General

  ‘Tis the season for festive everything. Festive play dates, festive family gatherings, festive decor, festive clothes and of course festive food! Whether you’re hosting a family holiday, attending a party, or simply like to have some sweets around the...

Ever since my son was little, I have documented his firsts: first rollover, first tooth, first day of preschool, etc. As my son prepares for his first year elementary school, I thought it was important to give him another...

First quarter is over and parent teacher conferences are in full-swing.  I don’t know about you, but attending a conference can be quite stressful. Following years of limited interactions with my child’s teachers, I'm feeling a bit left in...

Family Weekend season is in full swing on college campuses across the U.S. Whether your college student is 30 minutes away at ASU, down in Tucson, up in Flagstaff, or on the other side of the country, parents must...

Last week, Cookie Cutters agreed to cut the hair of all five of my cuties! We arrived at 4 pm, and by 4:45 pm we were all walking out with smiles, balloons, and snazzy haircuts. The speed and ease...

Father's Day is this weekend! Use our free Father's Day printable to have your kids tell dad how much they love him.....and maybe keep them busy long enough for you to drink your coffee?? Click here to download! What are you...

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...

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...

Many thanks to our fabulous guest blogger Mika Perry for sharing her helpful tips for closet organization with the moms of Scottsdale! Read more about Mika at the bottom of her post. You’ve met the teacher. The new sneakers are...

Decluttering before moving is time well spent. Imagine settling into your new home with only the things you love. By getting rid of things before you pack your boxes, you'll save yourself time and frustration on the other end...

Mother’s Day is fast approaching and it is time to start thinking about how you would like to spoil that wonderful woman in your life. Flowers and cupcakes are always a great option, but if you are looking for...

Family photos are such an amazing way to capture memories and seasons of life. One of my favorite parts is picking out the perfect outfits to make the pictures that much more reflective of each of my kid’s personality...

Looking for a fun activity for your kids that builds confidence, encourages teamwork, and supports communication skills? My eight-year old daughter was so excited to have the opportunity to take acting lessons at Dearing Acting Studio for a month and they...

While many of us may not be embarking on the travels we had hoped to take this summer, there’s still the quintessential way to escape reality during the long, hot days of summer– book reading. Add up the money you’ll...

Back In college, I loved writing  letters. As I got older, penmanship and letter writing became too time consuming and cumbersome. Instead, I succumbed to picking up a Hallmark Card for holidays and birthdays. With the evolution of technology,...

  I have a climber. For anyone else who has a climber, you know what that means - for those who don’t, I can sum it up in one sentence. Climbers give parents a constant heart attack as they try...

Ah, how I love Luke Skywalker and Yoda, and most importantly, The Jedi Code: There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge. There is no passion, there is serenity. There is no death,...

Here are some of my FAVORITE posts that Steph wrote this past year: Remember when she gave encouragement to mama's of Spirited Kids?  She's got a great list of how to keep your cool and embrace those little bundles of...

Hey Scottsdale! Have you heard about the Mom Made Market coming soon? We have been attending this Market for the last two years and we always find the cutest signs, jewelry, gifts and food finds!  We have 5 tickets to...

Tomorrow (in case you forgot) is Valentines Day.  I have a love-hate relationship with this day.  While I hate the idea that Hallmark and society have orchestrated a day to celebrate love, I love the origin and meaning behind...

The story of my life is that I always forget to do stuff, like take a family picture.  Then around November when the rest of the world who got their act together in plenty of time are all ordering...

 HAPPY NEW YEAR!!  We asked our contributors what they are most excited about for the year ahead. Monika: I'm looking forward to a family trip to Disneyland (we haven't been in years), and now both kids are old enough to...

At SMB we want to bring you information and inspiration from around the Valley and beyond. Here are some clickworthy links from around the web this week. Enjoy! Happy Mother's Day, Valley Moms! Hopefully your kids and spouse are making...

Local mom, Jenny Castle, shares her newest obsession. Jenny is the mother of three beautiful children and keeps herself busy with PTSA, catching up with friends in the carpool line, and driving her children to endless after-school activities. Thank...

You want to know what is AMAZING? Paternity leave. Yes, a mother’s time off is first and foremost when it comes to importance on the postpartum scale, but there is something to be said for having dad home for...

We love The Valley. The perpetual sunshine, the friendly people, the access to outdoor activities…   That said, as the years go on, I find that my tolerance for heat is decreasing and the summers are starting to drag. I...