General

      Cut their own food:  Your child should be able to use a knife that can actually cut a chicken breast into bite size pieces and learn and use proper table manner. Who knows when your son might be invited for...

Confession:  I have an over abundance of Sterilite plastic containers.  They are great for organizing and inexpensive. They get the job done. Now, bringing the containers inside my home?  That's a different story. They lack the warmth and detail furniture provides, so...

I've now experienced 3 full "seasons" (do you even call them that here?) since our relocation to the Grand Canyon State last summer. Now, while the rest of the country anxiously awaits Spring's arrival, we in Arizona have it...well... We...

 We at SMB are excited to announce a new little feature we're adding to the blog!  In addition to our regular lineup of awesome Scottsdale Mom Contributors, we will be adding a monthly post by a LOCAL expert! We'll...

*If you are in the middle of a true emergency, stop reading now and call 9-1-1 There's nothing like getting a phone call from your child's school saying there's been an accident, and that you need to take them to...

While most of the country has been in this crazy polar vortex thing for what seems like weeks... heck, months now, here in AZ, we've been incredibly blessed with many a sunshiny day and cloudless skies! But, sometimes even...

I went on record last fall as quite possibly the Valley's most bitter mom when I ranted about our lack of autumn crispness and Starbucks's insistence on pushing pumpkin spice on us anyway. While I won't deny that the...

The SMB Team is growing!  We've added six more lovely local moms to our wonderful lineup of writers and we just can't wait for you all to get to know them too... Please welcome the newest SMB contributors: Rebecca, Kate, Jeanne, Kristen,...

In the last few months, "All Things British" is a central focus of my daughter’s imagination. She is enamored by the Royals and especially by their recent arrival, Prince George. When he made his debut, she declared, “I am going...

I muddled my way through the first few years of motherhood and despite my blaring parenting blind spots, I witnessed my tiny baby turn into a bright, beautiful little girl.  I was amazed at how she saw the world:...

Last month we started a series on the best playgrounds in Scottsdale (and the surrounding areas). Follow along with our contributors as they share their playground picks in various parts of town. This time, Sara Frederick takes on Northeast...

Happy Valentine's Day!  Hope your day is filled with LOVE and CHOCOLATE!  Here's a peek at how Valentine's Day looks at some of our contributors' homes!   Valentine's Day at our house is pretty simple. I still feel like I'm in the post-holiday...

I did it. I survived. To kick off the New Year I completed the Whole 30 dietary challenge. If you have no idea what “Whole 30” is, here is a snippet regarding the Paleo-style plan from their website about the program...

  While sitting on our living room couch, my daughter suddenly says, "Mom, look at me. I'm Miley Cyrus!" I looked over to my beautiful little girl, shining her teeth in a weird smile, face smashed together and her hands in...

In this digital age, we are now exposed to a wealth of knowledge at our fingertips and if we choose, we can become experts on just about anything! Truly. We all know the power of Google and its ability...

For this month's contributor corner question, we're looking back (for some of us, WAY BACK!) to when we each had our first baby and wondering what really were the best gifts for a new baby. "What was your favorite baby shower...

I have many, vivid memories of playing “school” and “house” as a child with my sisters. Our dolls coming to life; daydreaming of being a mommy or perhaps a school teacher. Well, oddly enough, here I am today as a...

This Mommy SOS comes to us from a local Scottsdale Mom of 4: My husband is going on a business trip next week and I get to go with him! (Wahoo!!)  I'm worried that now that the kids are back...

Do YOU want to write for Scottsdale Moms Blog? We will be adding to our group of regular contributors beginning in February and we're looking for fresh, local voices to join our team! This is a volunteer position with some fun...

It's a new year. A fresh start. A chance to set some new goals and be the person you meant to be last year! Well, our contributors at Scottsdale Moms Blog are no different! Here are some of our...

For many, New Year’s Day ignites motivation and determination for the fresh start to a New Year!   Resolutions are made and goals are set high!  Too much pumpkin pie?  Not to worry because this is the year to get...

We've been talking a lot about real life community. Next week is your chance to be a part of it. We are heading to the zoo to connect as moms. It is also a great opportunity for kids to make...

I’ve never actually enjoyed New Years Eve. A few years ago, I finally admitted it! Then something amazing happened...I started to like it! Once I gave up the NYE fantasy, I began to create a NYE reality that turned out to actually...

A local Arizona family used the age-old dilemma of trying to keep the joy of Santa alive in the hearts of doubtful children everywhere by creating a fun app. Rick and Belinda Brown, founders of Scottsdale based mobile app development company,...

As an adoptive mom to children that do not look like me, I get inappropriate, awkward, and surprising comments from other people all the time. I totally understand that often they are well-meaning individuals. Not wanting to be one...

It was sometime after Halloween but before Thanksgiving.  That magical time of year when your young children have gotten a big taste of sugar and remembered how much they are addicted to it.  On this particular day, the whining...

I grew up incredibly lucky, waking up to a mountain of green-and-red wrapped presents under our Christmas tree every December 25.  Creeping down the stairs with my brothers, eager with anticipation, seeing the piles and thinking: this is for...

If you've ever had a toddler,  you'll love this.  Because if you've ever had a toddler, you'll know that they cry for any reason and most of them are irrational. They cry when they get things they want, they cry...

From the onslaught of Halloween candy all the way til New Year's, children seem to be on a stimulation and sugar overload. Before special events dissolve into frustrations and empty threats, arm yourself with techniques that will help diffuse...

I’m embarrassed to say that until quite recently my youngest still sucked her thumb...And she is almost 5 years old. All three of my kids have been thumb suckers at one point in their baby/toddler life. The twins both stopped...