Oh, hello. It’s been awhile since our site has been active, but we’re working on bringing back our most popular posts. We’re going to stay focused on all things family life, fun in Pittsburgh for kids, and product reviews, but this time you might here from some of the younger voices! After fourteen years of blogging off and on, this space continues to be a place for our thoughts and reviews. The family looks a little different – the kids have grown a lot and mom is now doing this life thing solo. Maybe someday we’ll share that story, but right now we just want to get back on our feet and do mo ..read more

Let’s face it, with the changing weather we’ve been having this year, there are sure to be emergencies when it comes to plumbing in Pittsburgh this December and January. Yup, Mom said it and might regret it, but she’s ready to handle it thanks to these emergency plumbing tips that will help avoid costly plumbing damages. The Reality of Owning Homes and Plumbing in Pittsburgh Plumbing emergencies are faced at one time or another by every homeowner, but with historic homes, deep rooted trees, old brick roads under asphalt and cement, plumbing in Pittsburgh just makes our area a unique place to ..read more

The Gateway Clipper Holiday Cruises offer three family-friendly events in December 2021 that you won’t want to miss. The weather is agreeable for daytime trips on the Pittsburgh Three Rivers and this is a great time to make family memories! Source: Gateway Clipper Check out everything that the Gateway Clipper Holiday Cruises have to offer – as of the posting of this blog (December 15), there is still availability for all three options! Santa Story Time Cruise The Santa Story Time Cruise is offered on Saturday, December 18. The boat will leave Station Square at 10:30am and return at noon. There ..read more

Every year at Veteran’s Day Mom threw away the papers asking the students to bring in a photo of any family Veterans or Active Military. With no military connection in our immediate family, Mom felt some disconnect. But Isla knew better. She remembered Pappy Jack, her great grandpa she never got to meet. How it Started On visits to Pappy and Grammie’s, our curious Isla would see photos of a young man with a familiar smile. She’d ask who he was and learn it was her great grandfather on Pappy’s side, Pappy Jack. She’d learn more of his story and eventually connect the dots that not only should P ..read more

Before you leave behind your plumbing in Pittsburgh for a long vacation follow our steps! If you’re about to head out of town for an extended holiday vacation, you’ll first want to make sure your home is properly prepared. This is especially important when it comes to your plumbing in Pittsburgh. All too often, vacationers come home from a relaxing trip to a burst water pipe or some other stress inducing plumbing issue. Not only are plumbing issues while you’re away very stressful, they can also cause more damage to your home. To avoid coming home to expensive plumbing issues, follow our tips ..read more

PITTSBURGH — With the highly anticipated return to normal activities, the reality of what it has taken for us to get from March 2020 to August 2021 is really setting in. Through it all, I’ve placed a confidence in my faith and the science that has helped us as we’re preserving through pandemic. For the Willis house, that has meant getting used to wearing masks in most settings. We’re “half vacinated” – three of the six of us are eligible and the others are ready! The biggest change is that we have had to adjust our usually fully packed schedule and haven’t been as “cultural” as we’re used to ..read more

When Isla was a baby, one of the only things that would soothe her to sleep was Elton John’s song, “Tiny Dancer”. It was no surprise that this twirling, pink-loving girly-girl would be begging to be in dance class when she reached the age to get started. Becoming Dancers Unfortunately, Mama missed sign-ups when “Beatsy” (Isla’s nickname because she’s always moving to a beat) was three and four. Whomp. Then when the time came for enrolling a five-year-old, Mama paused and remembered how things went with Arianna in gymnastics at that age (not so awesome for both kiddo and parents). Isla promised ..read more

The past week has been a tough one in our house. Mom tested positive for COVID-19 last Friday and we’ve been trying to keep things cleaner than ever so everyone stays safe. The use of disinfecting wipes has always been essential in our home, but we really ramped that up. And the timing, if possible, was perfect because our latest shipment ARM & HAMMER Essentials Disinfecting Wipes had been delivered. We are a brand ambassador with Arm & Hammer in 2021 and receive product and compensation as part of our partnership. Now is a time that we not only need to keep the house clean on our reg ..read more

The 2020-2021 school year is quickly coming to an end. Whether your kiddos are virtual, hybrid, or in-school, one thing is for sure. This is a year to say THANK YOU to teachers in a big way. Don’t let Teacher Appreciation Week slip by. This is a week celebrated in the United States from May 3-7, 2021. Here are 21 ways to say thanks to the teachers in your life during this week. 21 Ways to Say Thanks to Teachers As a former teacher, I can tell you that even the little gestures for teachers go a big distance, and that comes from someone who never had to teach in a global pandemic. Because (kids ..read more

Out with the old, in with the new. Spring is here and it is time to rid our homes of the stale, stagnant funk that the winter of 2020 has left behind. I know it isn’t just our house – the past twelve months have left so many things feeling “ick”, right? Listen, you’re a busy parent juggling virtual school, working from home, keeping up online social connections. We get it! But there are 5 things you must spring clean to start this new season off sparkling. And even better, what we’re suggesting is a list of chores perfect for your ‘tweens and teens! Spring Cleaning with Enzyme Cleaners Before ..read more