Seacoast Kids Calendar

“Homemade” Chicken Soup: From the pot to your mouth in 15 minutes.

I love homemade chicken soup, but the thought of making “homemade” chicken broth sends me running for the hills. This soup is an adaptation of a Martha Stewart recipe I found a while ago (more complicated, but super delish) that, …

Culinary trickery. Top 5 ways to bamboozle your young kids into eating healthy Things.

When my kids were around 2-3 years old, they were happily subsisting on a strict diet of macaroni and cheese and goldfish crackers. Trying new foods was a joke. Despite all my efforts to trick them into taking just a …

10 ways to improve your mood and ‘tude. Peace is closer than you think.

Life, kids, relationships, groceries, bills, cleaning, carpools, homework, regular work—it can all get pretty overwhelming! Often times we don’t feel like it’s possible to give ourselves a break so we continue on, resulting in more fatigue and more stress. Yuck. …

Procrastination busters. Start your day by eating a frog.

Everybody wakes in the morning with a list of things to do. If you’re like me, some of those tasks persistently show up day after day. Why? Because that particular task makes my upper lip curl with disgust, so I …

Tasty slow cooker recipe: Herbed Salmon. Get in my belly!

I love salmon, but don’t love cooking it at home since the smell seems to linger on pans and cooking racks, P.U. But complimenting my love of slow cooker recipes and salmon, here’s a fantastic way to eat salmon at …

Get rid of it! 10 Items you can toss now for a clutter-free existence.

For most of us, we tend to bog ourselves, and our home, down with too much useless junk. Here are some sure-fire ways to clean up your cabinets, drawers and mental state of mind. A clean home is a happy …

Did Someone Say Casserole? Try Out This Simple & Tasty Mac-n-Cheese Recipe.

Macaroni and Cheese has been a favorite of kids (and grown-ups) for generations. Try out this super simple and delicious recipe that’s sure to please the entire family. If your children are slightly more adventurous, jazz up this recipe by …

Looking for Some Family Fun? Try Geocaching!

Looking for something to do with the kids at home or on vacation? Try geocaching (pronounced geo-cashing), a scavenger hunt with a high-tech twist. What’s Geocaching?Geocaching is an outdoor game that uses a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver. It’s an …

6 Easy tips on cleaning (and keeping clean) your house for holiday guests.

Is your house becoming the local Motel 6 for the holidays? Sounds like it’s time to bust out the cleaning supplies. Here are some simple tips on keeping up appearances without turning yourself into a Merry Maid for the next …

Easy Gingerbread House that’s guaranteed not to collapse. Great for kids of any age, too!

Many of us have attempted gingerbread houses from fancy kits, only to witness the roof and sides collapse like a deck of cards. No more. Making your own gingerbread houses has never been easier with this low cost, low effort …

Beyond the turkey sandwich. New recipes for Thanksgiving leftovers!

After you’ve had your fill of turkey sandwiches, there are still plenty of options for all those Thanksgiving leftovers! Extra crudite makes for excellent salad fixins’. Leftover stuffed mushrooms could be whipped into a saucy accompaniment for steak! The possibilities …

Green Tip: That’s a wrap! Alternatives to wrapping paper.

Gift-giving is not an especially green activity. Fancy paper and shiny bows get thrown out by the bagful, and did you know that some wrapping papers can’t be recycled? Instead, try reusing colorful materials from around the house, such as …

8 Discipline mistakes parents make– and solutions to fix them!

Guilty as charged! I’m not going to admit to how many of these parenting no-no’s I’ve committed, but let’s just say a fair share is squarely in my corner. This Parenting.com article is a great reminder of how to keep …

Soup’s On! Try this four-ingredient recipe that warms our heart.

This little number was adapted from an old college favorite and spruced up slightly for a delicious family lunch or dinner. It’s super easy, pretty inexpensive and darn tasty. And the recipe is so flexible! Mix up the ingredients using …

Local and fresh! Newburyport Fall Farmer’s Market runs Sundays through 11/20.

The Fall market will run Sundays through November 20th in support of our local farmers up to the holidays! The tents will move next to the Tannery buildings and there will be heaters, so it will be warm and cozy for everyone! …

Toothless! Ideas for Tooth Fairy visits that make kids smile.

My daughter has a loose tooth. It’s been loose for about a month, and although the dentist promised I’d get another month or two before it actually fell out, I’m thinking I need a plan before I get caught one …

Delicious Salsa Chicken crockpot recipe. Three ingredients. Done.

Here’s another dinner recipe that’s so easy and delicious, it’s just SILLY. My mother gave me this recipe and we now eat it constantly. It’s a big hit with the family. This is a recipe for a SMALL crockpot (double …

House Cleaning Tip: Minimize the upstairs/downstairs trips!

Although it’s probably great for my glutes, I loathe running up and down the stairs all day long shuttling this upstairs and that downstairs. To avoid the neverending trips, leave a basket at the foot of the stairs and toss in …

My favorite cool weather crockpot recipe. Beef Stew. So easy, you’ll freak.

Take a big breath and blow the dust of the ol’ crock pot. It’s cool weather cooking time! I was given this Beef Stew recipe from a family member, which was apparently handed down from like 1,000 years ago, so it’s pretty …

Angry Birds cupcake recipe! No app needed.

Need to get your kids off those gaming apps? They’ll be more amenable to put that iPhone down when cupcakes are on the docket, and ones they recognize, to boot! Check out this adorbs recipe for some non-technical after school …

Easy After-School Treats. Now You Look Like A Hero.

Let’s play super-parent for a day and have some yummy treats waiting for the kids when they arrive off the bus! Check out these multi-colored rice krispie treats, a great alternative to the chocolate chip cookie (ok, that’s not true, …

6 Ways to simplify the Morning Routine and be on time. No kidding.

The lazy days of summer are coming to an end and the morning routine of school is right around the corner. It’s time to strategize your morning battle plan so the transition doesn’t turn your household upsidedown! Truth be told, …

Condiment Makeover. Easy Additions for KAPOW Flavor.

I’m a really big fan of condiments. I will often order a burger just to get my fill of ketchup, mustard and pickles. At home, I like to try and recreate those delicious sides or dips you get in restaurants. Turns …

Keep cool with this super easy Frozen Tiramisu recipe. Yum.

Looking for a cool dessert that won’t break make you break a sweat? This one’s easy peasy. And not too bad on the waistline either! Ingredients 1 pint coffee-flavored frozen yogurt 3 tablespoons chocolate sauce (such as Hersheys) 1 …

Breakfast On-the-Go: Mini Frittatas with Ham and Cheese

Looking for a make-ahead breakfast recipe that you can take with you as you scoot out the door? Great for kids and adults, you can bake these bite-sized frittatas in a miniature muffin pan. They taste great hot or at …

Homemade Activities We Thought Were A Pain. Turns Out They’re Pretty Simple.

I’ve always read about these at-home recipes for making soap or lollipops and thought, “How fun, but when do I ever have (insert obscure ingredient here) on hand?” Check out these super simple recipes and mixtures (using ingredients you definitely …

When to Toss it? Average Lifespan of Household Products.

Many of us are guilty of trying to eke out the last breath of common household items—it’s expensive and time consuming to keep up with it all! But to keep your home and body running efficiently, check out our recommendations …

Remember these? Make your own McDonald’s copycat Fried Apple Pie.

Growing up, McDonald’s apple pies were one of my favorite things in the world. Unfortunately, in 1992, they switched from fried apple pies to baked, which, while probably healthier, just aren’t the same. For nostalgia’s sake, let’s make our own! …

Pizza Dough Desserts: Twist up some Yummy Hot Pretzels!

Looking for some delicious, indoor fun? Try your hand at making sweet soft pretzels. Super easy to make with store-bought pizza dough and it’s a great activity for the kids—forming the twisty shape is a fun activity for little helpers. …

Awesome Craft Toy Alert: Foam Dough is Super (Clean!) Fun

Have you seen this stuff? It blows play dough and that awful invention, Moon Sand, right out of the water. This foam dough (also called “play foam”) is made up of those tiny foam balls (like the kind that are in …

Recycle, Reuse and Repurpose. Check out These New Uses for Old Things.

I love recycling. I get such a thrill from using “this” item for “that” when it’s supposed to be used for “that other thing”. More clearly, finding alternative uses for everyday items makes me feel resourceful and, ok, clever. Before I …

We Freaking Love the Dollar Tree. Look What We Found!

If you have a question, the Dollar Tree is the answer. I know this post won’t agree with everyone, but as the primary budget keeper in my household, those dollar stores offer deals that are just too good to pass …

‘Stained Glass Hearts’. Easy and Pretty Valentine’s Day Kids’ Crafts.

Young and old alike will enjoy making this pretty stained glass-style window ornament for Valentine’s Day. These translucent hanging hearts are easy to make from waxed paper and crayons. In return, sunbeams will color your room with cheer! Here’s what …

Enough Already! Five Things You can Do to Beat the Cold.

To reiterate how cold it is outside is becoming a tired cliché. Short of jumping on the first flight to a palm tree studded locale, here are some ways you can trick yourself, albeit temporarily, into feeling hot, hot, hot. …

Super Easy Vegetarian Crockpot Recipe: Parmesan, Spinach and Barley Casserole. Yum.

Nothing says “crockpot cooking” like “winter”. Or maybe it’s the other way around. Either way, crockpots and cold weather just seem to go together like peanut butter and jelly. Speaking of, try out this delicious sounding vegetarian crockpot recipe. Ingredients:2 …

Cleaning for Guests? Tackle The Bathroom First.

If you can clean only one room before company arrives, tackle the bathroom. This is the only room where people spend time solo and may have the time and tendency to notice a gross sink. While they’re in there, you …

Eat Like A Celebrity. Jennifer Garner & Cameron Diaz Share Their Healthy Recipes.

I’m always on the hunt for easy and healthy recipes so when the kick-butt heroine from Alias shares her favorite dinner dish, my stovetop is poised for action. Cameron Diaz also offers up her “breakfast” recipe which keeps her hunger …

Store-Bought Pancake Mix Taste Test. Pass The Syrup!

I just received a coupon for Krusteaz, and it got me thinking…pancakes. Delicious, light and fluffy homemade (and by that I mean, made-at-home-out-of-the-box) flap jacks. My first thought was, “How can I use this article as an opportunity to eat …

Errands Be Gone! Checking Off Your To-Do List Without Actually To-Do’ing Anything.

Ding dong. Who’s there? Oh, it’s my groceries! Ding dong…excellent, the dry cleaning is here! What’s that, Mr. Mailman? Oh, my drug store items have arrived. Niiice. The delivery industry has finally listened to our cat calls and is starting …

The Right Way And The Wrong Way To Use Consumer Loyalty Cards.

Following up on our Loyalty Cards: A Good Deal Or Scary Big Brother, here’s a great article we found on the best ways to work the loyalty/membership card system. There are definitely some good tips here… ______________________________ If you’re like …

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