Tips and Tricks

I love family pictures!  Actually, I love family pictures of my kids! --so much so that every year for my birthday I use my birthday money to pay for family pictures for our Party of Five (and, since its...

It's officially Fall! I don't know about you, but nothing says Fall to me like heading to the apple orchard and pumpkin patch with my family to pick my own produce and enjoy some yummy treats!  Whether you prefer...

With my first child starting real-life preschool this year, things that I didn’t worry about before are now on my mind more than ever. (see Sara's post yesterday for more on that!)... Is he ready to go out into the...

I’d be willing to bet that while you’re reading this your cell phone is within 10 feet of you. It’s likely within arms reach and possibly in your hand at this very moment. It’s a good bet, the odds are...

We moms love to celebrate our kids' milestones. Whether it's your child's first time rolling over, crawling, or walking, these "firsts" are usually an indication that your baby is growing more independent. There is one milestone, however, that I have been...

'Tis the season for football!  With football comes parties and tailgating. And you can't have a party without good food! No one wants to show up with a Pinterest fail.  So I've got your back with 5 tried and true crowd...

I never liked running. Sure I compete in triathlons, but running was not my thing. Until I hired my coach. Then I finally found a new love of hitting the pavement. Now I crave it like a preschooler craves candy;...

Mamas, it's that time of year. . . Back to School!  There are many things I like about back to school, but for me, one of the things I dread as the school year approaches is the amount of paper...

Even though I’m writing this blog while its still in the 80s in Iowa, signs of fall are everywhere: The first Hawkeye football win, undergraduates taking over the Ped Mall in downtown Iowa City, kids back to school, and...

You hear people say, "My husband saved me." Or "my wife saved me."  People usually mean it figuratively.  I've said this many times about Chris over the past 8 years but in the wee hours of Saturday, July 12th,...