Nothing says the season of joy is here like spending time in the kitchen with family. Last week I took on a Classic Christmas Sugar Cookie playdate. While the girls amused themselves with coloring, I whipped up my grandmother's sugar cookie recipe. It's the perfect way 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. The kids wake up every morning and check the front stoop to see if someone has left ...read more
To Brunch or not to Brunch?? If it gives you a reason to serve this pomegranate mimosa, TO BRUNCH it is! Always brunch! And what better cocktail to have with brunch than a mimosa? With the holidays quickly approaching, gatherings will be happening more frequently as we focus ...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
I made these beautiful gilded watercolor eggs for our Easter display this year. As an adult I'm not longer happy with the simple cups of color for dying eggs. I need a more intricate more "adult" design. Something that's really pretty to look at with some detail. I made most of ...read more
I’m not a big believer in traditional New Year’s resolutions. More often than not, in years past, I’ve set myself up for failure with unrealistic, unfocused, and grandiose goals. Lose weight, eat better, exercise more, indulge in “me time,” be more present with my children. Um, ...read more
I'll admit - I love staying in for New Year's Eve. After a month of holiday parties and family get-togethers, I have little interest in trying to find a babysitter, battling the crowds, shelling out big bucks for a prix fixe dinner and trying to keep my eyes open until 12:01. ...read more
A lot of people ask when the right time to talk to your children about their feelings is. Denise Daniels, founder and CEO of Moodsters believes it's never too early. As a leader in child development, Denise has collaborated with a Yale University psychologist to create a ...read more
Christmas Eve just might be my favorite day of the year. I thoroughly enjoy each and every moment of the whole holiday season, but thanks to our family's annual Christmas Eve traditions, December 24th is particularly special. And just in case you're looking too add some new ...read more
Between the cold weather, holiday music on repeat, and all the lights and decorations, I swear that every morning feels like a morning worthy of hot cocoa with the kids! Today, in celebration of National Hot Cocoa Day, we're sharing some of our favorite hot cocoa recipes - a ...read more
Five days till Christmas! Five days till Hanukkah! Five days left to browse, buy, and wrap all those games and gadgets and stocking stuffers and trinkets and knick-knacks and toys for your favorite good boys, nice girls, and itty-bitty babes. I thought I was way ahead of the ...read more
We're down to the wire. In less than a week, it'll be CHRISTMAS! My kids are beyond excited. One of our favorite family traditions through the holiday season is baking. Lots and lots of baking. We bake for our school, our local military base, our neighbors, our family and ...read more
It's that time of year where we are feeling festive and fun-loving. To celebrate the holidays, we are going to play Oprah and give away some of our favorite things. Join us as we host ten days of holiday giveaways. Each day we will feature a new product from our beautiful gift ...read more
Whew! We're almost half way through December! The kids have been counting down the days until Christmas for what feels like 100 days already. We've been stringing lights, drinking hot cocoa, and wrapping presents like crazy around here. To help with the gift wrapping, we're ...read more
One of our favorite family traditions is going to Angevine Farm in Connecticut to chop down our tree. We drive up to this family-owned farm months in advance to tag a tree as our own, then the weekend after Thanksgiving, we head back to the farm to saw it down and bring the ...read more
With holidays right around the corner, you might be like me, and in search of some cute and easy crafts for a bit of a homemade touch. We've got class parties lined up, playdates with neighbors, and, of course, the kids are going to be off for a holiday break soon. Keep them ...read more
It's the most wonderful time of the year: holiday-pajamas season! You better believe that my little ones have been rocking festively coordinated bedtime ensembles since Thanksgiving night, and we're just getting started around here! I have more matching family sets than I'd care ...read more
Want an easy holiday party look? I suggest you style a jumpsuit, like this one from cabi. It's got a fit that hugs the right curves--plus my favorite feature POCKETS! I love the idea of having an outfit that is as simple as a dress but has the comfort of pants. The Grace ...read more
Can we talk about my favorite way to customize Christmas presents, stocking-stuffers, home décor, holiday tablescapes, and seasonal treats? It’s easy. It’s affordable. And it totally makes my craft-weary self feel like a DIY diva! Avery Design & Print Online program boasts ...read more
If you're like me and are STILL dragging your feet on ordering your holiday cards, it's not too late! There is still time to order and some great deals to be had. We've rounded up some of the best deals, discounts and coupon code just for you. No more excuses! Here are ...read more
Haizel McIntyre knows a thing or two about the push and pull of holiday-season pressure. It's the most magical time of the year, but it's, often, also the most stressful—and then there's the financial burden. As a full-time working mom of three Haizel was looking for another ...read more
Do you buy new holiday pajamas for the kids every year? I never grew up with the tradition but I love that it ensures your kids aren't wearing ratty old PJs and actually look cute in those holiday morning photos - ha! If you're still shopping for some cute options to deck the ...read more
Before I had kids, I wore all sorts of jewelry. Heavy statement necklaces, cocktail rings, big glamorous baubles, impractical hoop earrings, stacked bangles, and pretty little luxuries of every kind. But all that bling went out the door when I had my babies. It was impossible to ...read more
The holidays are hectic for everyone. There are presents to be purchased, cookies to be baked, and extended family and friends to entertain. And while it’s all very merry, joyful, and jolly, the bulk of the hard work and headache tends to fall on moms—what else is new? Mom, TV ...read more
Fresh cookies in the oven. Hot cider in my mug. An evergreen decorated with lights. One of my favorite parts of the holidays are the smells. You can use this easy stovetop potpourri recipe any time that you want to make your house smell amazing. I use this stovetop potpourri ...read more
December is here! All month I'll be sharing some of my favorite holiday cocktails to serve at your holiday parties, a cozy night in, or you know, on a Wednesday after adulting all day long. First up, the cranberry gin martini. A few days ago we shared some tasty ways to use ...read more
Yesterday was the first of December, and so, of course, we broke out the advent calendar and put on one of many pairs of festive jammies. And while holiday time has now officially kicked off, it actually started much earlier for me. You see, my seasonal celebrations begin with ...read more
My son is a Florida baby through and through. He always has been. His daddy might be from Minnesota, but he got his Mama’s warm temp preferences, so heading outside in the winter isn’t exactly his favorite thing to do. Don’t get me wrong...He isn’t the kind of kid who wants to ...read more
Thanksgiving may be over, but fresh cranberries are still in season. Relatively inexpensive, these ruby gems are a delicious and festive addition to the holiday season. Plus, they are healthy too - cranberries are low in calories and low on the glycemic index,loaded with ...read more
SAVE $15 ON YOUR MERRY MAMA T-SHIRT! Time to get your Merry On! With our exclusive Merry Mama T-shirt! You know I used to work in fashion...so many years at Ralph Lauren. Well after the success of the Mom Boss t-shirt I went back into the workshop and came up with this! USE CODE ...read more
The holiday season is here! With Thanksgiving behind us, it is time to get serious about holiday shopping. Last week we launched our annual gift guide. It is packed with gorgeous gift ideas for everyone on your list. Not only will it make your holidays shopping much easier, but ...read more
We all know how hard it can be to find ways to keep kids entertained when the family all gathers together for a holiday. Am I right? Whether we're talking about Thanksgiving, Christmas or even spending New Year's Eve in, the key to keeping kids happy is keeping them good and ...read more
Everyone loves a personalized gift. Whether it's for a birthday, anniversary, or other holiday, adding a touch of personalization heightens the entire gift giving experience. While it's somewhat easy now to order anything with a name, I wanted to give my recipients something a ...read more
This post is sponsored by Megan Media and Mattel. The opinions and ideas expressed here are our own. My baby girl is growing up...and growing up fast. It seems like just yesterday that I was shopping for classic baby toys during the holidays. Now my “baby” insists to me that ...read more
I see a big hole in the holiday fashion market. There are plenty of Christmas outfits for children and loads of Halloween options, but a very small slew of Thanksgiving-themed attire. Sure, you can find one or two styles for your wild little turkeys, but the pickings can be super ...read more
Most of us tend to forget the spirit of the season because we get lost in the hustle and the bustle that is inevitable this time of year. The Holidays are all about spending time with family and friends so make sure to keep that in mind when planning for the season ahead. I've ...read more
I’m one of those “don’t-even-talk-to-me-about-the-December-holidays-until-we-get-through-Thanksgiving” people. I love me my presents and my eggnog and my stocking stuffers and my tree-trimming trinkets, but I don’t like skipping ahead and glossing over fall’s grand finale. ...read more
I used to believe that pecan and pumpkin pies were the only desserts you could serve for a Thanksgiving feast. But, throughout my years eating and hosting Thanksgiving dinners, I've changed my mind. These fresh-fruit cornucopias make a healthy yet festive addition to any ...read more
With Thanksgiving on the horizon, we are feeling extra thankful. Thankful for our friends and family (all over the world), the roof over our heads, and the many blessings with which we find ourselves. Thanksgiving is always a time when families gather together, eat good food, ...read more
We're a holiday obsessed family. Thanks to my mom, my sister and I were raised amongst loads of creative holiday displays. Nobody can whip a house into shape for the holidays like my mama...nobody. That being said, I try to tap into those holiday decorating genes whenever I can. ...read more
Holiday book club picks arrive in bookstores this month, and we couldn't be happier! Who doesn't love reading about sprigs of mistletoe, snow-covered mountain tops, and festive cheer? We certainly do! All of these titles are available in paperback and eBook, so take your pick! ...read more
When my nephew was born, my brother’s world was rocked, but so was mine! Looking into his tiny face I could see all the possibilities his life could hold. He was born into a family who adored him from the very beginning. Given so much love, I know his future will be filled with ...read more
My almost eight year old is totally into the gory side of Halloween this year. We currently have a graveyard in our front yard, complete with half buried skeletons coming out of the ground. Her costume of choice this year is an evil skeleton mermaid. Gone are the days of cute ...read more
I'm a big fan of Halloween. I adore dressing up and playing pretend, and Halloween gives me a reason to let my inner child out. While I've always loved the idea of having matching family costumes my children always choose their costumes early, think July. They are so enthusiastic ...read more
Have you heard of the Teal Pumpkin Project? It's all about offering an allergy-friendly Halloween. There are so many kids out there with food allergies and Halloween leaves some kids feeling left out. The Teal Pumpkin Project was launched a few years ago by a Tennessee mom to ...read more
I love crafting Halloween decorations, especially ones that are useful. While picking out supplies, I spotted these tiny wooden coffins which were oddly adorable. I've been playing with resin lately and knew that I wanted to create a creepy display box. The coffin was the ...read more
I love Halloween. Now that I'm no longer trick-or-treating, I still find it amusing to dress up at parties. I never go the "risqué" route, but if you're like me and want to throw a little sense of humor into your costume—or you just want to surprise your kids by dressing up ...read more
Halloween is such a fun holiday. Full of tricks and treats and good things to eat! We love creating and hosting an annual kid-friendly Halloween party. The kids always look so adorable dressed up in their costumes and we love dressing up too! We serve up spooky snacks, craft, ...read more
Yes, we're hopping on the Halloween bandwagon a bit early this season. But it's never too soon to start prepping for spooktacular holiday fun! The secret to any good Halloween decoration is making it creepy. Even in small amounts, a little terror can go a long way. I found these ...read more
Now that September is well under way, it's time to start thinking about Halloween! I don't know about you, but I struggle to keep up with the Pinterest crowd this time of year. With school, sports, work and, you know, the million other things on my agenda, I don't have a lot of ...read more
