At my daughter’s fifth birthday party, I was delighted to see that a friend of mine had gifted the birthday girl a craft kit. The kit included all of the art supplies for kids to make a “yarn llama,” which felt like a delightful intersection of our interests in art and animals. I threw it…
Category: CREATING WITH KIDS
Our Family Chore Chart Template and How to Encourage Family Chores
A few years ago, I was facing burn out and took a much-needed sabbatical, leaving full-time work for a more rewarding part-time job and, with that, more open time to consider my legacy and the type of work I felt called to do. Quickly, the concept of open time became a fantasy. Like Cinderella being…
How to Dye Fabric with Avocados
I’m so excited to introduce you to one of my favorite artists today. Almost a year and a half ago, I was chomping at the bit to try traditional Shibori dyeing. I had tried some various Shibori binding methods with traditional dyes and wanted to know more. I never expected on my search that I…
Handmade Valentine’s Day: Gifts & Decorations
I am a Christmas over-decorator. It’s a special season at home and I am that person who likes a little something special in almost every corner of the house so I can walk around in the morning, sipping my coffee from my Christmas mug, and savor the season. By January when everything is packed up…
“Clean” Beauty for the Family: Drugstore Favorites and More
At the beginning of shelter in place orders last year, I naively thought I was entering a few weeks at home where I would emerge glowing, hydrated and fresh for a new dawn. Somehow, the open schedule and days of going nowhere quickly de-motivated me from making time for self-care. In true #2020 fashion, along…
Kid-Friendly Grain-Free Baking Recipes and Pantry List
The thing is, I just love bread. And cake, and cookies. When I heard from my doctor that some of my inflammation (such as my fingers swelling to where I couldn’t take off my wedding ring after eating) and other painful symptoms was due to a grain allergy, it felt like I was banned from…
Guest Post: How to Start Homeschooling
From Lilly: One mantra I tell myself at least once a week (or day, depending on the week) is that I’m not homeschooling, I’m pandemic schooling. And, no matter how we’re approaching school this year, no parent has ever taken on this much before. For us, homeschooling this year provided an opportunity to build a…
How to Make Christmas Putz Houses
Growing up, my favorite places to be during Christmas time were my grandparents’ houses. Not even the most exciting outing of pre-ticketed, oversensory holiday cheer could compare to the comfort of how each home welcomed and comforted me with the same decorations out year after year, the same little traditions. I always cry putting out…
Guest Post: How to Teach with Nature Trays
Editor’s Note: I knew I would raise my child to enjoy classic, wooden toys and open-ended learning – before I was a Mom. It’s so easy, in reality, to look around one day and realize life has become plastic playthings and online games. I know simple toys make the best teachers, but how? I’ve been…
Starting a Homeschool Garden
On top of all of our Dallas pick-your-own farm trips last summer, I cajoled Markus for a garden of our very own. Never mind that I knew nothing about gardening and had always found it relatively futile when there was perfectly nice food waiting at the store. Like most of my ideas, my new found…