Getting into the Christmas Spirit with Netflix

I love Christmas! I love the decorations, the crafts and the act of giving gifts. Most importantly, however, I love seeing my kids as they get more and more excited about the approaching holiday. Every family has their own traditions and yearly adventures when it comes to Christmas. For my family, a large part of the season revolves around watching Christmas movies. We love getting into the Christmas Spirit by watching the various tales, both new and old. It’s a great excuse for cozy blankets, hot chocolate and family bonding time. Since our family unplugged from cable a few years ago we have been dependantRead More →

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dealing with unexpected costs as a family on a budget

Maybe it’s just us, but it seems like this time of year is a magnet for bad luck. The dryer died last year and this year a sensor in the truck decided to go out. Some years are better than others but it never fails. If something is going to break and need replacing. It’s going to happen close to Christmas or a birthday or some other event that’s already stretching our budget a bit thin. Dealing with unexpected costs is just a hard bit of truth when it comes to being an adult. Would have been nice if someone had warned us about thisRead More →

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I have become a big fan of journaling and planning over the last year. Keeping up with my goals and daily tasks have brought a tremendous sense of peace to my life. Being able to wake up in the morning, open my journal or planner and see exactly what needs to be accomplished that day helps keep the stress of trying to remember it all to a minimum. But, I recognize that creating a bullet journal or keeping up with a regular planner can be time-consuming and challenging for many people. Journaling for busy families requires a less time-consuming method. Something that takes only minutesRead More →

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wall decals header2

At some point this summer I realized that all the photo’s in our home were outdated. We have changed so much and gone on so many fun adventures that I really felt like it was time to add some new memories to the walls. I can’t really remember the last time I ordered a photo print! I just shared them on social media and saved them to google photos and that was that. But it would be nice to have an actual physical copy – and a family photo wall is a wonderful way to decorate your home! Of course, I have also been aRead More →

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cards from the dollar tree

Anyone who has read this blog for any length of time knows about my undying affection for the Dollar Tree. I am sorry but a store where everything is a dollar? Yes, please. My trips to the Dollar tree have become something of a family joke. Comments like “Mom’s going to the Dollar Tree, better bring the tablet’s we’re going to be a while!” are uttered by the kids on a regular basis. But, it always astounds me just what I can find at the Dollar Tree. Last spring I got the cutest Fairy Garden figures and the spring wreath on my front door gotRead More →

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your summer of almost free family fun, beach picture

Summer is the perfect time to get outside, soak up the rays, live life to the fullest and stay out later than normal (say, 9:15 instead of 9:00 – crazy right?). The issue is, while summer is meant to be a time of fun-filled family adventure, it’s also a constant reminder that you could be having way more fun if you had a bank balance that allowed it. We all stare wistfully at the vacation pictures our friends post on the various social media outlets. But, Don’t worry, this can be your summer of almost free fun! If you’re like our family, you’re already wonderingRead More →

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whole family active

We may as well be honest with ourselves. We could all stand to be a little healthier in our day to day lives. Likewise, we could all stand to spend more time together as a family; engaging in a balanced diet of activities which will not only enrich our lives and bring us closer together but ensure that we are as fit and healthy as we can be. Given that most of us spend 8-10 hours a day sitting (which can have some pretty serious repercussions for our health) in an air-conditioned office under fluorescent lighting, by the time we get home from work mostRead More →

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a rushing stream

Making fathers day special can be a bit of a challenge in our house! Although we don’t do anything expensive for Mother’s or Father’s day we do try to make it special. Since Mother’s Day falls during the school year it’s pretty simple. The kids always make things for me at school and I take the night off cooking while my husband BBQ’s. But, Father’s day falls when my kids are out of school, so he misses out on the cute things they would be bringing home. Last year the school held a Donuts with Dad day right before school let out. But this year,Read More →

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A letter to my mother on mothers day

The arrival of May means that Mother’s Day is swiftly approaching. Since the birth of my own children, I have been blessed to take part in Mother’s Day from the other side of the fence. As a mother, instead of a daughter. But it’s as a daughter that I’m writing this post. When I was little I loved my mother, she was my safety and my comfort. But, it wasn’t until I was older, after I had children of my own that I truly realized the depths of her love and sacrifices. Being a mother is hard. There are days when there is nothing butRead More →

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Earth Day activities for families

For last years Earth Day family activities the kids and I made Flower Seed bombs and while they were a huge hit I wanted to do something a bit different. Every year I envy the houses in the neighborhood with hanging plants on the front porch. There is just something so inviting and homey about it. Most people choose ferns or petunias but I still wanted to do something to help our local wildlife. So the kids and I decided to plant a wildflower selection in our hanging pots. This post may contain affiliate links, this means that if you make a purchase after followingRead More →

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