Taste Test: Which store-bought pancake mixes are the best?
I just received a coupon for Krusteaz, and it got me thinking…pancakes. Delicious, light and fluffy homemade (and by that I mean, made-at-home-out-of-the-box) flap jacks.... Read More
Awesome Tip: Bedtime for baby with a warm blankie!
I was having a bit of trouble getting my 16-month old daughter to settle down for bed at night, until I started tossing her favorite... Read More
Beyond the turkey sandwich. New recipes for Thanksgiving leftovers!
After you’ve had your fill of turkey sandwiches, there are still plenty of options for all those Thanksgiving leftovers! Extra crudite makes for excellent salad... Read More
Awesome Tip: Super sales help to fill the Costume Box!
After Halloween, when costumes are often discounted by 75%, visit a few stores like Target, Walgreens, and T.J. Maxx, and snatch up a bunch in... Read More
Make-Your-Own Scarecrow Halloween Decor! It’s Brainless.
No “brain” required for this super simple scarecrow Halloween craft! Get ready for the fall holidays with this adorable pot sticker that’s great for all... Read More
Rat Bites! Super easy, affordable and fun Halloween treat!
My ever-inventive mother spied this super-cute, edible Halloween craft from a family magazine and had it all ready for the grandkids’ visit last Friday night.... Read More
My favorite cool weather crockpot recipe. Beef Stew. So easy, you’ll freak.
Take a big breath and blow the dust of the ol’ crock pot. It’s cool weather cooking time! I was given this Beef Stew recipe from a... Read More
Rainbow Rice Krispie Treats: Easy after-school treats. Now you look like a hero.
Let’s play super-parent for a day and have some yummy treats waiting for the kids when they arrive off the bus! Check out these multi-colored... Read More
Keep cool with this super easy Frozen Tiramisu recipe. Yum.
Looking for a cool dessert that won’t break make you break a sweat? This one’s easy peasy. And not too bad on the waistline either!... Read More
YUM! 5 No-bake chilled pie recipes for summer!
Summer is no time to slave over a hot oven, but it *IS* time to eat a bunch of delicious chilled desserts! Check out these... Read More
Baby powder removes sand. Best kid tip EVER.
It seems that my kids always want to take one last dip in the ocean before we head home, which means they are a tremendous... Read More
Summertime Recipes: Corn on the Cob with a twist!
I LOVE corn on the cob, and I especially love grilling it. But I never ventured beyond the butter, salt and pepper– oh the places... Read More
Kids Craft: iSpy A Treasure In A Bottle
Here’s another idea which will occupy your little ones for quite a while (love that!). The fun starts with hunting around the house for fun... Read More
Green Tip: Keeping it clean with cloth napkins.
Here’s another way to get green– Just Say No to paper napkins! Purchasing the paper versions cost you money every week and pile up landfills... Read More
Portland’s Winter Farmers’ Market runs every Saturday. Farm fresh YUM!
The Portland Farmers’ Market goes year round through the winter. Starting the first Saturday in December and going through the second to last Saturday in... Read More
Kids Indoor Activity: Pack your bags, we’re going on vacation!
Need an indoor activity? Send those kids on vacation! There’s no reason you have to actually leave the house to go on an adventure. Destination?... Read More
Inexpensive holiday gift ideas for friends and family. Check and check.
We all have friends and neighbors who we’d love to shower with holiday pressies, but buying gifts for everyone in our lives can be expensive!... Read More
6 Easy tips on cleaning (and keeping clean) your house for holiday guests.
Is your house becoming the local Motel 6 for the holidays? Sounds like it’s time to bust out the cleaning supplies. Here are some simple... Read More
This too shall pass. Five Parenting Phases that you WILL get through. Promise.
Tonight at dinner, my five year old daughter said to me, “Thanks for the green beans, mom!” After wiping the smug I’m-such-a-great-mother smirk off my... Read More
Lunch Box Idea: Silver Dollar Pancakes
Another breakfast for lunch idea, but your kids won’t be complaining. Try getting a healthy buckwheat pancake mix, throw in some blueberries (rich in antioxidants!)... Read More
Teaching gratitude: 7 tips for writing thank-you notes with kids.
No more than 36 hours after giving my grandmother her birthday gift did I receive her Thank You card in the mail. I’m pretty sure... Read More
Peach picking season is here! Tips on where to go & what to do with them.
I somehow manage to miss peach picking season every year. I theorize it’s because prime harvest time is right after blueberry season and right before... Read More
Fun Finder: Egg hunts– not just for Easter!
Holidays are ripe with exciting and fun traditions, but we don’t need to wait for an entire year to enjoy them! Remember that bag of... Read More
Condiment Makeover. Easy Additions for KAPOW Flavor.
I’m a really big fan of condiments. I will often order a burger just to get my fill of ketchup, mustard and pickles. At home, I... Read More
Top 6 tips for tricking your young kids into eating healthy food. Yum!
When my kids were around 2-3 years old, they were happily subsisting on a strict diet of macaroni and cheese and goldfish crackers. Trying new... Read More
Soup’s On! Try this four-ingredient recipe that warms our heart.
This little number was adapted from an old college favorite and spruced up slightly for a delicious family lunch or dinner. It’s super easy, pretty... Read More
Cleaning Tip: Time to Dust? Wear a Sock.
Wear an old, unmatched sock on your hand when you have to dust the house. Run your hand along chair rails, crown moldings, and doors until... Read More
Green Tip: Adjust Refrigerator and Freezer Temps
Did you know that refrigerators eat up most of the energy expenditures in most homes? Even adjusting the temperature a few degrees makes an enormous... Read More
Green Tip: Hibernate Secondary Appliances
Do you have a second refrigerator in the garage or basement that is used mostly in the summer to keep extra beverages and barbeque provisions?... Read More
Baby food jars make nice organizers. Cute, too.
Got a messy top drawer in your desk? Baby-food jars make great containers for office supplies like pushpins, paper clips, hair elastics, etc. And it... Read More