General

After a year in a pandemic, moms are feeling lonely. If you don't already have a good friend base, and even if you do, this experience has been isolating.  If you are like me, you have your good friends from...

This year I taught four kindergarteners to read.  Really, truly read.  As a mom of six kids, I’ve been a part of this process before and marveled with gratitude at my child’s school teacher, wondering, “How do they do it?”  This year,...

As the end of another school year approaches (a less than ideal one at that) many are exploring new options for next year.  But where to begin?  With over 200 private and charter schools, an additional 500 public schools,...

Mother's Day is going to be here before we know it. And if you need to pick out some special Mother's Day gifts for yourself (or drop some hints) or shop for your mother and mother-in-law, we put together...

Eeek April Fools' Day is just a few days away, so here are a few simple April Fools jokes that you can easily pull on your family.  Fake Bug behind the lamp shade. I just taped a large cutout from...

Easter is just a few weeks away and we all know what that means....lots of chocolate bunnies, plastic grass everywhere and jelly beans. Here are a few new ideas of other items to put in those Easter Baskets.   Tweet tweet,...

Are you currently feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, or exhausted? Perhaps the better question for any Mom right now, as we reach the one-year anniversary of pandemic lockdowns, is “Are there any of us not feeling overwhelmed or burnt out right...

Just one year ago, I was a busy working mom with a live-in au pair. My weekends were filled with taking my son on activities during the day, and dinner dates with friends in the evening. My calendar was...

It’s safe to assume at this point in your life, you have come across some challenging situations, been forced to make difficult decisions that might impact the lives of others, and have thought about what the future holds for...

From Green Beer and Irish Soda Bread to Corned Beef Sliders and Cannabis-Infused Pesto Pizza, below are three great places to help you celebrate the luck o’ the Irish on St. Patrick’s Day! At AJ’s Fine Foods, an array of St....

I know, when you think spring break you think tropical beach getaway right? When do we not think that? But when our family thinks spring break, we think mountains, snow, and fire pits! My husband and I grew up...

We all want our children to learn and grow in a safe and loving environment. When it's time for your child to start attending preschool, there are SO MANY wonderful schools in our area to choose from. To make it...

Kindergarten, here we come! Tutor Time® is here to give you peace of mind while your child taps into big fun with purpose! Our schools follow CDC guidance to ensure a healthy, safe environment. And our curriculum is designed...

Community is a great place for women to come together to build relationships and take part in a fun activity for the kids and adults. What is a Community of Moms?  It's knowing you are not alone in this...

Excuse me while I have my fan girl moment.  If you have talked to me in real life in the last several months, you know all about my love for The Office Ladies Podcast.  My love and moderate (OK,...

Ok, I need some help from you ladies. I'm sending out an Organizational SOS. I now have 5 kids, and I am certainly not used to it yet. We are still transitioning and working out our new rhythm. Before...

Before I moved to Scottsdale many years ago (for the first time) I had been, like many, a frequent visitor to the Valley. I would come visit my grandparents who were snow birds, and nothing was more liberating than...

Candy hearts, valentines, spelling tests!  Wait...one of these things doesn’t belong!  A love of learning may not be your initial thought when it comes to the Valentine’s season, but what better timing to begin encouraging your child to...

Dear Blue Bell, What? Did you really think I forgot?? When a teensy, weensy listeria outbreak forced us apart in April of 2015, I choked down Blue Bunny in a rebound attempt. It's been nearly 2 years, and I’m not too proud to...

Dear Mamas, You have made it through one of the most difficult times in your parenting. This last year we were all thrown many curveballs. We cried. We were frustrated. BUT, we adapted. We leaned on each other for ideas...

It may be a new year, but for many of us, keeping physical distance from extended family members is still a thing. As parents, we may have been challenged with how to come up with creative ways for our...

It is now January and I fear a post-holiday depression (magnified by Covid restrictions and a year of cancelations) is going to take over my household.  The holiday excitement was truly magical this year. But I knew December would end,...

The Clueless Homeschooler could be the title of my new book. Not that I have an old book, or plan to write any book. But if I were to write a book about this season in my life, that’s...

It’s a new year, which means new beginnings, new insurance, and bigger smiles. If you’re considering orthodontic treatment for your child this year, our partners at Dunn Orthodontics in Scottsdale, Phoenix, and Litchfield Park have outlined a few common...

For some I feel like some marriages have been strengthened by Covid and others, not so much. I am in a networking group with other professionals, and they have shared that in some areas business is booming. Particularly, divorce...

Shopping for toys is hard, isn’t it?  When you shop with your kids, they want the biggest, flashiest, nosiest thing they can find in the toy isle.  I’ve made the mistake so many times of getting that thing and...

Self-care is often overlooked and pushed to the bottom of the to-do list. Especially this year, as stress and uncertainty has taken over a majority of our lives. Nonetheless, self-care is extremely important as it helps encourage maintaining healthy...

The most magical time of year for children is the season of Christmas. The excitement of Santa, decorating trees and cookies, and the hopes of some snowfall make Christmas so extraordinary. Most of us have traditions that take us...

Favorite Things Guide 2020 This year is coming to an end and 2021 can't come soon enough. We wanted to finish the year with a little positivity by publishing our Favorite Things! Some of these items are from local companies,...

Two weeks ago my youngest daughter started feeling sick. Because we knew numbers were going up and there was a chance she was exposed, we got her tested immediately with a rapid test.  Shortly after taking the test, we received...