Lately, as my kids are getting older and the world has gotten (ahem) a little crazier, my 10- and 12-year-old have been questioning what's going on. I chat with them about my own observations and beliefs...and ask them about theirs. But …
One of the items on my son's bucket list this summer is to learn to tie a bowline, a half-hitch, and a square knot...with his eyes closed. They are requirements for his scouting program, but have easily become at-home entertainment for t…
Sometimes it's the little things that make your vacation really special ... and sometimes it's the huge splurges you'll remember forever. If that's what you're looking for on your next vacation, check out these five luxury resorts and ho…
Summer comes in two settings: Hotter and Hottest. That's why we love these amazing summer water activities for the backyard that we found on some of our favorite sites around the web. I mean I know that for kids, a nice, cool pool is oft…
Summer break is here for my kids (yes, already!), which means I'm looking down the barrel of 13 long, lovely (and lively, knowing my crew) weeks at home. We have a lot of things we want to do -- go for hikes, do every single craft in Pro…
My family loves to play board games. I'm talking, big, involved, takes-three-hours-to-play board games. And what better time to play than when we're on summer vacation? But, it can be tricky to travel with big boxes full of a zillion pie…
There's nothing quite like a handmade Mother's Day gift from the kids to melt a mom's (or grandma's or stepmom's) heart. But take it from this mom of four kids, while all Mother's Day gifts are perfect (really), I've tracked down a dozen…
If your news feed has been dragging you down lately, take heart. Volunteerism is a great way to put that energy to positive use, and spring is the perfect time for you and your family to discover ways to volunteer for your own local comm…
If this gorgeous spring weather has you itching to get outside with your family, we've got the perfect excuse to head out to one of our national parks this weekend: it's free! This year, the National Park Service turns 100 years old, and…
When I look back at some of my biggest parenting fails, most of them have occurred when I haven't taken the time to consider my kids' emotions or help them process their worry, anger, fear, or whatever else it is they are experiencing ri…
My kids are huge fans of the fun pop culture Easter eggs we've featured at Cool Mom Picks and the cool ice cream cone eggs over at Cool Mom Eats. Plus, these galaxy eggs are geeking them out too. But I have to say, I love pretty floral E…
I am especially egg-cited about these egg-ceptionally (ha!) fun and easy Easter crafts made entirely with household objects. No schlepping to the store, no waiting in line, no expensive price tags...just good old-fashioned crafting with …
These fun food-themed Easter egg decorating ideas may not trick my kids into thinking they're actually eating pineapple or a hamburger, but I still think they're a cool way to switch up our normal egg-dyeing routine. If you want to try y…
How can this family of obsessive Hamilton fans slash-Passover revelers not be totally thrilled to discover a Hamilton Haggadah ? Yep, you read that right. How does a Hebrew, poor man, son of a slave and a Bondsman, born to nothing in a R…
If you're not getting much more than a "yeah," "nope," or "fine" when you ask about your kid's day at school, it might be time for some new conversations starters. (Trust us, we're right there with you.) So we set out to collect dozens o…
I've been looking for some fun ways to up our Easter egg decorating game this year. You know, beyond the very reliable Paas kit I usually grab in the checkout line at the grocery. Enter, unicorn eggs. The most amazing DIY unicorn eggs fo…
In honor of Women's History Month, we've been sharing so many ways to help get our kids excited about historic female heroes both past and present. It made me think to take some time this past weekend to browse through my bookshelf and p…
We're willing ourselves out of this snowstorm to focus on sunshine and pots of gold at the end of rainbows on St. Patrick's Day. I searched through our favorite craft and blogger sites to find the most fun and easy rainbow crafts for kid…
As a single mom of four kids, you can probably imagine how tough it is to give my kids individual time, at least without hiring a babysitter and spending even more money on dinner or a movie. Turns out, you don't have to spend money -- o…
Maybe back in your college days, you knew Cabo as the spring break destination or now you think of it as the place fancy people run off to, when they're hosting fantasy destination weddings. Let me assure you, there's more to it, especia…
Well, this isn't something we get to share everyday: A new, never-before-published Mark Twain story will be released this fall. (Can you hear us cheering from here?) The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine is a fairy tale that Twain left …
My husband and I recently spent two life-changing weeks in Seoul, South Korea, which means I have a zillion gorgeous photographs to show off to family and friends. On that 16-hour flight home, I spent some time scanning Pinterest and gee…
Update : This post was originally created on behalf of a brand that regretfully no longer aligns with our core values, and that we have removed from the content here. But we love the stories that our writers have shared, here and we hope…
Research shows that the happiest families are those who spend their money on experiences instead of on things. I totally get it. Looking back at my childhood, I can remember only a handful of toys my parents gave me over the years -- a S…