Photo Credit: Alexandra Blair Photography   Homework isn’t most kids’ favorite part of the day—and it can be painful for parents, too. Rather than turn homework time into a power struggle, simple strategies can help you both work together to get it done without unnecessary stress. Here are six smart tips from educational psychologist Michele Borba, author of Thrivers: The Surprising Reasons Why Some Kids Struggle and Other Shine.    Make homework be required…not a choice. From the beginning of the school year maintain a firm, serious attitude about homewor ..read more

This amazing DIY project was shared by The Local Moms Network contributor, Maria Provenzano, Lifestyle + DIY Expert of Hallmark’s Home and Family and founder of From Scratch.  BLACK AND WHITE CHIC HALLOWEEN TABLE SPOOKTACULAR TABLESCAPE MATERIALS: TO CREATE THE SPIDERWEB NAPKINS: White napkins Black fabric markers Ruler Iron TO CREATE THE SPIDER NAPKIN RINGS: Carboard rolls Wide black ribbon Faux spiders Hot glue gun and glue sticks Scissors TO CREATE THE SPOOKY CENTERPIECE: Goblets Small terrariums with front opening Spanish moss Faux spiders Branch V ..read more

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and, unfortunately, this topic is more pressing than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic. Elyssa Nager is a Colorado-based mom and author of a new book,  Crushing Fleas: A Step-by-Step Guide to Reclaiming Peace, Self-Love and the Amazing You After an Emotionally Abusive Relationship. We spoke to Elyssa about her new book, about the effects of shutdowns on victims of domestic violence and more. How severely has COVID worsened the impact of domestic violence on women and families? Domestic Violence is up 15 to 30% world ..read more

This week’s meet-a-mom is Teresa Purzner, the accomplished mom of three who recently launched Cerebelly, an amazing new baby food brand. When she couldn’t find a product that was both convenient and had the nutrition she was looking for, she developed her own, which you can now find in 480 Whole Foods stores nationwide, as well as online. But Teresa isn’t just a mom and entrepreneur—she also happens to be a Stanford-trained neurosurgeon, and that’s where this brand and story gets interesting. We spoke to Teresa about Cerebelly, baby nutrition, being a working mom and more. What was the “aha ..read more

Summer camp is one of those childhood experiences that will stay with your child forever. It can be a hard decision to do a sleepover camp for the first time, so we wanted to provide you with a few of our favorites right here in Texas to check out! All of the camps listed in our Texas Sleepover Camp Guide will help your child gain valuable confidence, compile priceless memories and build lifelong friendships.   All Texas Overnight Camp Guide 2022 Click Here ..read more

    Use code LOCALMOMS for 20% off your first purchase ..read more

  Today’s Meet a Mom is a sweet one! We chatted with Sweet Loren’s founder (and soon-to-be new mom!) Loren Brill about her delicious cookie dough—made with clean ingredients. Her refrigerated premade cookie dough and edible cookie doughs are all made with non-GMO ingredients, gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan. As much as we love the flavor and ingredient list of Loren’s products, we really loved her story–how a health crisis lead to the launch of her business. Here’s more about Loren and Sweet Loren’s: What was the “aha” moment you decided to start Sweet Loren’s?My first “aha” moment w ..read more

Allie Reindel is a girl mom of two—Blake is 2 1/2 and Scarlett is 3 months old. As a professional photographer, she has a great eye for style and loves interior design. So when our friends at Stokke offered to outfit her nursery in some of their most popular products, we couldn’t wait to see the final result! Allie is thrilled, not only to have these beautiful pieces—all designed to encourage family bonding and connection—but also to hand them down. Stokke products are made to last and grow with your child—built sustainably, they can be shared with family and friends instead of being thrown ..read more

During these busy, stressful times, it can be really hard to take care of your own health. Our kids’ emotional, educational, physical AND other needs can take up 150 percent of our time. But skipping basic self-care can be counterintuitive. Any mom who has taken 30 minutes to go for a run, relax with a bath, or curl up with a good book will tell you they feel more ready to face everything their day throws at them, if they take that time. But self-care won’t only make you a better, calmer mom—it could save your life. If you’ve been putting off basic doctor’s appointments during the pandemic ..read more

Halloween Snack Mix from One Little Project Get your crew into the spooky spirit with these fun, simple recipes. We’re rounded up our favorite snack, dessert and even cocktail recipes from around the web. We hope they make your holiday just a little more festive—and delicious. SnacksSmoky Pumpkin Deviled Eggs from Country Living Sausage Mummies from My Fussy Eater Silly Apple Bites from Fork and Beans Halloween Snack Mix from One Little Project DessertsChocolate Spider Whoopie Pies from 3 Yummy Tummies Pumpkin Spice Puppy Chow from Sally’s Baking Addiction Ghost Cupcakes from Woman’s Day N ..read more