I’ve spoken to hundreds of moms and everyone seems to have the same complaint. How do we get our kids off electronics and back to basics? How do we teach them to connect with people on a deeper level? How do we teach them to search for a solution using their minds and not just with a push of a button? Sometimes I just want to shout, “Stop looking down and take the time to look up, connect and enjoy the moment.” I am determined to teach them the amazing benefits of life unplugged! And voila, that inspired me to set up my summer of getting back to basics plan begins! It’s time to look up, connect and experience real feelings, real emotions, real people, real nature – everything REAL and NOTHING electronic. I’m calling it 'My SMART Back to Basics Summer Project'. The goal is to … [Read more...]
3 Amazing Benefits of Cooking with Kids!
Yes, it’s true! Sometimes cooking with our kids can require time, patience, and some extra clean up effort. But experts agree that the extra effort is well worth it. The benefits are countless. Recently I was reminded how fun cooking can be when my kids and I attended a photo shoot for Cuisinart. The shoot was focused on the amazing Griddler! After the shoot, we were fortunate enough to keep the Panini maker and had so much fun coming up with creative delicious panini recipes. One more memorable than the other – the kids even got a little competitive. As we sat around the table that night, we came up with a list of amazing benefits derived from a day in the kitchen as a family. Family Bonding Opportunity All children love attention and cooking together requires a little … [Read more...]
10 Amazing Tools to Inspire Fantastic Table Manners!
Calling all parents with kiddos that care about good table manners! We spend so much time focusing on teaching our kids how to talk, to read, to write, to count and more. But do we know enough and spend quality time teaching our kids basic table manners? It all starts with moving them away from using fingers to introducing utensils. As a mom of three kids, I’ve seen it all and I’ve learned that the earlier you start working on the basics, the easier it will be! The first step is to expose them to flatware. Start with a spoon and fork. Then you move on to the knife and how to use them together. Using utensils can be compared to riding a bike. If your balance is off, it won’t work very well. Food is less likely to launch off the table or spill onto clothes if your kids know how to … [Read more...]
The Perfect Valentine’s Day Thanks to minted.com
Guess what arrived in the mail today? A few weeks ago, my daughter and I picked out lots of cards and gifts from minted.com to get ready for Valentine’s day 2017! This year they offered an amazing section of Valentine’s day cards for her classmates—she was so excited. We also added a few elegant personalized cards for grandparents and some special Valentine’s day gifts. The long-anticipated box is here! I always love opening the minted boxes because they do such a great job with their packaging. They find a way to make every item look even more beautiful than online. To give you some ideas for your Valentine’s day shopping list, I thought I’d share ours. If you hurry, you too can take advantage of all the great deals on minted.com this Valentines. Unique Classroom … [Read more...]
Our Top 10 Elf Missions! {FREE PRINTABLES}
"MOM, HE'S BAAACK!" Much to my kids delight, our Elf on the Shelf has joined us again. My kids are so excited that they even made him a little welcome back sign. This time my plan is to have Zac (the name we chose for our little Elf) encourage healthy habits, good social skills and wonderful manners! All of his missions are simple and easy to recreate. They also offer 'teachable moments' to talk to your children about kindness, respect and character development. What do you need to get started? Just download these FREE printables - , and . Cut out each mission and tape it to a craft stick. There are sixteen ready-made missions and a blank page to create your own. The possibilities are endless! Ready to get started? Mission 1 - Healthy Habits A little reminder to take … [Read more...]
Good Manners for the Holidays in Four Easy Steps (Prep your kids with games that ACTUALLY work)
‘Tis the season for giving, being grateful and holiday gatherings. Are your kids ready? Does your child know how to accept a gift gracefully? How to be a great host or guest? Write a kind thank-you note? Or do you sometimes feel as if you go to a family gathering with your fingers crossed – “Please let my child behave today”? We all have those moments when our children embarrass us by not behaving properly. The possibilities of what can happen at a holiday gathering are endless! The best way to try to relax and enjoy the festivities is to offer your kids a pre-holiday refresher 101 course on being a good host and guest. Don’t fear. Help is here! Prep your kids with these four game-changing rules to make everyone feel welcome and comfortable. Play these simple games to equip your kids … [Read more...]
