That’s right. You deserve a great Mother’s Day gift, and who better to pick out just the thing you like than you? Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 14. That leaves plenty of time to order something wonderful, and these are just a few ideas to get you started. The Mother’s Day Gift You Deserve This…
What is the healthiest vegetable for kids? (Hint: There’s more than one!)
If you’ve ever wanted to know what is the healthiest vegetable for kids to eat, you’re in luck. Because there are so many! Here is what experts say: Nearly half of American kids ages 1 through 5 aren’t eating a vegetable on any given day. And nearly a third aren’t eating a daily fruit, according…
14 Best Christmas Movies for Kids & Families, Plus Easy Finger Food Dinner Ideas
Recommendations for little kids, big kids and movies you’ll love watching together Between all the Ho-Ho-Hoing, the holiday season also means extra trips to the store, rehearsals for every pageant you can imagine and so much present coordinating. Thinking. Ordering. Tracking. Wrapping. Hiding. Who else is exhausted? Here to save the day are… Kid-Friendly Christmas…
5 Ways to Help Picky Eaters
Sound familiar? Having a picky eater is such a universal experience. Most of us go through it, even if we had babies who ate everything. I’ve been in this position with my own kids, four times! Here’s what worked best for us: Limit snacks. Hungry kids are less picky kids. Our kids have two snacks…
6 Ways to Have Happier Family Meals
Brilliant, Researched Ideas from “How to Be a Happier Parent“ KJ Dell’Antonia is a writer I’ve followed for a long time, starting with the parenting blog that she wrote and edited for The New York Times, Motherlode. So when her book, “How to Be a Happier Parent” came out, I snapped it up. Here are…
What to Eat for Easter Dinner with Kids: 3 Menus Depending on How Tired You Are
Easter is coming up and we have plans to share the celebration with another family, plus both sets of grandparents. We’ll have an egg hunt, plus a couple of other games to keep the kids busy. But for the main event on Easter, we’re working on a kid-friendly menu for 14. Menu 1: Low-Key Easter…
Best Chores for Kids of All Ages
We’ve all seen those charts with chores for kids. The ones where each section shows you exactly what a two-year-old might do, next to a color coded section for your slightly more reliable eight-year-old. And another section still should you have a tween at home. But as a mom of four kids, I want to…
Stocking Stuffers to Get Kids Excited About Food
From tiny treats and toys to special splurges, these are my favorite ideas for getting kids excited about food, all year round. Soups & Spells This Harry Potter soup bowl (about the size of a regular mug) is so fun to serve all our kids’ favorites: broccoli, baked potato and creamy tomato soup. Yum! S’mores…
How to Clean Stains from a Dutch Oven
Ever wondered how to clean the stains from a Dutch Oven? My Le Creuset Dutch Oven is one of my favorite (and oldest) pans. It’s an investment piece that I want to last forever. But over the years the bottom has gotten stained. There’s no food there. Just stains. I tried lots of methods to…
Introducing my new book: “Cupcake Cookbook for Kids”!
I’m so thrilled to say that my fourth book for kids is here: Cupcake Cookbook for Kids! A deliciously easy cupcake cookbook kids will love Cupcakes are some of the most magical, mouthwatering baked goods―but you don’t need fancy equipment or tons of experience to make these fun, frosted treats from scratch. Can kids really…
How to Shop for Groceries Online, Locally and 2 Weeks at a Time
Wondering how to shop for groceries online? I’ve never been a great meal planner but now that we’re “sheltering in place”, my shopping trips have gotten MUCH fewer and more strategic. The first time I tried shopping for groceries online it felt like Fantasia. How am I supposed to find all the things when I’m not…
Got Small Kids? Try These 3 Game-Changers for a Better Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving can be a nightmare for parents of picky kids. We’re planning on sharing the day with another family this year but it almost didn’t happen. “Well, I’m not sure if it’ll work,” my friend admitted over a text message. “I mean, my kids are so picky! I don’t want you guys to be offended.” …
Age-by-Age Gift Guide for Kids Who Love to Cook
Got a mini foodie on your list? From toddlers to college students, here are the top-rated, most eco-friendly, safest, cutest, most encouraging gifts you can find online. Everything is easy to clean and designed to boost any child’s love of good food–especially when they make it themselves. Toddlers & Preschoolers Adorable Aprons $10 An apron…
15 Eco-Friendly Gifts for Cooks
From stocking stuffers to major gifts, every one of these ideas is eco-friendly, with excellent ratings and free shipping. For more options on eco-friendly gifts, check out great choices on Fluff Heaven. 1. Handcrafted Serving Tray $100 Made from solid walnut, interlocking dovetail joints replace nails for construction that won’t pull apart, staying in pristine…
The Fury of Modern Motherhood
It’s okay to lose it with your kids. It’s not great. But it’s the truth. I want you to know that because for YEARS I thought I was the only one who ran out of patience. Who buckled under the strain of being up with a sick kindergartener at night and still making a hot…
How to Make Mornings Easier with Kids
Do you wish you could make your mornings easier? Better? Less stressful? Stress is no joke. Starting the day on the wrong foot not only makes you question your parenting choices (and your sanity) but it takes a physical toll on your body–and the kids’ too. If you have toddlers, or let’s be honest, kids…
Tired of Kids Complaining About Dinner? Try These Tips from a Mom of 4
My kids love complaining about dinner. I’ve got a six-year-old who typically walks into the kitchen around dinner o’clock with a whine locked and loaded. “But whaaaaat’s for dinnerrrrr?” You know. You’ve made dinner before. And you know who else gets it? My aunt. Family lore goes that she got fed up with my cousins’ complaints…
5 Ways a Kindergarten Teacher’s Classroom Changed My Family Dinners
Have you ever wondered how teachers don’t get totally overwhelmed? With dozens of kids in their care, these amazing beings aren’t only charged with keeping everyone safe. Nope. Their job is to actually TEACH major life skills. And in my experience with three kids in the public school system (so far), this is done with…
My New Cookbook! “Super Simple Baking for Kids”
I couldn’t be more delighted to share some very big news… My first kids’ cookbook is here! Almost. “Super Simple Baking for Kids” comes out on March 19. There are 55+ kid-tested recipes packed in here, every one of them baked by my own rascals last year, from muffins to cakes, scones, pizza and pies. We…
How to Sneak Vegetables into Food: 6 Delicious Recipes that Happen to Be Full of Veggies
Experts say kids should eat about five servings of fruit and vegetables a day. But most don’t. Sound familiar? Well, we can help with easy ways to sneak vegetables into food. How to sneak vegetables into food Just a quick word about “sneak”. You’ve got choices here. Either explain to your kids that vegetables make…