Published on Wednesday, June 12, 2013 by Caryn Bailey
A few weeks ago, my husband came home with bags full of fresh fruits and vegetables. I am a total health nut...my husband? Not usually. I glanced at him sideways before digging a little deeper. He had read that juicing was a great way to "cleanse." His busy work schedule frequently only leaves enough time for a quick, fast-food meal, so his aspiration toward... Read More »
Published on Tuesday, June 11, 2013 by Caryn Bailey
Summer is...
Staying up late and sleeping in...(one very often leads to the other)
Bubbles and sandcastles...
Sunsets and starry nights...
S'mores and ice cream...
It's the last week of school, and we are ready for our best summer ever. In the midst of scheduled activities and summer camp, we'll have plenty of down time to break away from the structured... Read More »
Published on Wednesday, June 5, 2013 by Caryn Bailey
Of all the superheroes that have come and gone, it's Superman who's story I'm most familiar with. I spent many afternoons and evenings watching the films (and the subsequent spin-off TV shows) with my father, and for both of us, he was THE superhero...our superhero. It's been 6 years since audiences have seen Superman on the big screen, but in just 10 days the Man o... Read More »
Published on Tuesday, June 4, 2013 by Caryn Bailey
No compensation was received for this post. A gift card was supplied which helped facilitate the writing of this review.
When my children were younger, I could get away with purchasing inexpensive clothing. As babies and even young tots, they weren't mobile enough to rip holes in jeans or tear off the front of their shoes. But with two very active children, one o... Read More »
Published on Tuesday, May 28, 2013 by Caryn Bailey
I'm not sure when my roses grew to this incredible size, but I'm pretty certain it had something to do with Pennington's Flowers & Blooms Specialty Fertilizer. (You may remember that I used it last month in our garden). They've gotten to be so big, that now some of the bushes need a bit of pruning.
We have had a lovely Spring with warm weather, and many of ou... Read More »
Published on Monday, May 27, 2013 by Caryn Bailey
This is part of a compensated campaign with Stearns Puddle Jumpers Life Jackets.
I have two children who absolutely love the water, so much so that it's become a routine that each of them "swim" as part of their daily bath time. Every year, we spend quite a bit of time at our community pool and frequent our local water park to satisfy their need for splish splash... Read More »
Published on Friday, May 17, 2013 by Caryn Bailey
I remember the day my son asked me if he could have sushi. My jaw sort of dropped, but since I didn't want to give him a reason to change his mind, I allowed him to select a cooked variety that we both agreed he might enjoy. That was the beginning of his love for the Japanese delicacy. We tend to be on the crunchier side, so while I'm always looking for healthy ... Read More »
Published on Thursday, May 16, 2013 by Caryn Bailey
It's been YEARS since I picked up a crayon or a marker to color, but earlier this week my children and I got creative with Crayola's new Mess Free Color Wonder products. I should really color more often because it's incredibly relaxing and therapeutic.
If you saw my DIY project this week, then you also saw the "art" my children created all over their toy box. U... Read More »
Published on Wednesday, May 15, 2013 by Caryn Bailey
Just a couple of years ago, I struggled to find infant and child-specific skin care products that did not contain harmful chemicals. But as parents began to demand that parabens and phthalates be replaced with botanicals and organics, companies such as Berjang were born.
This week, Totsy launched a sale featuring TooFruit Skincare products for kids. What sets t... Read More »
Published on Monday, April 29, 2013 by Caryn Bailey
Last month, the new 24 Disney Junior channel launched here in the US, and as a family, it really changed how our children watch television. Some of our kids' favorite shows air on Disney Junior, and they no longer have to miss them because of school. We've seen several new shows launch in the past year including Sofia the First, Doc McStuffins, and Octonauts, and ... Read More »
Published on Friday, April 26, 2013 by Caryn Bailey
One of the things I love about writing this website is the opportunity to give you sneak peaks at new products and behind-the-scenes information about experiences. To this day, I look to fellow moms when I am making a decision about a product or whether to bring my 3 year old to the latest animated film. While new, up-and-coming, and exciting characterize a large pa... Read More »
Published on Monday, April 15, 2013 by Caryn Bailey
Confession: I am not a fan of carpet! When we moved into our home nearly four years ago, I only had a few requests, one of which was to rip out the entire upstairs carpet to replace it with something cleaner and greener. Even without kids or pets, carpet manages to hold onto dirt and other debris that can be impossible to remove. Stains from spilled juice or pet acc... Read More »
Published on Monday, April 8, 2013 by Caryn Bailey
If your kids grow out of clothes as quickly as mine do, then you know that quality is one of the most important factors to consider when shopping. We are long-time fans of the classically-inspired designs from Lands' End, and find that their childrens' apparel, in particular, withstands rugged play and frequent washings.
Each season, I find myself spending quite ... Read More »
Published on Sunday, April 7, 2013 by Caryn Bailey
Spring always inspires me to get creative! I've been undertaking several baking and DIY projects and have had the urge to do a ton of Spring Cleaning! During my survey of our children's toys, I asked if we could give some of our stuffed animals to some local friends in need. My children readily picked out several stuffed toys to give away, but they held on tight... Read More »
Published on Wednesday, April 3, 2013 by Caryn Bailey
As passionate as I am about healthy eating, I have one weakness...chocolate. Some people crave chips or cookies or ice cream...I crave chocolate! To curb those cravings, I simply keep a supply of dark chocolate chips in the fridge. A handful is typically enough to curb that craving without completely blowing it (as far as fat and calories go) for the day. And ... Read More »
Published on Monday, April 1, 2013 by Caryn Bailey
This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for stopping by. The winner is Debra H. Congrats!
Over the weekend, I was talking to my mom about my daughter, and how she is becoming quite the "girly-girl." It's interesting how most little girls have that innate desire to wear pretty dresses and apply makeup. I'm pretty certain that one component of my daughter's femininity i... Read More »
Published on Friday, March 29, 2013 by Caryn Bailey
Growing up, my mother always emphasized the importance of taking care of my skin. While my friends were basking in the warm California sun, I would set up shade, sunscreen lathered in to avoid the wrinkles my mother warned me about.
Fast forward 20 years...while I've managed to avoid damage from the sun's harmful rays, I'm starting to notice some fine lines as a ... Read More »
Published on Monday, March 25, 2013 by Caryn Bailey
Before I had kids, I actually spent quite a bit of time making my own foods. I had an appliance for everything and could make my own bread, smoothies, pizza dough, and more. Some foods were easier to make than others and often depended on the appliance I was using. I owned a very inexpensive ice cream maker that I brought into our marriage, but rarely used it beca... Read More »
Published on Friday, March 15, 2013 by Caryn Bailey
Right around the holidays, I remember breathing a silent sigh of relief! We had managed to get through escape the brunt of cold and flu season without incident. And then it hit us...first it was my daughter...then it was my husband and I. The only one who has managed to remain healthy this year is my son (it must be all of those colorful fruits and vegetables he... Read More »
Published on Monday, March 11, 2013 by Caryn Bailey
Real conversations with my husband...
Jason: You know we're inside, right? (referring to the fact that I'm going crazy looking for my sunglasses)
Me: Yes...and?
Jason: Well, you don't have to have your sunglasses every moment of the day since we're going to be inside!
Me: But I need them!
If you've ever seen photos or videos of me, than you'll li... Read More »