The holidays are upon us, and it’s the time of year parents start to think of great gift ideas for kids. Toys are wonderful, but not all toys are made equal. Some break, some don’t hold their interest, and some are easy for kids to grow out of. With two busy boys, I am always on the lookout for awesome, hands-on toys that are also durable, easy to store, and keep my kids busy! This post contains affiliate links which means if you make a purchase using one of those links, I receive a small commission. All opinions are my own. What makes a toy awesome? As an educator, I want gift ideas for kid ..read more

Children learn by doing. That’s why having the best products for hands-on learning is important. Currently, I have two toddlers and it’s a bit chaotic over here. I understand how important it is to keep hands busy, so when I started homeschooling my kids, I knew I wanted to make learning come alive for them. Since then, I have been on a search for educational tools that stray from traditional pen and paper and assist with multiple areas of cognitive development for little ones. My favorite products for hands-on learning do just that: keep play meaningful, purposeful, and, of course, FUN. Discl ..read more

Looking for the perfect place to take family photos in Tucson, Arizona? Luckily, there are so many places in Tucson to choose from, no matter what time of year! Below is a list of suggested spots around town for the most ideal family photoshoot. These places bring out the best backdrops to show off your most prized possessions and this beautiful city. No matter where you choose to take your pictures, I recommend visiting the location beforehand. Many parks are on my list, but reseeding of grass usually occurs in October and November and then again in March, so plan ahead. Photos taken outdoors ..read more

With our kids heading back to school, parents want to start the year off right. Rightfully so! Which is why it’s so important to avoid these 8 fairly common mistakes parents make each school year. Before I was a mom, I was a teacher, setting up my classroom, making seat charts, and studying my rosters. This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase using one of these links I receive a small commission. All opinions are my own. After years of working with children, and now having children of my own, there are a few things I observed from parents each and every year that ..read more

Today, I did something out of the norm. I made the 30-minute drive downtown, to park in metered spots along a busy road, risking car naps between my toddler and a crying 8-month-old, to go to a place I’ve never been before. That’s right…I left my mom radius. Defining the Mom Radius I have a life I like to refer to as my mom radius. Everywhere I go with my kids on a daily basis are places that are familiar, comfortable, and about 5-15 minutes from home. I know what to expect and can escape if things aren’t going according to plan. It’s easy. As a stay at home mom of two kids, I very rarely leav ..read more

As a modern mom, I’m sure you already use Amazon Prime, but are you also utilizing the Amazon Subscribe and Save store? If not, you could be simplifying your life and saving money too! Obviously, you don’t want to subscribe to a service without fully understanding it beforehand. After having my first son, I chose to sign up for Amazon Subscribe and Save. Three years later with another child in the mix, I feel more than qualified to explain this program to others. Here’s the Amazon Subscribe and Save store breakdown, what it is and how to use it to ensure you’re getting what you need each month ..read more

Give yourself grace. As a mom, I’ve heard this advice more than a few times. In fact, I just gave this guidance to a new mom of two struggling to get dinner on the table with her newborn and toddler in the mix. I told her this phase is about survival and “giving yourself grace” right now is important. Of course, just like all advice, it’s much easier said than done. The Intention is There The intention is there. When you feel like your day is unraveling or you’ve been hard on yourself for whatever reason, “giving yourself grace” is about giving yourself that kindness you often deserve. Sounds ..read more

As moms, it seems we’re always sharing special moments with our friends and families. When I do, I like to share mine in a big way, with Basic Invite. Basic Invite is an online stationery company, offering a unique selection of prints for every occasion. From baby showers to birth announcements to HS graduation invitations, you can take advantage of truly customizable templates while enjoying easy ordering, purchasing, and sending services. Here’s why I love Basic Invite: Super Customizable Templates Modern moms know exactly what they want, so having control of your card down to the smallest ..read more

How important is a great sound machine for baby or toddler? Very. In fact, if you care about baby sleep, this tool is the tool you’ll need for a super effective naptime and bedtime routine. After much research, and two children later, I finally found one I absolutely love: The Hatch Baby Rest.\ This post contains affiliate links which means if you make a purchase using one of these links, I make a small commission. All opinions are my own. See my full disclosure here. Before you find out why the Hatch Baby Rest is the best sound machine for baby and toddler, let’s disc ..read more

Recently I read an article stating that grandparents who babysit their grandkids may live longer. Of course, the article got me thinking about my parents and parents-in-law and how much they’ve done for us since having our first child back in 2016. The problem is, extra years of life doesn’t seem to come close to what we actually owe them. As parents, how do we even go about paying them back for it all? To them, time spent with our children is more than enough, but to us it’s just the beginning. I started to think about how many times grandparents have come to our rescue. How many times have I ..read more