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Happy Fourth of July extended weekend, besties! It's time to celebrate America with delicious food, great drinks, and fabulous company. We hope you have amazing plans with family and friends—and we want to help you kick off the festivities with the easiest, brightest, yummiest, ...read more

Wearing red, white and blue for 4th of July is pretty much a must. The kids and I wanted to make our own shirts this year, so we came up with this fun DIY firework shirt that even my 2 year old helped with (after he woke up early from his nap of course) Related: Macy's 4th of ...read more

Moms always get breakfast in bed on Mother's Day, so why not serve donuts to Dad on Father's Day? We thought it was a cute idea, so we made a DIY painted mug to serve Dad his coffee in on Father's Day. Check out this simple tutorial and get our easy donut recipe at the bottom ...read more

We love that Valentine's Day falls on the weekend this year. It means we get to spend the whole day with our little loves and we're excited about that! I got to thinking about different ways I could celebrate with my kids this year. I came up with the idea of having a mini ...read more

There is something about camping that is just so much fun. Kids love it! We enjoy our family camping trips. Sleeping in tents under the stars, laughing by the campfire, catching fireflies, and eating s'mores late into the night. Not to mention being unplugged and spending good ...read more

As a busy mom and with the cooler weather approaching it's a great time to pull out the crockpot. There is something satisfying about coming home to a hot and ready dinner. Balancing work, homework and after school activities, life can get chaotic. We still want to feed our ...read more

Getting my kiddos to eat their lunch at school every day is a challenge. They tend to go straight for the cookie or treat I pack and skip over the sandwich, forgo the carrot sticks, and ignore the apple. It seems I'm always looking for clever ways to get my kids to eat their ...read more

Now that Halloween is behind us, it's time to turn our attention to Thanksgiving. The stores are stocked full of cute little mini pumpkins and gorgeous fall colors that just perfect for crafting. The kids and I created this cute mini turkey pumpkin craft that can be used to ...read more

It's that time of year again... time to BOO! I love the tradition of anonymously booing (or ghosting, as some people call it!) neighbors and community friends with tricks, treats and goodies.  Related: How to boo your neighbors The kids wake up every morning and check the front ...read more

Get into the full Halloween spirit with this super fun Pumpkin Scented Moon Sand Oobleck DIY! Haven't heard of Oobleck? Well it's all the rage in my house. The kids went from obsessing over slime making to creating Oobleck which is cornstarch and water. It's something they ...read more

Nowadays, Kindergarten is serious biz. It's no longer the half day of play and finger-painting fun that I remember fondly from my childhood. It's intense, it's exhausting, and it's real work. Not to say it isn't still awesomely enjoyable and educational; it's just less about ...read more

I never really loved Halloween… and then I became a mom. Now, I’m obsessed with every pumpkin patch, every not-so-spooky book, every slightly scary movie, every creepy craft, every trick, every treat, and all the adorable costumes I want to force my kids to wear. Yes, October ...read more

Cocktails, friends, makeovers, and foot massages… This scenario adds up to my ideal moms’ night out! Luckily for me, I recently joined Momtrends, Meredith Corporation, and a few fabulous influencers for an evening that included all of the above and so much more. Hosted by the ...read more

When I think of iconic family vacation spots, I think of Woodloch Resort in Hawley, PA. As a kid, my family used to go to this picturesque Poconos destination every year in the winter. I remember the cozy vibe, the warm staff, the lovely accommodations, and the delicious ...read more

Fall has arrived. The kids are back in school, you've returned to a routine, and you're slowly but surely adjusting to the swing of things. The weather is changing, the leaves are falling, and everything and everyone is happily, healthily chugging along... Welllllll, we hate to ...read more

September is Baby Safety Month—and as a blogger and mom, I want to do my part to spread the message about keeping infants rear-facing in car seats until they turn two. That’s right, Mamas, resist temptation and keep those bucket seats backwards for as long as you can... But, ...read more

f Rookie mama mistake… I sent my son into the first day of Kindergarten without properly labeling every single item on his being. Sure, I took a Sharpie to his backpack and notebooks, but I neglected to touch his thermos, his water bottle, his lunchbox, or the very clothes on ...read more

When I was pregnant with both my kids, my favorite thing to do was take long scenic car drives—anywhere and everywhere. I'd recline my passenger seat, turn on the radio, and take in the sights, sounds, and scenery. My husband and I would stop for lunch, take a leisurely stroll ...read more

It has been an epic summer. Labor Day is around the corner, and school starts in less than three weeks. The season of fun and sun and freedom is almost coming to a close. But I’m not ready to throw in the [beach] towel just yet! I want to make the most of every hot, sweaty, ...read more

Hooray for back-to-school season! Some of you are gearing up to send a little to school for the very first time, some are changing schools and some are moving on up. We are enjoying our last official weeks of summer as we prepare for the first days of school. Of course, we have ...read more

We still have nearly two weeks before we head back to school, but the excitement of gathering the gear, school supplies and latest trends has hit us full force. My soon-to-be third grader is all about coordination and personalization. When she discovered that Stuck On You, not ...read more

Haven't been hitting the beach as much as you'd like this summer?! Well, don't worry, I the perfect DIY craft that will make you feel like you've spent the day with your toes in the sand. With the kids in camp most of the day, we haven't been able to get to the beach as much ...read more

T-minus four weeks until my little guy enters Kindergarten. What?! How?! When?! Wasn’t it JUST the last day of Pre-K, like, a hot minute ago? I might be in denial, but I’m also super excited. I’ve got his outfit picked out, his backpack ready to go, and his custom-made ...read more

I might be dating myself here, but do you remember that show, You Can't Do That on Television? ... "What makes green slime?" I used to love that gimmick as a kid, and for a brief period between 1986 and 1990, it was my personal catchphrase. Who knew that 27 years later, slime ...read more

Summer can be hard in NYC. Parents are constantly seeking ways to keep their kids entertained, engaged, and occupied; and balance physical outdoor activities with relaxing downtime inside. And that's where these amazing playrooms come into play (get it?). They're designed to ...read more

One of my favorite summer pastimes is tie-dying tee shirts! Every summer I gather up the kids and head to the arts-and-crafts store. We fill the bin with armfuls of crafty fun things to do on those long summer days. I pick things I know will keep the kid entertained for a while. ...read more

Chalk! Kids young and old love brightening up the sidewalks with this messy and imaginative summer staple, and now you can make it even better with this deliciously exciting DIY craft! Ice cream anyone? When I think of summer-time fun, two things come to mind: the ice-cream ...read more

Baby fever! It's real, and the snuggle is real! This mama felt the tell-tale uterus pangs after visiting the New York Baby Show earlier this month. I got to browse the aisles, touch, test, feel, and ogle all the latest and greatest products for Baby, and experience firsthand ...read more

I can hardly believe that Pre-K graduation is in four short weeks—just one month to go, and my little guy will officially be Kindergarten bound. (Anybody got a tissue handy?!) Imma be a bit of a mess when I walk him into that big elementary-school classroom for the very time. ...read more

The end of the school year is nearing. Have you been collecting projects and crafts and classroom-created art-work for the past nine months? Whether you're hoarding every precious piece of glitter-littered construction paper or wondering how you're going to continue to inspire ...read more

We love a good designer collaboration here at The Shopping Mama. Of course, we also adore sweet nursery knick-knacks and fun decor for kiddie rooms! And so, naturally, we are obsessed with the latest exclusive line for Pottery Barn Kids. Late last month the retailer debuted a ...read more

We are so smitten with the American Girl dolls. In fact, the New York City Flagship Store is one of our favorite sites in The Big Apple. Each year we can't wait to meet the newest Girl of the year. A few year's back, Gabriela McBride, was girl of the year! Gabriela is passionate ...read more

Kids are often full of imagination and brimming over with creativity! My daughter is always drawing and painting pictures in her sketchbook. Recently, she has gotten inspired to design outfits and had even taken to creating shirts out of paper taped together. When I stumbled upon ...read more

Winter can be dreary and dull, and let's face it kinda depressing. We're fighting the winter blues by stocking our bathrooms with some new winter beauty must-haves to help our routine be on-point this season. The cold weather can take a toll on everything from your skin, hair, ...read more