Guides

Oh haaai, friend. Pull up a chair. La ti da. That? Oh, nothing. Just the remnants of a cinnamon bun that baby-in-the-tummy and I consumed without sharing a single bite with anyone else. And the mug? It held in its loving care...

It's archives week here at SMB.  Here's one from our early days: ***** mom·sen·se (mɒm sens) noun 1.  practical motherly intelligence that is sensible or reasonable 2. a mother's mental discernment, realization, or recognition  - She has momsense.  OR She used her momsense to determine that...

Like many mommies, I enjoy my coffee. Each day begins with a cup, and I usually end up buying another while I'm out and about. There may be a Starbucks on every corner, but there are several local coffee...

Spring break is over, so you know what that means! Summer is right around the corner and we should start planning our camp schedules before the kids are out from school with NOTHING to do. My camp philosophy? During the school year,...

I’m new to the area.  And by “the area”, I mean the West Coast in general--we just moved here from North Carolina this summer.  Yes, you read that right:  we moved to the DESERT in the SUMMER.  I promise...

When my daughter was first diagnosed with severe food allergies, I wondered if going out to eat would ever be in the cards for her. Initially, we were filled with so much fear that the idea of eating out...

This year I am so excited about our Christmas dinner plans that I was inspired to share it with all of you. Since it is just the husband, me and the kids this year for Christmas dinner, I decided to...

When I first heard about geocaching, I pictured people combing the desert, armed with nothing but a compass, unearthing time-capsules. In other words, nothing I was interested in doing in my free time. Then, geocaching with kids was discussed...

Summer is Coming! May is the month that starts the summer fun around here! Just before Memorial Day most of the schools close their doors for summer! Yippee! As we approach the end of another school year we (yes, you and I) need to...

In an effort to spice things up (again) on SMB we're launching a brand new series - Getting Out of Arizona!  Can we all say in unison "YES, please!?"  Although we had a ton of fun doing our Steph...

Recently, we drove down to Tucson, Arizona for the weekend. Tucson is only 1 & 1/2 hours south from Scottsdale, so it is an easy drive. It is also about five degrees cooler, which makes all the difference in the...

If you’ve never heard of The Simple Farm in Scottsdale, I’m here to share what a little hidden gem of a place it is. I recently spent a few hours there one morning for a Women’s Beauty and Wellness Gathering...

If you are a local or you are planning a spring break visit to AZ, there are a ton of great things to do in Phoenix, Scottsdale, and surrounding areas. Here is our list of THE BEST activities for you...

Did you know it was October? I know, right? That was fast. I swear we were just in the middle of summer fun and back to school. Despite what the thermometer says outside, it is in fact, fall. Fall is...

With the weather improving, it's finally time to get outside and play! Here are some of my kids' favorite backyard activities when they were toddlers and preschoolers. Create Animal Habitats: My kids love doing this, even to this day! Each child...

As all of our older kids head back to school, mamas with toddlers are now able to focus on more age appropriate and fun outings to keep them busy during the week. I found a few spots that are...

Ahh... fall in Arizona! Goodbye 100 degree temps, hello 90's, maybe 80's during a cold spell. While we don't see leaves changing colors, we do see the signs at Starbucks for the Pumpkin Spice Latte. That's what signifies the return of fall...

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...

Both Joy & I (with girls, hubbies and SMB Winner - Melissa P) were blessed to be able to go to Breakfast with Santa at the Pointe Hilton this past Sunday.  With two nearly 1 1/2 year old girls...

I have a love/hate relationship with dining out with the kids. On the one hand, I love saving my kitchen the mess of cooking for the family, and having someone else make the meals is also a plus. But...

Since launching in 2010, Scottsdale Moms Blog has been a wealth of information for local and visiting families. We have had so many contributors share their advice and tips for all things parenting and living life in AZ. After...

As soon as my daughter could sit on the counter, we began baking together. We bake for play dates, for neighbors, for my husband's coworkers, and for ourselves. The value of baking with little ones extends far beyond the...

There is a new, fun experience that just opened at Scottsdale Quarter, and we think it is going to be the hot spot everyone is talking about. It is called Lip Lab and it is much more than a...

Mark your calendars for the PVMOM Spring Sale coming up this Saturday on May 4th, 2013. There will be thousands of items for sale to the public, including gently-used infant, children, and maternity clothing, swim suits, strollers, highchairs, bouncers,...

"Just pretend...."  These are words that we hear in our house ALL the time.  We have kids ages 5-9, and they love to put on shows and create elaborate imagination play together.  They drag out the dress-up clothes and...

Whatever outdoor fall decor look you're  going for, the color that pops out the most this season is teal. Teal is the color for food allergy awareness and while Food Allergy Awareness Month is in May, the month of October...

{Joy} I love watching Reagan learn new skills!  Eating solid food is no exception.  I was surprised to learn that chewing is intuitive and that she learns so much just by watching someone else do it.  Amazing. I started her...

We sure do love our Spring Break time here in the valley. The weather is perfect, and there is plenty to do outdoors before the heat really sets in. Find the guide here! 

Thanksgiving is just a few days away, and while I love having friends and family over and cooking (and outsourcing) a big meal, it is a lot of work. Because my kids don't seem to care that I am...

Our furry red friend is coming to our own Comerica November 16-18!! Super Grover has lost his super-ness and Sesame Street needs a hero! Never fear, the fabulous five Super Heroes are here -- featuring Elmo as Captain Fuzzy! Elmo,...