My youngest two kids were in the front yard playing by their favorite tree. It’s a nice crab apple tree that’s easy for them to climb. I asked if they would stay out front for a few minutes so I could take care of a large ant mound I found in the backyard. They agreed. We… [Read More]
Helpful hints on summer sun safety
With the unofficial start of summer just days away, it’s time for us to talk about ways to stay safe in the sun when you’re living the busy summer bucket list life. I’ve been paying even more attention than usual to being sun smart since my brush with melanoma earlier this year. I’m here to… [Read More]
Celebrating Chinese New Year – Tips and Ideas
As a parent and as a teacher, I really love exposing my kids to different cultures and traditions. When I taught kindergarten, I always worked in a week long unit on Chinese New Year, also called Spring Festival. As a mom, now I do the same thing at home. Here are a few ideas to… [Read More]
Books and authors that made my childhood
Do you what is the coolest thing now that Mr. A is reading? Getting to go back and introduce him to some of my favorite books from childhood. Talk about nostalgia. I love to read. I have since I first learned what those beautiful words were on the crisp smelling, bound pieces of paper at… [Read More]
A time for gratitude: I’m thankful for family
The world feels a bit in shambles at the moment. I can’t turn on the news or open up a web site without being blasted with depressing, nerve-wracking or infuriating images or statements. I’m torn between crawling in a hole for several months (years?) or climbing to the top of a mountain with a bullhorn,… [Read More]
Making time for me! #takebackme
Finding time for myself can be challenging. I’m talking about the time where I can be alone in a quiet spot and have time to reflect and think. Running errands alone does not equate “me time”. Taking a quick shower while my kids are distracted or asleep does not count either. I’m talking about sitting somewhere comfortable with nothing to distract me. Between packing, moving, unpacking… [Read More]
Nanny Diaries – Why I Choose a Nanny for My Family
Before I had kids, I never considered I’d one day have a nanny. I thought they were for rich people who didn’t want to raise their own children, or for people who worked long hours and traveled a lot. When I wound up pregnant at the same time as a co-worker, friend and neighbor, we… [Read More]
Preparing for a new preschool year
And moms around the world rejoiced! Preschool starts next week. It seems like it’s been 100 years since my little miss was in school. With Labor Day being late this year, it’s put a hurting on both of us. She’s done with me and I’m done with playing Camp Director. Don’t get me wrong. We… [Read More]
Transitions: New City; New School
I read somewhere the other day that 12% of Americans move each year. Last month, we fell into that statistic as we moved 800 miles south from CT to NC. We are almost settled in our new house and are starting to meet our neighbors and catch up with our friends we left behind five… [Read More]
Absolutely ordinary but absolutely fabulous
This last week has consisted of your normal summer activities with two young kids. We’ve played 100 games of Monopoly Junior and even more games of UNO. Sometimes we even play where we only deal out the “special” cards (as the kids call them) so we can skip and reverse to our hearts content. It’s… [Read More]
