Parenting Wisdom

Meet our newest contributor: Monika Patel!  As the mother of two elementary age daughters, Monika is busy with school, parties, soccer, running the business side of SMB, and of course, birthdays.... which sometimes are a little hard on mom...

For the last few months, a fleet of Suburbans and Minvans has descended upon my home every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 5:30 in the morning. In the chilly predawn hours, these vehicles, filled with empty carseats and some...

Mom Fantasy Best. Summer. Ever. We we're going to have three months of Insta-worthy fun. Swimming pool at all hours of the day, glow stick parties, museums, play places, popsicles galore.  Mom Reality Two weeks into summer vacation, I had a mystery...

I haven't been a mom very long.  Less than 18 months. When I joined the ranks as an At Home Mom, I aspired to maintain our home as a place of order and peace.  i.e.,  To keep it clean.  Then the baby...

We hope you are able to start your day as we are, with a moment's pause and reflection, remembering where we were eleven years ago. Wishing you a day filled with peace as you remember the past and look...

As someone who grew up in Ohio, I have had share of my rainy days. Though a monsoon may cause more chaos for the valley, the rain still puts a smile on my face. I love the smell of...

Cooler temps, I just laaaaaaaahve you!! The sappy, googly-eyed, all-in, head over heels, Taylor Swift meets Nicholas Sparks kind of LOVE. And after October 14th handed me 102 degrees - at 34 weeks pregnant - those feelings only deepened. It's weird, too.  3 years ago, I...

“No one goes to Target because they need something, you go to Target and let Target tell you what you need.” How many of you ladies can relate to this? I find it amazing how much money you can...

Summer vacation season is officially here. Like most Arizona moms, I'm doing my best to make plans to escape the heat. Yes, a road trip around the west coast is an option, but most other destinations typically require a trip...

I remember sitting in my OB’s office and anxiously waiting for my 16 week gender reveal appointment. It's was a BOY! We cheered, cried - and then life got real!!! A boy, a real boy. My life was forever...

We all know that the younger our children are the easier it is for them to learn and retain new information. It makes sense to take advantage of the impressionable years in which our children's brains are like sponges....

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 something was amiss. Last week, we heard Cate tell us about her...

I recently had hired a babysitter who babysits for several of my friends. As I was showing her around the first time she came into my home, she said, "You know, most of the people I babysit for have...

We’re back with SMB’s Belly Diaries guest vlogger, Michelle, and her 32 week update! If you missed her 16 week video update, 19 week video update, 22 week video update or her 26 weeks video update be sure to go back to view it…...

This is an exciting time! You and your baby have arrived at a monumental milestone and you all may want to celebrate. Even take a minute to do a happy dance! If you choose to have a first birthday...

We are honored to bring you this beautiful guest post this morning. It's a look at the life of a child with Down syndrome through the eyes his a mother in observance of October as Down Syndrome Awareness Month. “It...

I remember bringing Cooper home, a fluffy bundle, crying softly in my lap. Just eight weeks old and weighing less than a half-gallon of milk, he was our first baby. We doted on him, took him for walks, gave...

I recently attended an awesome creative workshop called The School of Styling (you can read more about my experience there on my blog) where one of the speakers, who was first a successful personal blogger before launching a widely...

It’s Pregnancy Week here on Scottsdale Moms Blog! If you are just tuning in, be sure to read the rest of the week’s posts here. I'm 19.5 weeks pregnant today. The halfway mark is what I've been setting my sights on...

Part 2: The bras…. These first two wireless bras were actually the last ones I ordered and I ordered them because I started getting 100,000 FB ads for different bra companies and I’m a sucker for FB ads. Stupid Cookies. Anyway...

Greetings on this fine turkey hangover day! I truly hope that your day yesterday was filled with happy memories, love from family both near and far, and a second helping of pumpkin pie. Now that the kitchen is cleaned up...

Is it me or has Target become the modern-day mom's sanctuary? Target was the first place I went to after my first baby was born and it led to so many emotions. Anxiety with leaving the baby yet a...

You are NOT Enough. There are days this phrase reverberates through my mind like an air hockey puck, hitting all sides of my brain, as I chase it down to stop the lies. We’re the first to judge ourselves over...

 I really love my husband and I am kind of in a love gush about him right now.  Now before you go and click away from this awesome website because the last thing you want to read about 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...

Hello, 100 degree temperatures! Okay.....maybe not right now.....but they are coming. Easter is right around the corner as well and as soon as school is out, kiddos will be looking for lots of fun to keep busy at home....

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...

  "Back to School" is here again and it's time to think about UNIFORMS! No, I am not talking about heading to Target or Kohl’s to purchase mass amounts of khaki shorts and skirts with coordinating polo shirts in navy and white;...

Calling all Fashionistas  (and even those who want to be but aren't quite sure how to get there), this post is for you!  I'm stepping away from my emotional- uplifting- therapuetic-you're-really-doing-great-at-this-motherhood-thing post to introduce a different side of your...

We are continuing our series with Board Certified Lactation Consultant (and Scottsdale mom/grandma!) Andrea Mansor, who answers Scottsdale Moms Blog readers' breastfeeding questions once a month. You can read previous Q & A posts with "Dear Andi" here. This time around...