Traveling to Hawaii is expensive. Add Disney’s Aulani Resort (twenty-one acres of Disney magic on O‘ahu’s western coastline) to the mix, and we are talking about crazy money. Having been there, I can say that it’s worth it! You don’t have to spend as much as you think, as there are a lot of ways…
Parenting
How I Get My Toddlers to Do Their Own Laundry
I have regularly involved my children in doing laundry for over a year now. Starting at about age 2 their laundry duties have gradually increased. Now that they are 3 and 5, they are doing the majority of their own laundry every week. Their duties include: Putting dirty laundry in the hamper. Helping me load…
Medieval Birthday Party
Recently, my family and I attended the Medieval Times dinner and show in California. The kids who attended with us aged from 3-13 and they were all mesmerized—in fact, every child and adult in the arena that I observed and had a blast! This visit inspired my daughter’s Medieval Birthday Party. At the show Medieval…
Should I Have a Second Child? 7 Reasons Why Two Kids Are Better Than One
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of P&G. The opinions and text are all mine. My friends are just about to welcome their second baby. The first was quite an adjustment for them (as it usually is for most). They are a little nervous and apprehensive that this second one…
2017 Halloween Costume Reveal + 5 Fun Halloween Activity Spots for Kids in Utah & Salt Lake Counties
I wanted to share with you our 2017 Halloween Costume Reveal + 5 Fun Halloween Activity Spots for Kids in Utah and Salt Lake Counties Halloween was so fun this year. Kids this age (just about 3 and 5) are so so fun during holidays. They are old enough to realize that they are doing…
How to Teach Your Toddlers to Work, Earn Money, and Become Frugal
Children thrive in environments where they learn to help, have skills to do things, and feel like they contribute. Children should be taught the concept of earning something through work at a young age. I have been learning by experience how to teach toddlers to work, earn money, and become frugal. My daughter, Aurora, is…
How to Cut Watermelon Smart
Everyone in my family loves watermelon! We are constantly eating it in the spring and summer time. Although I don’t love the drippy mess all over the kitchen floors, clothes, and faces, watermelon is totally worth it. In an effort to cut down on the mess and make eating watermelon a bit easier on us, I…
7 Natural Remedies For Swollen Feet During Pregnancy
There are many things that you will have to endure as you prepare to welcome your bundle of joy into this world. One of the most common pregnancy ailments is that of having swollen feet or what experts refer to as edema. Although normal swelling of the feet does not pose any significant danger to you or…
9 Easy Ways to Teach and Practice Praying with Your Children
Growing up I really loved how my parents included us in prayers and taught us how to pray. It taught me gratitude (we always said thanks for what we had), it taught me humility (to ask for help and strength), and most importantly, it taught me that I was never alone (I knew there was…
Why Artificial Colors Could Be Making Your and Your Kids’ Lives Miserable
My family and I just got home from the local ice cream shop for a family activity on a Saturday night. My boys and I chose flavors like strawberry cheesecake, rainbow sherbet, superman, and birthday cake. Not my daughter. Her choices were extremely limited. She ended up with caramel. Not because caramel is her favorite…
Mom Stress: 15 Extremely Effective Ways to Deal
Recent studies show that chronic stress can lead to serious physical conditions such as stroke, hypertension and heart failure. That’s why it’s more important than ever to learn how to manage stress levels to live a healthier and longer life. However, when it comes to household and family-related stress, it can seem like there is…
Make Your Kid a Money Genius (Even If You’re Not)
I had the book Make Your Kid a Money Genius (Even If You’re Not) by Beth Kobliner show up on my doorstep the other day. I sat down in my living room and began to read through it. As an author of a financial book myself, I was excited to read another money guide for parents…
An Honest Review of the Owlet Baby Monitor
I have been fascinated by the Owlet sma rt sock for a very long time. It is designed to notify you if your baby’s oxygen levels or heart rate fall out of a preset range. I’ve heard mainly positive things and a few negative things about it. I asked my friend to use it for months and give…
A Must-Have Item for Parents of Babies. Our Story & Review of the Owlet Baby Monitor
My cousin, Kerby, and his wife, Aubree, have been so kind to share with you their personal experience using the innovative Owlet Baby Monitor. Welcome, Aubree… Hi! Thanks for having me. First, I’ll describe what the Owlet Baby Monitor is/does, and then I’ll share our story which can be found in the ‘Our Story’ section…
Free Financial Boot Camp for New Parents
Babies are the sweetest things, but they are expensive! The average baby costs over $15,000.00 in their first year. Diapers, clothing, formula (if you formula feed), gear, food, supplies, etc., all add up. When I was at about 6 months pregnant with my first, I had to go from full-time to part-time work due to health issues….
My Back-to-School ‘Must-Have’ Item
As a stay-at-home mom who also works from home, I need to have reliable internet with fast speeds. My children also appreciate good internet for their TV/streaming time. As a result, it really is a good possibility that all of us will often be connected to the internet at once. Thus, we really need a…
Back-to-School Lunches, Gifts, and Transitioning Tips
Going back to school is such a fun time of year for most children. I remember while growing up I looked forward to going back to school with great excitement. A few of the events I enjoyed were getting to know new teachers, having more opportunities available to me, buying new clothes, and switching to a more…
Types of Books That One to Two Year-Olds Love
I’ve noticed that certain types of books are preferred more than others at different age ranges. Below you will find the types of books both of my children absolutely love to read or have loved to read between the ages of 12-24 months. Pop up books. Books that have images pop up off of the page…
Day at the Park Packing List
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Wet Ones® hand wipes. The opinions and text are all mine. Hidden Valley Park is our favorite park to go to relax, play, and enjoy a great afternoon. My kids and I love it. We try to visit once if not twice a week….
Packing Tips for Kids
When I go out of town without my kids I like to pack their bags efficiently. This is so that those watching them know exactly what is what and where things are without having to dig. I’ve found packing in the following way really helps those who are watching my kids to have a stress-free experience. Further,…
Garage Sale Haul 3
My daughter just hit a growth spurt and grew out of her 18 month clothes. I was looking online for garage sales that were selling girl clothes and came across this one. When I arrived, I found that they were selling high-quality girl clothes for .25-.50 cents each!!! This is one of the BEST deals…
5 Fun Playdates for Moms of Little Kids
I have a lot of friends with children who are around the same ages (18 months and 3). We love to get together for playdates and chat (or at least try to chat) while letting the children have fun. The following are a some of my favorite places to meet for playdates: 1- Go to the Park. Kids…
How to Create a Streamlined Nighttime Routine
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #EveryoneSleeps #CollectiveBias Our nighttime routine is pretty simple and streamlined. I understand the evening is not always when my kids and I have a ton of energy, so I try to make going to bed a positive and fun experience. Here’s…
11 Preschool Crafts To Do at Home
Looking for fun preschool age crafts to do at home? Here are some great ones I’ve rounded up. They are simple, inexpensive, and fun for kids ages 2-5. Enjoy. 1. Cute Paper Plate Crab – This cute paper plate crab is suitable for all ages of children to enjoy making. 2. Toilet Paper Roll Cars – Easy and…
11 Best Types of Books for Newborn to One Year Olds
I have always loved books and reading. When I was pregnant with my first, I knew reading was something I wanted to start early with my children. I’ve tried to read with my kids every day for 20-30 minutes a day since they were just a few months old. While I may miss a day or…
Top 15 Family Board Games For Kids Under 5
Playing board games with my toddlers is so much fun. We usually play one together every few days. They love to make matches, learn to take turns, and learn to share. I’ve found that keeping games in the closet up high helps them to not lose their novelty. I’ve rounded up the top 15 family board…
Stay-at-Home Mom Career Day Presentation
My sister, Karen Jensen, and I co-wrote a book, Living a Rich Life as a Stay-at-Home Mom: How to Build a Secure Financial Foundation for You and Your Children. She is an amazing mother and SAHM. When she told me that she had done a presentation at her children’s school for Career Day, I asked her to guest post…
33 Ideas on How to Get Children to Love Reading
I’ve always wanted to raise children who love to read. I believe that reading and continuing our education are very important habits to develop and cultivate in life. Capabilities, knowledge, and skills are empowering—especially in this day and age. In our book, Living a Rich Life as a Stay-at-Home Mom: How to Build a Secure Financial…
Babies Don’t Keep Cross Stitch
When my mom was pregnant with me, she read the poem/song called, “Song For a Fifth Child” and was very touched by it. She made a cross stitch of the last verse now known as “Babies Don’t Keep,” while pregnant with her fifth child (my little sister). She framed and hung it in our house near…
Bubblegum’s First Birthday Party
My daughter Aurora is nicknamed Bubblegum (just for now, because she is so squishy and bubbly). She is so happy, sweet, kind, and a total momma’s girl. She loves her older brother and playing with his toys. She just turned one and I wanted to share her birthday party here on my blog. We held…
