It’s Tough Living in Legoland

Way in the northern rural-suburban stretches of New Jersey, settled in a cozy two-story yellow house, sprawled across the plush swaths of rug in the library room, lays a quaint and peaceful little town called Legoland. Tourists might enjoy a visit to the city's awe-inspiring cathedral... Front towers! A rose window! Flying buttresses! Clerestory windows! Pews …

Toddler Talk Tuesday: A New Toddler and Her Words!

Hi guys! Umm ... so I've missed two regular Monday posts in a row. Yikes. I'm sure nobody noticed (except my parents and in-laws ... am I right?), but I'm disappointed in myself because I prefer to maintain personal discipline with my goals, even for hobbies. Buuut.... There have been two recent changes here. The …

I Can’t Wait For My Kids To “Grow Up So Fast” – Here Are My Top 10 Reasons Why

That expression! "They grow up so fast; enjoy every minute!" Do I enjoy every minute? Of course not. No parent does. If they say yes, they're lying the biggest lie a person can make. I will never enjoy changing a diaper or cleaning up spilled meals (although I do have a perma-clean dining area floor …

Toddler Talk Tuesday: What DOES Daddy Do During the Day?

Are anyone else's kids a bit confused about what their parents actually do during the day? I'm home with my two girls every day, so they know every second of my life - right down to my bathroom duties, of course. However, they really don't understand what my husband does. Squish has seen his desk, …

Bored Lately? 7 Ways to Win at Parenting

Raise your hand if you feel like your days are repetitive or overly scheduled. Yes, we all do so many activities - dance, sports, music, playdates, yard time, playgrounds, school, various chores, and even the occasional trip to a museum or zoo - but when we're at home it can be a bit same-same-same. I …

My Daughter Has Princess-itis

That's a thing, right? I'm pretty sure, because I looked it up and the dictionary said, "a disease afflicting the toddler- and preschool-aged girl marked by unswerving obsessions with all things princess, fancy, Disney, fairy tale, and dress-up." That about sums up the situation. If I'm not calling my 4yo by her real name, it's …

You Want Minimalism? This “Toy” List Is It!

While on a mom's night out (on a TUESDAY NIGHT!!!) this week, a friend of mine introduced me to The Parenting Junkie. Avital is a "peaceful parent coach" who is also an unschooling mother and a minimalist and follows a Montessori kid-lifestyle and such. I hopped around her website the next night and found an …

Odd and Crazy Things My Kids Do With Their Toys

Our kids seem to do some funny things, don't they? Sometimes they imitate us and pretend their toys are real purses or makeup or coffee cups (Toddler likes to drink "kid coffee" out of the mug that holds her watercolor water and paintbrushes). Sometimes they just do weird things with their own toys. Imaginative, yes …

Ridiculous Things To Do After The Kids Are Asleep

It's 8pm and our house is finally quiet. No chattering, no outside voices, no crying, no overly loud singing, no water bottles clanging on the wood floor from the high chair, and no more stomping around. Quiet and freedom. Sigh. There are a lot of days (most days ... I'll be completely honest) when this is what …

Best Gotta-Have-It Non-Baby Items for Mothers

There are hundreds of listicles for "What Every New Mom Needs For Baby," and I've already called out some some popular items I think are totally BS. That got me thinking about what things parents really need but just never make it onto the baby registry. These are the items every baby household really benefits from having, …