As holidays and birthdays approach, are your kids scrounging to buy gifts they can hardly afford? Offer them these fun ideas for gifts from the heart. It gives them an activity to keep busy and create, plus a memory for the receiver to cherish. Service coupons. Offer a free evening of babysitting, a week of taking […]
read moreAs a parent, I’ve come to appreciate some of the traditions I thought were a little monotonous in my younger years. I’ve carried on toting my kid dressed in his holiday PJs for a long drive in search of Christmas lights. We’ve continued to take off of work and decorate outdoors every Black Friday, without […]
read moreThe next time you’re faced with a crying toddler, try to take a moment to make sure you are calm. If you’re angry, stressed or frustrated, the things that you say will just add to your toddler’s distress. Take a breath or two, acknowledge how you’re feeling, focus on what’s going on inside your body (your heart […]
read moreIt’s no secret that hearing our kids cry makes us uncomfortable. Just think about how anxious you feel when your little one tears up without an obvious reason. We know that a newborn’s main way to communicate is to cry, yet we still look at it as something to be “fixed.” Once that infant becomes […]
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The holiday season is a hectic time, no doubt, but it’s also a magical one. I’m constantly reminding myself to make the most of these years with fa-la-la and fantasy fun, as we have so few. Our children get so few Christmases to enjoy the magic, beauty and sensation through their innocent eyes. If you […]
read moreKris Kringle Cookies Ingredients: 1 cup butter, softened 1 cup sugar 2 large eggs 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon salt 1 cup white chocolate morsels 1 cup dried cranberries Directions: Heat oven to 375 F. Line a large cookie sheet/baking pan with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with mixer until light and fluffy. Blend […]
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Too often our kids are given items that get thrown to the side after a few minutes of play. Christmas gifts are the ultimate victims of this act. Your child can receive thirty new toys for Christmas, what is a child to do with so many new items? Throw them in a pile and move […]
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Checking newspapers, flyers and emails for holiday savings can turn into a chore. When shopping this holiday season, don’t let the deals and steals overwhelm you. Use these tips to save while keeping a level head: Get a head start on planning. Websites such as BFads.net post-Black Friday flyers way before Thanksgiving. They also offer […]
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Ingredients 1 shallot, finely chopped 2 (8-oz) packages cream cheese 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese 8 oz diced precooked ham 3 tablespoons whole grain mustard 1/2 cup water DIRECTIONS Chop shallot (2 tablespoons). Place all ingredients in slow cooker; cover and cook on HIGH for 50–60 minutes, stirring occasionally, until […]
read moreVolunteering is an excellent way to teach your kids important life skills. In addition, volunteering during the holidays helps promote an ‘attitude of gratitude’ in your household and takes your child’s mind off their holiday wish list. Volunteering Is For the Whole Family It is not only those who you help that benefit when you […]
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