When I first met my husband I was convinced I'd never fit into the military community. It's overwhelming trying to figure all this stuff out. Back in the Midwest, where my husband and I are from, people keep the same friends their whole life. They live down the street from a whole network of grandparents, aunts, cousins and close [...]
How Military Spouses Make Friends After PCSing (25+ Ideas)
"Let's go sit in the driveway with our firepit and drink a beer," he said. With that one simple suggestion, we were searching (sitting 😉) to find some new friends after PCSing. Grab the dog and the kids and make them come out there too. We're like a display at a mall. We should've made a sign that read, "In search of friends. We aren't [...]
20 Most Popular Toddler Stocking Stuffers for Under $10
Buying toddler stocking stuffers is one of my favorite things about the holiday season. Whether you gift a stocking stuffer for St. Nick or Christmas, these small and simple gifts can really make a toddler feel excited about the holiday season. Because our son was so young last Christmas, we really didn't buy him many gifts. post [...]
Busy Stay-at-Home Mom? 7 Ways to Manage Your Home More Efficiently
I was taking a shower and I heard the door creak. Immediately, I knew who it was and my heart sank. "Mom, can I have a snack?" I didn't answer. 3 seconds pass and a small hand pulls the curtain. A head peeks into the shower. "Mom?" My daughter persists acting like this is normal. At least she isn't [...]
47+ Stocking Stuffers for Toddlers That Will Make Christmas Magical
Christmas is a magical time for families, especially when you have small kids. Carefully choosing a few toddler stocking stuffers and placing them in our kids' stockings is one thing I'm looking forward to most this year. Stocking stuffers for toddlers are tiny treasures and sometimes they garner more attention than presents under [...]
7 Core Following Directions Activities for Kids That’ll Improve Listening
Inside: Quick and easy following directions activities for kids that will help them practice self-control, emotional regulation and improve listening skills. There was a joke traveling around years ago from Carrie On Y’all that said, “Maybe if I start yelling ‘Get your shoes on!’ the night before, we could get to school on time the [...]
BEST 1 Year Old Sleep Schedules from Real Mamas
Sometimes you hear advice that a 1 year-old sleep schedule or routine is going to bog you down. It's like a nagging chore you cannot erase. Instead, they say to live free and go with the flow. Let's just be whimsy, they say. That is...until you're about to lose your ever-loving-mind with a one year-old tantruming child who will [...]
100+ Printable Chore Cards for Kids to Teach Responsibility, Helpfulness and Independence
Inside this post: How to use printable chore cards for kids to teach responsibility, promote independence and encourage hard-work. I sat in the car driving the kids to preschool, when she said something brilliant. “How would it feel to have your kids grow into adults who could make good choices without a threat, bribe or [...]
My Favorite Things Family Gift Guide for 2020
It's been a unique year. We've heard this over and over again from news outlets, friends, family and beyond. And during this unique year - an opportunity presented itself - to either bring out the best in us OR the worst in us. Over the past 8 or 9 months, some really amazing things happened in our family.... We learned to cope [...]
How to Stop Toddler Hitting – The Simple & Easy Way!
The hitting and toddler aggression seemed to come out of nowhere. First it was the toddler biting, and shortly thereafter came the toddler hitting. I can wholeheartedly tell you, I've been through the full gamut with both my kids -- hitting, kicking, biting and spitting. No matter what toddler behavior you're dealing with, I can [...]