Whatcha Wearing Wednesday- Navy Blues

The week started with a scent of fall in the air. I just knew I needed to find some classic old school style colors to wear, if only for a day. Here in the our little world we are still trying to get the hang of school being back in session. While I'm yearning to bake, begin new projects and just plain get out of the summer shorts and tanks it seems it is here for just a bit longer. I'm in love with Essie's Just for the Twill of It collection and felt like I'm showing some off today! … [Read more...]

$100 Language Stars Giveaway

*TMC was paid for this post. Products received are for review purposes only. Opinions are TMC's only.     Not long ago I took my two smallest girls to Language Stars, a full-immersion foreign language school for kids ages 1-10.  There are locations all over this Chicago-based program and is more like fun-immersion learning.  From Mandarin to French there are quite a few languages to choose from and the kids go for games, music time and more all in the language they are studying.  My girls spent an hour in a 2-3 year-old class (classes run about 1-3 hours long) and totally got involved and loved every  minute of it. I would have signed them up it was just too much to add to our already filled schedule each week.  Classes run all year with multiple times and … [Read more...]

Book Review- The 50 Fridays Marriage Challenge

*Disclaimer:  TMC was not paid for this post.  Products are for review purposes only.  Opinions are TMC's only.                      I've discussed in the past how hard marriage can be.  Actual functioning relationships that grow, stay out of stagnation and flourish are almost like jobs.  You have to work at that every day.  H and I celebrated our twelve-year wedding anniversary yesterday.  While it was the first time we didn't have big plans but we did manage to find time together during our kids church event because it was important that we take time out to communicate after what had been a long week with us apart more often than normal.  It is so important to take time away from all the busy parts of … [Read more...]

Entertaining & Educational Reads for Kids

Disclosure:  TMC was not paid for this post.  Products received are for review purposes only.  Opinions are TMC's only.   Back when I was a kid (yaaawn) we didn't workbooks over the summer. At least I didn't.  There was no Summer Bridge series going on in my house.  It was a lot of Love Boat watching, Jetson eyeballing and daily intake of Little House on the Prairie. Most of that with a book in my hand while I multi-tasked my two favorite things.  I spent a ton of time outside on my bike or at the beach too. Now?  I'm full of good intentions each summer scooping up beginners French, cursive tutorials and bridge books for math, reading and science experiments.  Those books end up lasting all year.  However, before school started we did find some really great, fun to read and … [Read more...]

Whatcha Wearing Wednesday- Back to School

The girls went back to school this week! I'm so excited about all the adventures they will be embarking upon and a little amazed that our youngest is already wearing the "pack-pack" and walking through the double doors of preschool. It is a true milestone. Hopefully, this means I will be back on my game when it comes to work and being a bit more stylish than tanks and khaki shorts, which has been my daily look as of late. I did decide to go with the Trend Spin link-up theme of LACE for this week. … [Read more...]

Green Your Way Back to School

I don't know about you all but I have been craving more of a routine the last few weeks.  I'm ready to jump into the new school year!  But not without a little prepping of course.  I mean I can't just open the front door and say, "Ok kids, figure it out from here.  See you at 3!"  It's more of a few weeks of careful planning, budgeting and figuring out the best way to go about getting back to school and then opening that front door... Guest blogger, Ken Myers has a few ideas to help ease us all into the new semester in a simple but green way. What ways do you save or go green for back to school?  … [Read more...]

Wide Awake with Jensy

I'm not quite sure how to describe how I met Jensy, author of Your Wide Awakening: A Guide to Anorexia Recovery. I had participated, while very pregnant with The Comedian, in a yoga class for moms and kids that she taught at TD's preschool and I knew of her through our mutual friend Jen who we sadly had to say good-bye to this past February. Jen had always told me that I would love Jensy and that one day we should all get together.  That fun little trio never got to happen but it didn't matter.  … [Read more...]

DIY Three

Dear Fifth Element, I woke up the morning of your third birthday and saw that it was raining.  Despite wanting to make it a fun day at the pool with you and your sisters it seemed fitting that the weather was the same as the day you were born. You my girl are a gift to this family.  You take life on with the attitude and the constant refrain of, "I DO IT!"  followed by a growl.  This has been a year of massive change, of progress and intense patience and learning on all our behalf.  Like any change it took us a while to figure out your secrets.  To find the key that unlocks your true personality that we now have the privilege to know and enjoy every day.  … [Read more...]

Gluten-Free Snacks with Van’s Crackers & Usana Bars

Disclaimer: TMC was not paid for this post.  Products received are for review purposes only. Opinions are TMC's only.    After going gluten-free over a year ago it has been challenging to find snacks that are not only healthy but also taste good too.  Price is also a factor, especially after buying one too many boxes of bad tasting, funny texture snacks that just left me feeling disappointed, frustrated and hungry.  This summer I was sent two brands that provide healthy snack alternatives that are also gluten-free.  … [Read more...]

Zumba Instructor Changes Lives One Step at a Time

Facebook, it allows us to keep in touch, nose around and get reacquainted with people from our past. My high school reunion is coming up next fall and with a lot of the planning happening through social media (who could have seen that coming?) it has given me a chance to find old friends. Sara and I became fast friends my first year in a brand new school. While I was still quaking in my suede oxfords (fashion full circle!) and badly permed hair she was calm and cool in a quiet way. She seemed to know everyone and liked to bake just as much as I did. She sent me a note during freshman English and shortly after we were inseparable. Small parts, words that hang like pearls on a string, echo in my ears to this day as clear as when she spoke them at our high school graduation. Here we are, … [Read more...]