best Advice I Can Give My Kids + Giveaway!

August 27, 2018September 10, 20184 Comments

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:

Continue reading →

Family Friendly Getaway Weekend

August 18, 2018August 27, 2018Leave a comment

The Last Hurrah of Summer at Kalahari

I’ll be honest. It’s been a tough year.

Continue reading →

Back To School Countdown Banner

August 6, 2018August 27, 20181 Comment

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.

Continue reading →

Printable Morning Routine Chart

July 25, 2018October 30, 2018Leave a comment

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.

Continue reading →

Road Trip Travel Tricks for Moms

July 5, 2018August 28, 20188 Comments

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.

Continue reading →

Sew Pajama Pants from Vintage Sheets

May 13, 2018October 30, 20185 Comments

Sew Pajama Pants in just 15 Minutes

If you’ve followed my blog for any amount of time, you know that I love all things vintage. Lately, I’ve been especially fond of vintage sheets, afghans and quilts. I’m always brimming with ideas for repurposing these treasures, and I even sell my finds in my small Etsy Shop. Last year I shared an article with genius ways to repurpose vintage sheets, and I fell in love with the idea of sewing pajama pants from vintage sheets.

What could be better? The soft feel of summer sheets paired with gorgeous vintage patterns.

Continue reading →

Peter Rabbit Party

May 4, 2018October 30, 20187 Comments

Bunny Bar and Minute to Win it Games for garden party

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

A few weeks ago, I shared about how our family has a weekly tradition of Family Movie Night. It’s something we look forward to every week, whether it’s an old throwback movie from my childhood, or we treat ourselves to a new movie.

Most times, it’s an excuse to veg out. Sometimes, we have fun taking our movie night to the next level.

Continue reading →

Bless This Mess: Face Painting Kids’ Activity

April 3, 2018June 5, 2018Leave a comment

Confessions of a (semi-) reformed Neat Freak Mom

I have a confession. I’m not a fun mom. I love to peruse Pinterest and find activities that my kids will enjoy, but when it comes to the actual DOING of the activities, I have a tendency to squash fun with my “clean as you go” mentality.

My oldest daughter is a creator. An artist. An, “I’ll just throw this over there in the corner” sort of gal.

The mom struggle is REAL.

However, there is real joy in seeing our kids develop and grow into individuals with unique abilities, talents and interests. I want to be the kind of mom who fosters those things, instead of stifling those things byf fostering my own unique interest in, well, cleanliness.

So, I took a leap at Christmas when I got my daughter a face painting kit. Just a basic kit with a few colors and instructions. You would have thought we’d given her the moon. She could NOT believe we would allow – even encourage – this activity.

Continue reading →

Kid Friendly Honey Bread

March 18, 2018November 9, 20184 Comments

Easy, Kid Friendly Honey Bread Recipe

Today I’m excited to share one of our family’s favorite recipes: Kid Friendly Honey Bread. I’ve been meaning to share this on the blog for, like, years, but just never got around to it.

Yes, the recipe is called kid friendly because my kids love to eat this bread. But, more importantly, this is a super easy recipe that your kids can make with you.

Continue reading →

Random Acts of Kindness Advent Activities + OshKosh B’gosh Giveaway

December 14, 2017January 4, 20185 Comments

Mother Daughter Date Ideas to Capture the True Meaning of Christmas

This post, Random Acts of Kindness Advent Activities , is sponsored by Everywhere Agency on behalf of OshKosh B’gosh; however, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

It’s true – it’s the most wonderful time of the year. But, like so many families, we find ourselves struggling to keep up with the endless activities, traditions and all-around excess that can come with the season.

It’s why I’m so glad we started the tradition of performing Random Acts of Kindness Advent Activities as a family in the days leading up to Christmas.

Continue reading →

Honey Bear After School Snack

September 11, 2017September 22, 20172 Comments

Celebrating National Honey Month

This post is sponsored by the National Honey Board, however the content and opinions expressed are my own.

Last week my baby started Pre-Kindergarten. Time is going fast, and I’m determined to savor these golden moments I still have with her at home with some special, 1:1 time.. Since she is getting to be such a big girl, I thought it would be fun to have a special tea party with her, letting her make a new recipe, a Honey Bear after school snack, all by herself.

You see, she is so excited to go to her bumblebee themed classroom a few 1/2 days per week, and lamented on the first day she didn’t have a bee costume to wear 😂

Then, this weekend,we were especially excited to have guests who just started bee keeping. We enjoyed all their stories and pictures, and even got one of their first bottles of honey as a hostess gift. As a result, the kids are pretty sure we should start beekeeping, too (um, no.).

So, it felt especially serendipitous when I received a golden box of goodies from the National Honey Board to inspire us to celebrate National Honey Month with some honey, beautiful party decorations and easy, kid-friendly recipes.

Continue reading →

Secret Message Lunchbox Notes

August 29, 2017October 30, 201812 Comments

Printables for Back to School

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Wet Ones® Hand Wipes. The opinions and text are all mine. I received free samples of products from Wet Ones®. This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias Inc. and its advertiser. #BTSWithWetOnes #CollectiveBias

It’s hard to believe in just a week the kids will be back to school. I mean, WHY does summer break have to go so fast?

If you’ve been following my blog for awhile, you know I love a good lunchbox note! This year, I’ve created my favorite, ever: Secret Message Lunchbox Notes!

Continue reading →

Pink Flamingo Birthday Party

July 18, 2017October 30, 201813 Comments

Tropical Pool Party for Girls

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

I can’t even believe it, but my middle baby girl is turning SEVEN. She is full of zest for life, a penchant for adventure, and loves to love.

A girl with this big of a personality needs a bold and bright celebration – like a tropical party with flamingos, pool floaties, and flowers galore.

Continue reading →

Easy DIY Toy Car Storage Jars

July 12, 2017January 5, 2018Leave a comment

STYLISH, AFFORDABLE WAY TO STORE TOY CARS

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #RevUpF8 #CollectiveBias

Today’s DIY is all about finding stylish ways to display and contain toy cars. My son’s love of cars was revived last month when we introduced him to the latest Fast & Furious™ movie. So, of course, he was thrilled when he discovered toy replicas of Dom Toretto’s car and the climax scene of the movie. However, we had reached capacity on car storage in casa de Mangold. Maxed. Out.

Stored here: Fast & Furious™ 5 Pack Vehicle Assorted

Continue reading →

Summer Letter Templates for Kids

July 10, 2017January 4, 2018Leave a comment

Letters for Summer Camp, pen pals

I don’t know how your summer is going, but ours has been crazy-fun, but largely unproductive. We’re not getting super far on our so-called summer bucket list, but we ARE enjoying all the fun days of playing in the sun, VBS, swimming, boating, and visiting a ton of parks.

Continue reading →

Matilda Jane June 2017 Release

June 1, 2017June 28, 20174 Comments

Looks I love: Summer Style Edition

Today I’m going to talk about something I don’t often do, and that is one of my side hustles of selling boutique women and children’s clothing.

I’m never sure how much to talk about my Etsy shop, clothing sales, or other side gigs here, but I decided since this blog is all about living life colorfully, with vibrant lifestyle photography, that it’s indeed *quite* up my alley to share beautiful things I love and want to share with others.

Today, I’m sharing my own product review and images of the latest June 2017 launch of The Adventure Begins, because it is so stinkin’ adorable.

Before we start, please keep in mind you can get everything you see here, and much, much more, on my website here, and be the first to know about sales and get in on my 50% sample sales by joining my private group, here.

First up: the big girls’ line. It’s so pretty in my daughter’s favorite pastels: pink and purple. You might have noticed one of our sweetest new additions in yesterday’s DIY Ice Cream Stand post.

Matilda Jane June 2017 Release | Trunk Keeper #340253

Bean Bag Toss Tank and Tart and Sweet Shorties

Continue reading →

DIY Ice Cream Stand

May 31, 2017November 9, 20189 Comments

Good Clean Summer Fun

Thank you to Kemps for sponsoring this post, DIY Ice Cream stand. All opinions are my own.

School’s out for summer! This week the kids and I started tackling our summer bucket list, and at the very top of our goals was “eat lots of ice cream.”

If you’ve been reading this blog for awhile, you know we are very serious about our ice cream. So it should come as no surprise that, on our first day out of school, Eve decided she wanted to DIY a free ice cream stand. We made our stand with inexpensive poster board and a simple tablecloth.

Continue reading →