How to Make a Simple Kite

This video tutorial is great for learning how to make a simple kite! With just a few common household items you probably already have on-hand, you can make a simple kite in about 2 minutes from start to finish. My kids and I love making these kites and spending the afternoon at a local park flying […]

Simple (and Delicious) Pleasures for Fall

The fall season is quickly approaching, and one of my favorite simple pleasures this time of year is to make a quick run to our local bakery for some tasty treats to bring back home and share with family and friends! Some of my personal favorites are pumpkin muffins, fresh whole grain bread with currants, […]

At Home Date Night Ideas for Parents

Let’s face it, we all need a night out every once in a while.  Date nights help us, as parents, recharge and reconnect with each other.  But, then again, date nights out “on the town” can be expensive between the cost of the babysitter, and dinner, or movies, or whatever else your plans are…it racks […]

S’mores in a Jar!

Homemade food gifts are awesome–they are fun to give, fun to receive, and fun to eat!  We have a lot of visitors coming this summer and we were trying to come up with a fun little welcome gift for them.  Then it came to me, s’mores in a jar! How to Make S’mores in a […]

Sunday Snapshot — Happy Father’s Day

Wishing all the amazing dads out there a wonderful Father’s Day!!

10 Things You Can Do Right Now…

The thought of making a difference can sometimes feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be.  Here are 10 things you can do right now (really!) that can make our world a better place… 1.  Plant a tree. 2.  Send a card to a service member. 3.  Turn off the water while you brush your […]

Cherishing Simple Pleasures in Spring

“I must admit I’m a bit of an Autumn girl, but you really can’t beat the magic of Spring!” ~ Jane In the Spring, we love going outside and searching our garden for new flowers that might be peaking up, and identifying the birds and bugs in our yard.  There is so much wonderment in […]

50 Ways to Keep Kids Entertained During a Blizzard

Keeping kids entertained during a blizzard can be quite challenging, especially if they have lots of extra energy to burn. Here are 50 of our favorite indoor activities for while the blizzard is going on, before you head outdoors for some fun in the snow! Added bonus — you probably have everything you need for […]

Adventures in Soap Making!

With the Thanksgiving holiday right around the corner, the kids and I wanted to make some special handmade hostess gifts for my mom, who will be hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year. ((Thanks, Mom!)) These pumpkin spice hand soaps fit the bill perfectly! They would be lovely gifts for teachers, neighbors, or friends too! First, you […]

20 Must-Do Favorite Activities for Fall

Are you looking forward to Fall? Need some kid-friendly activities to help celebrate the season?? Here are 20 of our family’s favorite Fall activities that have become special traditions.  1. Go Apple Picking — This is one of my favorite family traditions for Fall! Afterwards, we bake apple pies and make homemade apple sauce with […]

Our Favorite Summer Moments

Like every Summer, we started off the season by making a “bucket list”, but some things just could not have been planned. Here are some of our favorite Summer moments! 1. Making a Bucket List — It was so nice to have a list of things to do with the kids before the end of […]

How to Build a Simple Shadow Puppet Theater

I completely underestimated how much the girls would enjoy playing with shadow puppets. Whenever something so simple makes them so happy, I can’t help but smile!! And this was SUPER simple. Added bonus — the perfect entertainment for whenever a power outage occurs. Our little shadow puppet theater was made from an empty cardboard box […]

Sunday Snapshot — Behold the magic!

Behold the magic…. ….. of CARDBOARD!! Wishing you and your family a lovely weekend full of magic and wonder!

10 Little Things That Make Me Happy

Know what makes me smile?? Celebrating the little things in life, cultivating gratitude, and experiencing the joy of simple pleasures. Here are 10 little things that make me really happy! 1. The view from our garden plot at sunset. The tomatoes are almost ready.   2. Chatting about ideas for creative play with the lovely […]

Sponge Bomb Yo-Yos

There was renewed interest in the sponge bombs when we made them into yo-yos! This time I held the sponge bombs together with ouchless hair elastics instead, and they worked very well indeed. A piece of elastic attached made them instant yo-yos!! (As with anything else, be sure to supervise the kiddos while playing.) When […]

Ice Cream in a Bag

Making your own ice cream in a bag is definitely a great activity to include on your list of What To Do With The Kids This Summer!! It’s super quick (takes about 5 minutes) and it’s VERY easy to do! Also? Super FUN!!! And the smiles totally made my day! Then there was the taste […]

Connect with Your Kids… Through Art!

It’s time for another post in our Connect with your Kids series — this time the lovely Joyce from Childhood Beckons and I are sharing our ten favorite tips for turning art and craft time into treasured family memories! We hope you enjoy lots of quality time with your kids while creating beautiful artwork together. […]

10 Simple Pleasures for Cherished Childhood Memories

1. Brighten the walkway with some Sidewalk Chalk Stencils.   2. Kids LOVE dirt!! Create an outdoor Mud Pie Kitchen for hours of messy pretend play fun.   3. Bubbles are sure to make everyone smile!   4. Grab a roll of pennies, and visit a local water fountain to Make Lots of Wishes.   5. Go shopping for […]