Valentine's Day is about so much more than romantic love. It's about courage, strength and determination. Enjoy these books with your children and rediscover why celebrating Valentine's Day is important. 1. Valentine's Day by Trudi Strain Trueit This book does a really great job of giving the background on Valentine's Day and it's origin. It's definitely geared for preschoolers. 2. Valentine's Day by Alice K. Flanagan This book is more detailed than the first and is for older … [Read more...]
Random Acts of Kindness
February 4, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Some people are naturally kind. They are typically more sensitive souls, thus making the needs of others more obvious. They are quicker to act and it isn't out of their comfort zone to interact with a complete stranger. My mom is one of these. She's super sensitive and is always ready to help someone else. Her genuine smile and soft mannerisms make her easily approachable. I cannot even count the number of times I have seen my mom engaged in conversation with someone while we were out. When … [Read more...]
Olive: The Other Essential Oil
January 21, 2015 by Leave a Comment
One of my New Year's Resolutions for this year is to become a better cook. I have three very picky people that I cook for so while I want to serve them something that tastes good, I also want it to be healthy. That's where Olive Vinegar in Downtown Rochester comes into the picture. I have to admit that I was super intimidated to even enter this store. I honestly knew very little about olive oils and different types of balsamic vinegars before I went in. Plus, all those shiny glass bottles … [Read more...]
Warm-Up with a Good Book
January 14, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Brrr! I am not one of those people who love winter. I despise bundling my kids up and the sickness that always comes with colder weather and more time indoors. I love sunshine, playing in the park and warm weather. However, snow is always beautiful and I am often mesmerized by a newly fallen snow. My son and I have been exploring the science behind snow and it is very interesting. Here's a book list with some picture books that are fun and then some more informative non-fiction. Our Rochester … [Read more...]
Pour It Forward
December 10, 2014 by Leave a Comment
I don't know about you, but December really snuck up on me! I kept thinking I had another whole week of November after Thanksgiving, but after I had been revived from my turkey coma December was right there - BAM! The Big, Bright Light Show has really been beautiful the last several days. I absolutely love seeing it and am looking forward to hanging out downtown this weekend with my kids. If that doesn't put you in the Christmas spirit ,then I don't know what will. Every year, usually … [Read more...]
Old-fashioned Winners and Losers
December 3, 2014 by Leave a Comment
This past Thursday my family and I participated in downtown Miamisburg's Annual Turkey Trot race down in Ohio. My husband, Eric, and I had planned to run it, while our kids walked with my parents. I injured my ankle last month and wasn't able to train as I had hoped so we decided that our five-year-old could run with us since we were just competing for fun. (Which my husband claimed was ridiculous. His exact words were, "Who does this for fun? It's a five mile course on Thanksgiving morning and … [Read more...]
Hope or Hate?
November 26, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Being Thanksgiving week, I have been reflecting on all of the things I'm thankful for. My list is long, but what happens when you can't find anything to be thankful for? What do you do when life is rough and you just can't seem to smile? When the clouds never seem to part, but the rain and thunder and lightning keep pounding? There are so many in our society that face challenges and tougher problems than I could even imagine. I pass by them every day. Whether it's the single parent at the … [Read more...]
Shopping Apps Make Cents
November 19, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Grocery shopping is one of the most constant things I do each week. The day before I plan to shop is when I plan my menu for the next week. I collect coupons and look through store ads to see which grocery store I will shop at. I also glance through my different shopping apps I have loaded onto my smart phone. These apps help defray the rising cost of groceries for my family. Shopkick Shopkick is the first app I stumbled upon that rewards me for shopping. It's a cute little thing with a … [Read more...]
Gobble Up This Thanksgiving Book List
November 12, 2014 by Leave a Comment
I love using children's books to help my children understand events that are happening in our lives. I collected my top ten favorites to help enhance your child's reading experience this Thanksgiving. 10. Arthur’s Thanksgiving by Marc Brown As always, Arthur will have your children giggling as he tries to overcome his fear of ruining the school’s Thanksgiving play. It has a great message of family togetherness. 9. Pilgrim Cat by Carol Antoinette Peacock In this story, we follow main … [Read more...]
The Teal Pumpkin Project
October 21, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Halloween costume: Check Halloween candy: Check EpiPen: Check Yes, that"s right. One in 13 children trick-or-treating this year may be carrying an EpiPen just in case they are exposed to any allergens during this fun time out. Unless it directly affects your child, you may not even think about the reaction the candy you"ll be passing out will have on some of those dressed up kiddos. This is where the Teal Pumpkin Project comes into play. The Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) … [Read more...]
