Home Management

If you’ve spent any time exploring preschool options in the area, you’ve probably come across a few high quality Montessori options. If you aren’t familiar with this method of teaching, you may have been surprised by what you saw...

Our children have settled into their new school year (yay for making it through the long, hot summer), but now we have to worry about all sorts of germs and the possibility of our kids being exposed to head...

We’ve all done it. In the course of running late, and gathering up kids, their stuff, and our keys, we’ve driven off and 10 minutes later have realized we’ve left our phone at home. The sinking feeling can quickly...

I love the movement that is rising up and celebrating body positivity. The premise behind this is loving your body at any size and celebrating it. This movement encourages people to stop hating their bodies and instead appreciate what...

In our family we have three weeks of back to school. Three. First, my third grader goes back. Then, my 11th grader. Then, my college student. (Did I just type that?) If I am only 32 years old (in...

So, it's still hot out. (That's the jist of how I start every blog post for SMB. You're welcome.) Some of us have preschoolers who don't begin school for a few more weeks... The bigger siblings who might be marginally helpful at...

"Mom, I'm bored," my six-year-old states after a full morning of summer camp, swimming and playing x-box. In my head, I exclaim, "really?!?!" Out loud, I say, "look around honey, there are many things to do." And then I...

Do you have a new baby on the way? A seasoned mom, but need some additional help? Have you thought about hiring a nanny but aren’t quite sure where to start? Hesitant to pay a hefty agency placement fee...

Families across the country are celebrating National Eat Your Veggies Day on June 17. Whether you have a kale-loving kiddo or you find yourself hiding vegetables from your picky eater, you probably agree that vegetables are an important part...

It's juuuuusssst about summer time here in AZ. This means hibernating inside watching movies and coloring a million pictures. It means venturing outside into only 1) an air conditioned car or 2) a refreshing pool. And it means avoiding...

The long, hot days of summer have arrived, and so has the daily search for fun (but not too pricey or complicated) activities to do with your kids.  Flip flop wreaths are a great summer craft that are creative,...

If you are anything like me, the thought of moving makes you want to break out in hives. The packing, the unpacking, the living among boxes, not remembering which box you put the toilet paper in… Switching locations, near...

With warm weather already here, shopping for laundry detergent or paper towels is the furthest thing from my mind. That's why I love Grove Collaborative — a customizable auto-shipment service that delivers all-natural home, beauty, and personal care products...

Have you ever felt overwhelmed about reducing the toxins in your home? I sure have! I've been on a journey to detoxify my home and live a less-toxic life for the past 11 years. It all started when I...

EDUCATION WITH REWARDS Who doesn't like to be rewarded for completing a class or a course? I remember when I was expecting my first little one, who just turned nineteen. I read every pregnancy book, took courses at the hospital,...

We are so excited you found the SMB Guide to Surviving Summer. This is our 7th year of bringing you tips, tricks and things to do, all written to help YOU survive summer with your littles! We use this Guide...

My daughter has built an empire of collected art projects from school. They are wonderful in the sense that she's proud of them and they also tell me a story of how she's progressed throughout her preschool year. (eg:...

Going on a multi-generational vacation can be an incredible experience with careful planning and consideration. Here are a few tips to help make your trip into a dream vacation for the whole family. Discuss Your Budget Nobody likes to talk about...

Thank You Thursday {April Edition} Thank You Thursday is a sometimes monthly Scottsdale Moms Blog series. The team at SMB is so LUCKY to receive products, try new local venues, and hear about new things to do all the time....

Let’s face it — phone jobs are fairly common in the work-from-home world. A quick “work-from-home” keyword search on any popular job site will likely bring you pages and pages of results for phone-oriented work. However, the downside to phone...

"Please no. Wha…what is that smell? "   I beg my stomach to stay strong.  This is horrible.  I’d take a fresh poopy at this point.   Yes; I said it - it’s that bad.  But I have to face the sea...

We've put together our list of tried and true new favorite toys for this year's Easter Basket!  Bananas - The latest collectible craze to hit the market, just got bigger & better. Bananas Series 2 has all new rainbow...

"What are we going to do today?" It's one of the first questions to come out of my daughter's mouth in the morning. She very much likes a routine and I think it makes her feel safe and content when...

Before kids, your life was totally about you. Where you wanted to work, what you wanted to eat, how much sleep you needed (or didn't need!) - it was all up to you. After kids, well, let's just say,...

Piles of paperwork.  We all know them so well!   Whether bills, mail, school-work or magazines, these piles seem to flood most households and become quite the eye sore. Is there any way to avoid this?  Of course!  Just as I suggested...

If you're invited to a child's birthday party and see the parents have requested your presence, not presents, here are five things you should know about kids' no-gift birthday parties.  1.If the invitation says something to the tune of no...

Two weeks ago it was freeze warnings and now we are in the 80s.  Welcome to spring in Phoenix! But that also means it is time to plant a spring garden! We have had a winter garden all this...

You’ve heard the saying, “What comes up must come down.” That pretty much summed up our situation. Everything WAS wonderful. Smooth sailing. Cloud 9. Picture perfect. Then the ball dropped. The company my husband worked for got a new CEO...

A few weeks ago, a few of our contributors had the pleasure of meeting Stephanie Lucas, MS, RD, the owner of GiveGarden, at Mom Made Market. They walked away absolutely impressed with the company's mission and service. They both...

I’m the kind of mom who loves when her kids get messy. I know that may seem weird, but it’s just kind of my thing. I’ve found that if I’m prepared, it’s actually easier for me to engage with...