Change can be daunting, especially when it comes to your family. Years can pass in the blink of an eye; one day, you’re changing diapers, and the next, you’re planning for college. As such, your home and your family may also need to undergo a transformation to adapt to these new shifts. Fortunately, there are ways to avoid having to completely overhaul your living space as your family grows and changes. Creating a timeless look in your home can help you and your family withstand evolving times and trends. Whether you’re just beginning your family or gearing up as empty-nesters, a timeless hom ..read more

Planning high school courses can feel overwhelming for so many reasons. What math courses are best if you want to go to a certain college? What science track is best if you want to pursue a career in medicine? How many AP classes should a teen take, and which AP courses matter to which universities and are necessary to get into specific dream programs? We are navigating the strategic selection of high schools courses now, which specific end goals in mind. My son has an idea what career he’d like, and we have an idea of universities he would likely be happiest to attend (and their requirements ..read more

With one son in high school and the other in middle school, the time has come for us to start looking ahead a college planning and college admissions, and those formidable university years. Specifically: 1. Will my sons be accepted into a great school where they can learn, grow, thrive, excel? 2. Will my husband and I be able to afford their tuition without having to take on student loans? 3. How do we ensure they do well on those standardized tests that can have a huge impact on acceptances, and even more significant for us, merit scholarships? 4. Are we doing enough? Did we miss out on impor ..read more

New Year’s resolutions come and go, and for the most part, while I tend to only make a few and usually stick to them for a bit, do seem a bit…. ineffective? Maybe because I only make them once a year, and feel some weird need to wait until January 1st to start, or maybe because I find myself rotating the same resolutions (I resolve to stop biting my nails every five years or so, and do well for a long time- even using “No Bite” to make sure I don’t bite, but then after a year or two I stop using the peppery nail polish, start biting my nails again, and we’re back where we started). My point is ..read more

This time of year, we tend to shop a lot. Even minimalists like myself might spy a gorgeous piece of decor or an item that I didn’t know I needed (or even existed) until I saw it on display, and suddenly I felt like it would solve a lot of problem. It probably would not (it would probably just end up in a drawer or storage like all the things that were supposed to be an answer to a big problem I didn’t know I had until I saw a solution for sale) but that doesn’t stop the in-the-moment temptation. I know what it’s like to find something that is prettier, more luxurious, more prestigious, more ..read more

It’s that time of year! It’s time to shop for our favorite people (and the deals are starting to heat up… you can find the stuff you wamt Our Favorite Five Gift Ideas For Family and Friends in 2023 1. Nintendo Switch Games Detective Pikachu Returns– An unbelievably popular character is back with all new adventures, following Tim Goodman and the wise-cracking Detective Pikachu as they try to solve the mystery of Tim’s missing father. Pokémon games are always a hit with kids, and this new game for the Nintendo Switch system traverses across Ryme City to find a jewel thief and Tim’s dad Harry vi ..read more

After sharing some great Usborne books for little kids, I discovered a bunch more that are incredibly education and fun and interactive- for smart older kids! These books are best for children who are at least four, with a focus on 5-10. Elementary school children of all grades would love the incredible amount of interesting information, fun trivia, and surprising fact they will learn throughout, and you may find you inspired a curious little kid to learn more about 100 Things To Know About The Unknown answers the questions: What are those mysterious floating lights we sometimes see at night ..read more

My son wanted a tumbler for school, a cool one in a great color, so imagine my happiness when I came across a company that makes great looking, versatile tumblers in a variety of colors and sizes, for both hot and cold drinks, AND wants to make customers happier when they aren’t enjoying a drink from their tumbler too. Let me introduce Zak! Designs… These Zak! Sutton tumblers come in 20oz or 30oz and in four colors (Jade, Ebony, Coral Blush, or Opera), made with stainless steel and double-walled vacuum insulation. My son plans to take his Jade 30 ounce tumbler to school every day (he’s been ..read more

In today’s technologically advanced world, robotics has become an integral part of our lives, offering innovative solutions and endless possibilities. Among the myriad of STEM toys and gadgets out there for kids today, one stands out to us for the unique way it blends creativity, fun, and educational value: Sphero Blueprint. I recently had the opportunity to check out the modular engineering system for middle school and high school kids who want to create, and have ideas in their head they can finally build in the real world. Geniuses are made by letting kids create without interruption, somet ..read more

Usborne always made some of our favorite books for kids, with board books that included touch-and-feel (babies and toddlers LOVE these), pop-up pictures, and books with sounds. The newest books I discovered from Usborne books have a combination of all these features… check these out: That’s Not My Puppy is a touch-and-feel books with pages of doggies featuring a variety of textures for tots to play with while looking for the right puppy. This is the sparkly 20th Anniversary edition from the “That’s Not My…” series, which has sold millions of different books that my own sons loved growing up. T ..read more