Our monster truck loving little guy celebrating with a full on Monster truck bash. Invite Made in Canva using their template (available in pro version) I then modified this template to all of my signs. Shirt Purchased on Amazon Decorations Banner Monster Truck 5 Balloon Kit Balloon Kit Table settings & Decor Activities Pinata & Fillings Monster Truck Art Activity Kit Food Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, Chips, Pasta Salad, Cheese & Fruit & Lemonade. Pretty standard party food, but make it MONSTER TRUCK THEMED. FUEL UP! Tires & Exhaust Pipes = Hamburgers &am ..read more

I have a strong passion for keeping our Earth and nature as safe as possible.  I am a freak about recycling, I don’t want to fill our dumps with more than I have to, and I don’t want to flush chemicals into our water and landfills we don’t have to.  Upon trying to do these things, I have found that there are many chemicals you can kick out of your home as well. Here are some relatively easy things we have been doing (though there is always room for more improvement!) We get one Earth.  I want to enjoy it and I want my kids to enjoy it.  I want to treat it with care.  ..read more

Going room by room organizing my home to meet the specific needs of my family to run more efficiently and reduce clutter has been a personal mission of mine. I have highlighted these in my Featured Room Friday. I was also named an expert in an ApartmentGuide article. Please let me preface with: A system is only a good system of it works for you. If you are constantly trying to fit your life into a system that isn’t working, you are only going to be more frustrated. Please take mine and other experts ideas as a starting point in getting you started on your own personal space to meet your perso ..read more

When you are a family, Valentine’s Day typically becomes about the family more than or at least in addition to the spouse/significant other. There are a couple rather easy ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day Family Style. In a local mom’s group someone recently posted “what are you doing for your kids for Valentine’s Day? I am drawing a blank.” We shared some ideas. Decorate Decorating for Valentine’ Day can remind the whole family that it is all about the love. The love between each other in the whole family. Decorations can be as elaborate or as simple as you want. Shop the look Turn on your ..read more

Recently a first time mom reached out and asked “how do you go about planning a first birthday party? I don’t know where to start and I think a lot of first time moms could really benefit from a party planning guide” I realized this is something I love to do and tend to go big on birthday parties and themes. I love a good theme and a good pun and usually take them and run. That being said I do not have the huge budgets many “instagram moms” have, but a regular mom budget. Don’t get me wrong, I do splurge and this price tag is not 0, but it is not huge and elaborate either. Very middle ground p ..read more

We FINALLY felt ready to enter our coffee table era–but we didn’t have a lot of room. We decided to use our ottoman from our Home Reserve couch as the base and get a breakfast tray. That being said, they were HUNDREDS of dollars. We decided to make one. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Siraya Gloudemans • Wisconsin autism advocate mom of 3 (@stayathomezookeeper) Materials Hardwood Edge Glued Panel (21/32 in. x 18 in. x 4 ft.) Measuring tools Square Saw (Sliding Compound Miter saw is ideal) Electric Sander 60 Grit Sandpaper Wood Glue Brad Nailer & Nails (we did 1.5″) Woo ..read more

**WE ARE NOT DISNEY PLANNERS. WE ARE NORMAL PARENTS THAT PLANNED OUR FIRST TRIP FOR OUR FAMILY AROUND OUR OLDEST SON’S AUTISTIC NEEDS. We planned our trip in 20 days, did not stay on resort (since we were pairing up with my husbands work trip). This was our first time going as the planners (not the kids) and our kids’ first time. This is just our experience and what we learned-especially navigating the special needs accommodations to our son’s needs. If you are trying to plan what AGES to bring to Disney here are some notes Disney pricing is 3-9 kids and 10+ If you have kids under 2 they are ..read more

What started as a rainbow party to celebrate my neurodivergent son. While creating the invitation in Canva, there was rainbow image with “cloud 9” on it–and Nolan is turning 9!! So Rainbow Cloud 9 was born! Invitation Using Canva I searched their templates and combined the wording of one with the image of another. I personalized with my favorite photo of him of late. I do have pro to choose this template and remove the background to the photo. Fiver Party Nolan struggles with (and always has) with opening gifts. He doesn’t understand why he has to sit still, he doesn’t really care about mater ..read more

Lakeshore back to school sale going until September 10!   Shop the Sale + When we left the grand opening a couple weeks ago, we left with a flyer and wouldn’t you know it, they circled half the items.  When they had the back to school sale (with 50% in store door busters, 20% online & in-store) + Kids learn through play & Lakeshore knows this making creates award-winning, high-quality educational products designed by teachers + Teachers & parents can find all your Back-to-School essentials from classroom organization, décor to student supplies! ++ AND IF YOU HAVE YOUR HE ..read more

We purchased and fell in love Soppycid water balloons in early summer & were in love! We had so much fun so when @soppycidglobal reached out asking if we would work with them to promote their reusable water balloons it was an easy yes! Our oldest is autistic and very oral sensory seeking so the fact that there are no pieces for him to chew and watch out for is amazing for our family. We are always looking for ways to be “greener” and help our environment and having balloons we can use over 1000 times helps with that! Though the cost can look a little high, knowing I don’t have t ..read more