Published on Monday, May 20, 2013 by Caryn Bailey
A couple of weeks ago, my son tie-dyed a shirt at school for a literacy event. I was quite impressed with the results, and after speaking with his teacher, learned that it isn't as difficult as it looks. I had heard that it is quite common to dye everything from clothing and accessories to home decor (including furniture!). Rit Dye is commonly used for such DIY... 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 Monday, May 13, 2013 by Caryn Bailey
A couple of years ago, we purchased some colorful modular furniture cubes from ViaBoxes and used them to store my children's toys. Over the years, the colors that were once vibrant have dulled. These boxes, which still have a lot of life in them, are beginning to see the wear of two small children. Since these boxes are made of wood, I decided to give them a bit... Read More »
Published on Sunday, May 12, 2013 by Caryn Bailey
Thank you to Clear, for sponsoring this Girl's Day Out. Compensation and prizes provided to help facilitate this event.
Spending time with girl friends used to be spontaneous and regular. But with two small kidlets, a husband with an erratic work schedule, and a busy work-at-home job that isn't always predictable, I find that if isn't on the calendar, it doesn't... Read More »
Published on Friday, May 10, 2013 by Caryn Bailey
In my never-ending effort to take an off-the-beaten-path approach to food, I decided to attempt a Strawberry Gazpacho earlier this week. Our family adores strawberries, and now that they can be found in abundance, we stocked up by purchasing FIVE pounds to cook and bake with. The price of strawberries varies throughout the year, but May is National Strawberry Mont... Read More »
Published on Thursday, May 9, 2013 by Caryn Bailey
Grocery shopping is one of our biggest weekly expenses, so naturally, I'm always looking for ways to save money. Cutting coupons, perusing store ads, and shopping for items on sale typically help lower our weekly bill. Additionally, I try to buy generic brands when I know that the quality of the items will not be compromised.
If you shop at Walmart, then you li... Read More »
Published on Wednesday, May 8, 2013 by Caryn Bailey
With Mother's Day less than one week away, I've been brainstorming gift ideas for the moms in my life. Traditionally, I've thought about those things that I would want if I were receiving the gift. "Me" time, a couple of hours at the spa, a meal that satisfies my inner foodie, or a quick staycation all top my list of Mother's Day gifts that rock! My husband has ... Read More »
Published on Tuesday, May 7, 2013 by Caryn Bailey
Giggles...splashes...squeals... Those are the sounds of my kids during bath time. But it wasn't always this easy...or fun. Even as babies, my kids would protest the dreaded bath. Whether it was the fear of getting wet or simply fear of the unknown, I'll never really know. What I do know is that I can't have dirty children! So early on, I decided to get creativ... Read More »
Published on Friday, May 3, 2013 by Caryn Bailey
For many, Cinco de Mayo in both America and Mexico, this weekend is a time for celebration and remembrance. Observed on May 5th, it is a day for Mexican and Mexican-American communities to rejoice in their freedom and democracy while commemorating their culture's heritage and pride.
While I myself identify with the Puerto Rican culture, there is a camaraderie I fee... 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 Tuesday, April 23, 2013 by Caryn Bailey
For the first time in months, we had a weekend so warm, it felt like summer! My children love the outdoors, and now that we're in the midst of a warming trend, our family will be spending more time together enjoying the warm sun, fresh flowers, and shady trees. The current state of our backyard resembles more of a playground than anything since it houses a climber, ... Read More »
Published on Friday, April 19, 2013 by Caryn Bailey
Recently, my husband half jokingly told me he wanted to send me back to home economics. It's no secret that I lack in domestic skills, but in the past several years, I've worked to be better at cooking from scratch, crafting with the kids, and keeping our home organized. So when I told my husband that I was going to tackle a crochet project, he was admittedly a litt... Read More »
Published on Thursday, April 18, 2013 by Caryn Bailey
I always look forward to April because I have a renewed sense of responsibility to further my efforts towards preserving our planet and its precious resources. Years ago, we made the commitment to "reduce, reuse, and recycle," but lately, I'm looking for new ways to repurpose items we can't recycle. For example, I could recycle the glass jars we have used for jam an... 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 Tuesday, April 9, 2013 by Caryn Bailey
Now that my son is in school, we don't have as many opportunities during the day to spend time together doing the things we love. I miss swinging and playing at the park, discovering and learning at our local museum, and our impromptu trips to Disneyland. It wasn't until Kindergarten that I realized just how quickly the time goes by.
One of my "resolutions" for... Read More »
Published on Saturday, April 6, 2013 by Caryn Bailey
One of my favorite breakfast treats growing up was Kellogg's Pop-Tarts. The combination of a crisp flaky crust with a warm, fruit filling was absolutely divine. While I think my parents would have preferred that I eat the plain, unfrosted varieties, I used these opportunities to indulge. I've tried a few of the unfrosted varieties with my own kids, and their fav... 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 Tuesday, April 2, 2013 by Caryn Bailey
Spring is all about change...there is a sense of renewal and vibrance that brightens my mood and inspires me to get outside. The dull, leafless trees and plants bloom with life and color. Spring is the season where I feel a sense of urgency to make changes...in our home...in our routine...
I've wanted to do something with our third bedroom since we moved into o... Read More »
Published on Monday, March 18, 2013 by Caryn Bailey
Easter Brunch has become a favorite tradition in our household. After we've spent the morning at church, we reflect on the true meaning of the holiday as a family over a meal before participating in those kid-friendly activities that characterize Easter. Before we had kids, we didn't think twice about spending what seems like double the amount of money on Easter Brunc... Read More »