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How do you keep up with an energetic toddler? Susie Allison has a few ideas. Her site Busy Toddler offers parents a bounty of clever activities and tips that capture a toddler’s imagination (and keep those grasping little hands occupied). What started as a fun way to bond with her toddler son while her infant daughter napped quickly evolved into a fulltime business with a dedicated social following. So how did this stay-at-home-mom become the founder of a toddler-trending enterprise? Read on to hear Allison’s unexpected journey and her tips for staying organized when things get “busy.”… More
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I was elated when my husband recently surprised me with a pair of unique boots I had strategically pointed out to him online awhile back: black leather with an added textured overlay design. But, when I tried them on, the luster and fit didn’t feel right, so it was a definite disappointment; I exchanged them for what was now waiting inside the box for me to unveil. With a new season coming in, I wanted to change things up. I came upon these finds after several weeks of online perusing. I was thrilled to exchange the one pair of boots, for three pairs of shoes; one blush pink, bejeweled sandal, a brown leather pump and a pair of denim flats. I typically don’t like flats as I’m only 5ft 4in and prefer to add a little height…. More
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Whether you have an office job or work as a SAHM, it’s always a juggling act to maintain a clean house while making sure your kids don’t hurt themselves, the dog doesn’t run away and you don’t forget that emergency house call from the electrician. But with everything from laundry to vacuuming and dishes to dusting on your “To-Do” list, it’s hard to streamline projects when there are constant interruptions. Mari Ratcliffe, a retired organizing and cleaning expert from Phoenix, Arizona, has tips for harried moms. “Learn to multi-task, first of all. It’ll save your sanity!” she notes. Here are a few more words of wisdom…. More
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I hate The Giving Tree. Like I haaaaaate it, you guys. I truly think that Tree is partly responsible for the downfall of society. Controversial statement, I know. Stick with me.
So, The Boy is all, “I want this” and “I want that” and “I’m bored” and “I’m tired” and “I want mooooooooore.” And The Tree is like, “Sleep in my shade, eat my apples, take my leaves, my branches! Chop me down! My life doesn’t matter!” And The Boy is like YES! Then The Boy/Rude Man Baby is like, “Oh! I am so weary!” and The Tree is happy to offer up her GRAVE. Come and rest upon my rotten bones! I am so desperately happy that you threw me this scrap of attention, even though you forgot my birthday and you never call. I am so glad you are here!… More
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Virginia Satir, family therapy pioneer, said, “Adolescents are not monsters. They are just people trying to learn how to make it among the adults in the world, who are probably not so sure themselves.” Thomas S. Monson, author of Pathways to Perfections: Discourses of Thomas S. Monson, took it a step farther: Some are young people who don’t know who they are, what they can be or even want to be. They are afraid, but they don’t know of what. They are angry, but they don’t know at whom. They are rejected and they don’t know why. All they want is to be somebody." As parents, you know part of your job is to help them find the path to being somebody, but the moods of teens, as they struggle to become independent, can make building a relationship with them tough. Use these tips to bond with your teens while also modeling skills for their future relationships…. More
