Sleeping Should Be Easy

A Great Tasting Alternative for Moms Who Don’t Drink Coffee

Want focus and energy throughout your day, but don't drink coffee? Learn more about the INVIA drink, the beverage that's great tasting and good for you.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of INVIA. All opinions are 100% mine. Want focus and energy throughout your day, but don't drink coffee? Learn more about INVIA drink, the beverage that's great tasting and good for you. My first ever job was in college, where I worked in the on-campus coffee shop. I was good at it, too. I memorized all the drinks, knew exactly how to make them, and became an expert in drink specialties and whipping them up quick for the students. I'd come home smelling like ground coffee beans. The ironic part? I don't drink coffee. At all. I never took to the taste, as much as I wanted to. I don't even eat coffee-flavored anything, from coffee ice cream to mocha cake. This was all fine and good until I became a mom. Suddenly, … Read More...

Learning Made Fun: How to Encourage Educational Play

learn and discover

Learning made fun with activities and games is one of the best ways for children to play. Discover how to make learning fun at home with your kids with 5 simply and effective ideas. AD

Learning made fun with activities and games is a great way for kids to play. Discover how to make learning fun at home with 5 simply and effective tips. Thank you to Reading Eggs Junior for sponsoring this post. All content and opinions expressed are my own. Confession time: I didn't start reading for fun until well after leaving college. I didn't feel inclined to read when I already had "required reading" to do. I enjoyed the books I had to read and also did well in school, but I never found myself wanting to read on my own. Only when I was past the stage of being required to read did I realize how much I missed it, and that I wished I had read on my own throughout childhood. So when I had kids, I wanted to incorporate reading and learning from the start. And not just … Read More...

How to Handle Parenting Disagreements with Your Partner

communication

Are different parenting styles causing problems in your relationship? Parenting disagreements can challenge even the strongest marriages and families, especially when one parent undermines the other. But don't worry—life doesn't have to feel difficult—learn how to agree on parenting styles with these effective tips! #parenting

Are different parenting styles causing problems? Parenting disagreements can be challenging. Learn how to agree on parenting styles with these tips! Parenthood changes relationships, doesn't it? Even if you and your partner hardly fought before having kids, all that likely changed once you found yourselves raising a baby together. The challenges go beyond infancy, too—you may not agree with how to discipline, or whose career takes precedence over the other. You're not alone. Nearly every relationship faces difficulties the minute kids enter the scene. And no wonder—just take a look at some of the reasons for parenting disagreements: You and your partner have more decisions to make together. Having kids forces parents to make a ton of decisions, from how to put the … Read More...

How to Keep Your Baby Safe in the Kitchen

family life

Baby kitchen safety is important for every parent to consider. Learn 5 crucial ways to keep your baby or toddler safe in the kitchen. #baby

Baby kitchen safety is important for every parent to consider. Learn 5 crucial ways to keep your baby or toddler safe in the kitchen. This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Regalo. All opinions are 100% mine. I knew the "baby" days were over when I set my eldest down on a blanket, turned to fetch something, and saw he had crawled the way to the other side of the room. Long gone were the days of laying him in one place and knowing he'd stay put. Now he was more mobile—and more curious—than ever. One of my biggest concerns was our kitchen. Many parents, myself included, spend a ton of time in the kitchen. We're also often focused on something, from reading a recipe, washing dishes, or putting food away. We don't always have the luxury (or the desire) to … Read More...

Top 5 Parenting Myths: Are You Making These Mistakes?

parenthood

A must-read for all moms! Not all parenting advice or beliefs are all that helpful. In fact, what we may see as truths from hearing them over and over can actually have adverse effects on children. Click here to see if you're following these 5 parenting myths with your kids — and what you can do to avoid them. Even includes a FREE Better Parenting 5-Day Email Challenge! #parenting #parentingtips

Not all parenting advice or beliefs are all that helpful! See if you're following these 5 parenting myths — and what you can do to avoid them. Have you ever said or thought these comments? "I can't seem to control his temper tantrums." "I just want my kids to be happy." "You're such a good boy!" What if I told you they're misguided? That it's parenting myths like these—so ingrained in society—that can lead to trouble for you and your child? If you have, you're not alone. I, like many parents, believed certain truths about being a mom or dad. I thought I was doing what was right, and didn't think anything wrong of it. Except many of these beliefs began to not sit well with me, and made my interactions with my kids worse, not better. Yep, even calling my son a … Read More...

4 Easy Ideas to Nurture Your Child’s Creativity

learn and discover

You know the importance of play and creativity for kids, but how can you encourage it in your home? Discover 4 fun and easy ideas to nurture your child's imagination — perfect for children of all ages!

You know the importance of play and creativity, but how can you encourage it in your home? Discover 4 easy ideas to nurture your child's imagination. I had found the perfect craft on Pinterest—something I could actually try with my then-toddler. The object was simple: draw a cloud outline on a piece of paper, and have your child glue cotton balls within the shape. Once he's done, you'd then cut along the line and you'd have yourself a bona fide cloud—voilá! I gathered our supplies and showed my son how to apply glue to cotton balls and stick it to the paper. Except... he had his own agenda. First, he wanted to play with the cotton balls. To his defense, it wasn't every day he was able to hold and inspect a cotton ball. Then he became intrigued with the glue. He … Read More...

How to Foster Independence in Your Toddler

development

Does your child insist on being a "big kid" and doing everything herself? Children need independence to play, learn life skills and feel competent. This article includes tips and ideas for kids, from one year old through the toddler years, to develop independence. Even includes a FREE Better Parenting 5-Day Challenge! Click here to learn how to raise an independent toddler!

Does your child insist on being a "big kid" and doing everything herself? Learn how to raise an independent toddler while keeping her safe. According to my toddler, being a grown-up was where it was at. He wanted to do everything adults did. He refused to sit in the grocery cart, and he liked to "discipline" his twin brother. He even fussed about holding hands when crossing the street. As a mom, I found this desire to be an independent toddler both admirable and... exhausting. I knew our job was to raise self-sufficient future adults who could function as well as we do. At the same time, the push for independence can feel scary for me as well, especially when he took risks I wasn't sure he was ready for. His "Me do it!" insistence made the day much longer, to the … Read More...