My biggest tip for moms with kids heading back to school is to be prepared. That's been my mantra this year and the reason I've been collecting easy back to school snack ideas. The more you have in line on the front end, the more seamless your transition into a new school year ...read more
How do you feel about rainbow brights? You know those, fun cheerful kinda colors that just scream summer? This mama is ALL in with rainbow brights, especially when we're talking about kids' clothing. Bright colors seem to always make my kids happy and everything's better when ...read more
The temp is rising and the sun is shining! Time to break out your most fashion-forward aviators and retro cat-eye shades. I love me a classic pair of sunnies. Functional and fashionable they keep me looking chic (even when I forget to apply mascara) and help prevent squinting and ...read more
We are gearing up for Back to School here in the Northeast but we know many of friends have already started their school year. As an educator, I know first hand the jitters the Back to School season can bring. For some it is even anxiety producing and we want all kiddos to feel ...read more
If you’ve ever dug out a birthday party invitation from the bottom of your kid’s backpack with a groan, you probably know all the party pitfalls that parents are forced to endure: long durations, unusual gift requests, across town addresses...at rush hour. We cringe, we roll our ...read more
Fun fact: more than half (55 percent) of kids will head back to class the last two weeks of August. Here at Momtrends homebase we're gathering supplies and prepping. We're ready to celebrate Backpack Day with Lands' End today. August 7th is the perfect time to discover and ...read more
Sharpen those Number 2's and set the alarm, it's time to go back to school... But before you send your kiddos into the classroom, we're giving you an education on the latest, greatest trends for the season... It's #MomtrendsSchool!We recently hosted NYC bloggers and influencers ...read more
Has this been one of the HOTTEST summers we've experienced in a while or what? I don't know about you guys, but my family sure could use some beat the heat ideas for kids! Because kids are kids...They still feel the need to get outside and PLAY even when it's sweltering out. That ...read more
School's out for summer, but the learning never ends! We want to engage our children in interactive exhibits, activities that encourage and strengthen STEAM skills as well as ensure they are having a memorable day filled with laughter. The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, ...read more
If you're a parent, odds are you've been thinking about how to save for college. Even if your children are tiny, I'm sure you've realized their childhood is fleeting and those college years will be here before you know it. What if I told you that I could tell you how to save for ...read more
I grew up on the ocean and always loved my beach days. I learned to swim in the ocean, surf, boat and fish in it and made so many lifelong friends during my early beach days. The ocean has always fascinated me and my love for all things nature is especially peaked when it comes ...read more
My newly minted six-year-old big boy is a crafting fiend. He loves to make, to create, to build, and decorate. He'd actually been art deprived since school let out in late June. His Kindergarten teacher was a bundle of artistic inspiration and every day Grant would come home from ...read more
Who wants to know how to protect your kids from lice? We all do, right? Even if a lice outbreak has never hit your house, you've probably lived in fear of it, especially if you have school age kids. Nobody wants to open up their child's backpack and find the dreaded lice letter. ...read more
Summertime in America means baseball, barbecues, amusement park rides, bubbles, and fireflies. The summer months or the “offseason,” for students also present a classic case of the Summer Slide, a well-documented phenomenon where kids can lose up to three months of progress in ...read more
Our summer vacation is in full swing, but some part of me is always making mental notes about Back to School readiness. I am constantly making lists of appointments I need to cover, staples that need updating and of course, new looks for the new year. For us, fashionable eyewear ...read more
My daughter has been to the beach twice in her life, but those two times really made an impact on her sweet heart.She can sit in the sand and look at the ocean waves for hours letting the breeze hit her face.She's at home there.I really love the look of pure joy in her eyes. I'm ...read more
Are you planning a dinosaur party soon? Yes? Awesome! Great idea! That means you need the best dinosaur party tips ever right?! Wonderful. That is why I am going to share a few handy dandy dinosaur party tips with you that are going to take your party to the next level. I just so ...read more
Summer is showing us what she is made of here on the east coast, and we are looking for ways to escape the heat, all while keeping our style in check. This goes for the littles as well. Nobody likes to be bogged down by their mane, and we've got a few easy summer hairstyles for ...read more
How are the summer studies at your house? Would you like to know how to round out summer learning? Absolutely you do, right? I knew you would! Parents will do anything to help our kids see success at school. I mean, I saw how important summer learning was long before I was a ...read more
Summer is officially in full swing, and we've been making the most of it with lots of fun, sun, and alfresco activity. Of course, finding the morning motivation to get up, get out, move, play, and soak it all in despite high temps and heat can be difficult for children and ...read more
My big guy is having the best time at his little morning summer camp. It's exclusively outdoors on an open field and playground--which means the counselors have to get very creative with sports and activities and fun and games. Yes, they craft on a picnic table and play board ...read more
We are getting ready to head to the big K. I know this will come with a roller coaster of emotions, and I also know that I am ill-prepared for my littlest one to fly the coop and head off to kindergarten. As both a teacher and a mama I want her to be as school ready as possible ...read more
All moms know this parenting gig is not as picture perfect as they had maybe imagined, or as Instagram reveals it to be. Although it is rewarding and constantly fills you up with goodness, the struggle is as real as it gets. This mama is already mildly worn out and summer ...read more
So, have you had "the talk" with your kids yet? Admittedly, I have not. And that's probably because I can still remember squirming with discomfort at ten years old when my own mother gave me the rundown on the birds and the bees. First, there was a video complete with cartoon ...read more
Camp Mom is in session.While my almost six year old big boy goes to our town's summer recreation program, my little lady bug is stuck at home with yours truly. She loves me and all, but I know my social butterfly would want to be playing and crafting and singing and running with ...read more
Summer has only just begun for some of us east coasters, but we know day-camp is already in full swing no matter where you reside. We chose to send our littles to a local day camp for a few hours a day. It has struck just the right balance for us and, so far, so good. All three ...read more
I'll admit that my kids spend more time than I'd like on various devices. The phone, the iPad, the laptop, and multiple televisions provide them with ample screen time--to say the least. The fact is: as a working mama, sometimes I need to "plug" my kids in so that I can plug away ...read more
Kids are home with me for the summer and I am enjoying our relaxed time together. Having my children in the kitchen is a wonderful way for us to spend quality time together. I also like that I can occupy them, and chat with them, all while getting something accomplished. We have ...read more
We know for many of your littles giving in to the sandman doesn't come easily. Nighttime bedtime battles, meltdowns or refusals to go to sleep can be really challenging and can interrupt a family's ability to function in a healthy manner. We all know what too little sleep does ...read more
School is out (or nearly so!) for the littles and parents are already wondering how they can continue to encourage, maintain and strengthen their children's literacy skills. It is great to keep the conversation about literacy going. Good reading habits take practice and need to ...read more
For many of us dance mamas, it is recital time! Time for the magic of a year's worth of hard work to culminate into two hours of dance performances of all genres. As a former dancer, I am over the moon that my girls love dance as much as I do. It is a beautiful art of expression ...read more
I have the hardest time trying to help the kiddos pick a father's day gift to give their dad. He's a hard one to shop for. If he likes something, he'll go get it. So, it leaves me struggling and scrambling to put something together or pick something out for him.I don't want to ...read more
You know what's funny about little kids? They don't feel the cold. The water temperature could be 50-degrees; when they're swimming around in a pool, they couldn't care less--purple lips and all.Of course, once they climb out and their little bodies are exposed to the air, it's a ...read more
When my little lady was a baby girl, I would go absolutely berserk buying bathing suits and bikinis and all sorts of adorably girlie and totally ridiculous (but pretty!) beach and pool ensembles.I'd have to slather heaps of sunscreen on her exposed arms and legs and back and ...read more
As an educator, I know one of the best ways to teach a child (or anyone!) is through hands-on experience. We want our children to be deep thinkers and to develop problem solving skills. In order to inspire a love of learning in our kids, we need to get them involved in their own ...read more
My little lady is about to graduate "the threes." Next year, she'll be in a "fours" program, and so this summer will be devoted to potty training! Her birthday falls on the district cusp, so even though I probably will have her in an extra year of pre-K, it's time she stops using ...read more
Finding the best bottle for your baby can be tough. I’m used to challenges though. The road to my babies coming into this world wasn’t always easy. We really went through the ringer with our second wee one, but I think the struggle made the moment that sweet little soul joined ...read more
When it comes to what the future looks like for my girls, the sky’s the limit. I think we'll get a woman president in my lifetime. And I think female pilots and engineers will help us get there. The more we see women in careers traditionally thought of as "men's work," the bolder ...read more
Did you know today, May 19th, is National Learn to Swim Day? I can't think of a better way to celebrate it than to share my thoughts on why kids should learn to swim. And boy do I have some thoughts. You see even though we live in Florida, we just bought our first home with a ...read more
Selecting a name for your child can be a daunting task. There are so many things to consider, and it's a huge responsibility for a soon-to-be parent. I had an easy timing naming my son, Grant. I liked that it was a simple, strong, and suitalble name. It means tall and handsome, ...read more
1. Foster an “Outside” Connection to LearningSummer is the perfect time to show kids that learning doesn’t just happen at school. And one of the best ways to make at-home learning fun during the summer is to take it outside! You can conduct simple experiments that may be too ...read more
My daughter's favorite thing to do everyday is dress up like a princess. Well...it's a toss up between princess and superhero. Maybe she should combine the two.But, lately her favorite has been dressing up like a princess.I asked her if she'd like to make princess hats with me ...read more
Moms need help--whether it's a babysitter for a few hours one day a week or a full-time nanny or sporadic assistance in a pinch. I was so excited to find a new sitter recently--she likes to do crafts, loves children's movies, and has tremendous energy for playing and running and ...read more
Mother's Day is less than a week away! But don't worry; we have a simple DIY that you can make in no time.Mom will feel so special with this DIY Mother's Day Serving Tray. Especially with the special art project made by the kids that will be displayed in the center.Prep the ...read more
Are you planning a Legoland trip soon? Well, then you're probably going to want to talk about what to wear to Legoland. Because the one thing you want to be when you're taking on an amusement park, is comfortable! And that goes double for the kiddos. My little ones' attitudes can ...read more
I absolutely adore my son's Kindergarten teacher. She is sunshine and rainbows and unicorns and pure magic; everything that an early childhood educator should be. As the school year begins to wind down, I want to celebrate this kind, nurturing, creative, and spirited soul and ...read more
Being a tween girl is awesome, there have never been more empowering messages for them. They can be smart, strong and creative and it's all encouraged. Now, that's not to say sometimes tweendom isn't confusing. There's puberty to reckon with and often shifting interests. My ...read more
My son has turned me into somewhat of a Star Wars fan. I cant escape his enthusiasm and enjoy finding ways to support it. Friday, May 4th is a day for all Star Wars fans to celebrate and greet their fellow fans with the fun phrase, "May the FOURTH be with you." (For our newbie ...read more
Yesterday was cloudy in the mid-50s, today will reach a high of 75-degrees. This spring weather is anything but predictable. Cold, sunny, cloudy, rainy, hot, blustery, annnnnd repeat.Regardless of the weather, Much like their mama, my little ones are ready to shed the layers, ...read more
This post contains affiliate links.Who's on the lookout for must-have spring sandals for girls?! If you aren't yet, you should be! It's that time of year again. It's sandals season! Even if the temps aren't balmy in your neck of the woods, they will be soon enough. It's time to ...read more