I love taking photos of my family and of all the exciting things we do throughout the year. I love sharing them with my friends and family on social media, but for really special photos, I love the idea of sending the best holiday photo gifts to share our memories in a lasting way. Some moments are just too good not share and having something tangible to hang onto is special. These are some great ways to “think outside the screens” this holiday season and turn your digital images into the best holiday photo gifts.
Try as we might to slow down and enjoy a quiet holiday, the festive season can be chaotic as we try to squeeze every ounce of fun and joy into the month of December. We book and double-book ourselves, running from one outing to the next in a flurry of Instagrammable artisanal hot chocolate and snowflake selfies.
You and I know we all want the Black Friday deals. And the Apple stuff. Well, it seems they have dealt us a curve by releasing it all based on time zone. Amazing if it works, but how does that even happen?! I personally have 7 minutes to go before the big reveal.
It’s here! Our 2017 holiday gift guide will fill your head and heart with our curated ideas for each member of your precious family. It took a lot of hours and much crowd-sourcing but we think we’ve prepared some pretty cool picks, just in time for the Black Friday sales. This year we have 10 guides listed all below, so you needn’t click around. We wish you the merriest of Christmases, the happiest of Hanukkahs and the best Kwanzaa ever. Have a peaceful, joyful season and make every memory with your kids count. xx
Birthday parties don’t have to break the bank! There are lots of ways to cut costs and still have a great time making memories with your kid’s friends. Here are some tips to make entertaining a little easier on the pocketbook (and your stress level!)
I’ve been social on the Internet since before the days of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat…and all of the other social media platform. It was me and my laptop and a blog I set up for free, writing my feelings on the Internet and sharing stories with others that allowed us to connect over “Me Too.”
The stories I shared at the time were mostly about my kids. The witching hour before bedtime, major milestones (First Day of School! First Day of School!) and adventures we went on as a family. As they got older, the stories about them have waned, because while venting about a toddler having a meltdown in public is commonplace, talking about personal issues that their friends can Google just isn’t an option in our house. If I do write about them, it gets their stamp of approval before I hit “Publish.”
Sounds of electronics filled the air as I happily chopped up some things to get dinner ready.
The doorbell rang and I froze.
Not even a moment later, I jumped into action by grabbing and hiding the Ipads away from two now unhappy children before I got to the door.
What kind of mother would anyone think I am if the minute we get home, my son and daughter are given electronics to entertain themselves?
I am such a tech lover. It makes me more productive, allows me to have more time for family, and can solve every day frustrations. This is why, from the moment I heard about smart home technology, I embraced every new item I could. Unable to whip out and upgrade my kitchen appliances, I started small with fun and manageable options.
As progressive as I think I am…. some traditions have become the norm, and I have never even questioned whether or not there are other ways to do things. Making macaroni and cheese, for instance (not from scratch).. I have done it the exact same way for years – butter first and then milk. Painting my nails – left before right. Unloading the dishwasher – glasses and then cutlery. Old habits. Some may be the best way for me to tackle them, while in other cases, methods may have progressed over time, and I have simply not noticed.
I am not a very black and white person, and my parenting style reflects this. Sometimes I think it would be easier to guide with a bit more discipline and less flexibility, but I tend to parent with much more fluidity then rules and regulations. One area where this has been a challenge is in monitoring the use of technology for my children and learning what is appropriate and what is not.