Health & Home
6 Ways to simplify the Morning Routine *and* be on time. No kidding.
Truth be told, I like to be on time. I’m often not, but I still like to try. It’s amazing how much more difficult it is to be punctual when you have children in tow who don’t seem to have …
Ridiculous Green Tips. I just won’t go that far.
I’m always on the hunt for green living tips to share with you, and I try to keep the recommendations realistic and simple enough where you might be subjected to a short period of uncomfortable change, but nothing that will …
It’s not easy being green. Doable ideas for Earth Day resolutions.
I don’t know about you, but my commitment to being green tends to ebb and flow—erring more on the side of “ebbing” than “flowing”. Don’t get me wrong, at home I’m a recycling nut. But I’m also the first one …
25 Ways to Have More Fun at Home. That’s a lot of fun, friends.
I love coming up with fun and clever ideas for fun things to do with my kids, and the rewards are two-fold: 1) they have a blast, and 2) I feel like Mother of the Year (albeit briefly, but let’s …
Found! 30 healthy snacks under 150 calories. Now you can eat more.
I don’t know about you, but I need some new snack ideas– but ones that are still healthy (hello, summer is coming!). Here are some delish snacks for you OR the kids. Craving salty? 5 olives (any kind) (45 …
How to hard boil the *perfect* egg.
Are you ready to color your Easter eggs? It’s always a good idea to use hard boiled eggs unless you’re ready to clean up a very messy Easter basket! But boiling eggs isn’t as easy as it seems. Sometimes the …
Candy Rationing 101. How to successfully limit without (much) grief.
Worried about how to keep your kids from eating their body weight in candy on Easter? See our tips for stretching out the holiday treats and keeping that sugar rush (and crash) at bay. The Big GuyHow to deal with …
Happy Trails! Get outside and enjoy the seacoast’s beautiful outdoor walks.
Looking to enjoy the great outdoors this weekend? Check out our recommendations for a family outing along some of the seacoast’s most beautiful walking trails and nature centers. It’s a great way to walk off all that extra pie, too! …
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 …
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 …
Meet your new grocery store. Local farmer CSA’s are now accepting orders!
Everybody loves a Farmers’ Market because nothing tastes better than when it’s “right out of the garden”. But if you’re like me, I always forget to go! If only there was a way I could get that head of lettuce …
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 …
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. …
“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. …
No babysitter? A Date Night-In can be fun, too. (And, a lot cheaper to boot.)
Babysitters are tricky business. First, finding someone you can trust who has a fair amount of availability isn’t easy, to say the least. Second, they are expensive! When you add the sitter fee to your nightly spend for date night, …
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 …
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 …
9 Best “Mom” apps. Being this smart/organized/fashionable is natural, dontcha know.
I’ve had an iPhone for some time now, but have never invested too much time finding apps–come to find out, I was missing out on quite a bit– and not junk, useful stuff! Check out these recommendations for our favorite …
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 …
Holiday houseguests? An easy and stress-free “How-To” prep for your merry visitors.
Ding dong! The guests have arrived! Being a great host is a big job, but it doesn’t mean you have to expend a super human effort to make your guests feel comfortable. Check out our tips for creating a cozy …
Caramel Apple Cider Crock Pot Recipe. Yah, that just happened.
Just like they make at Starbucks, only you’re saving yourself $3.50. Score. IngredientsServes 4 4 cups apple cider3 tablespoons caramel syrup (the ice cream topping)1/2 tablespoon ground cinnamon1/4 teaspoon ground cloves4 tablespoons sweetened whipped cream DirectionsUse a 2-quart slow cooker. …
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 …
Our favorite Thanksgiving recipes: New twists on old favorites
Thanksgiving is around the corner and everyone is beginning to salivate like Pavlov’s Dogs because they know they’re about to dig into that one special, favorite dish that waits an entire year be served again. The following three recipes are …
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 …
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 …
Car Seat Saftey: 11 mistakes parents make
I wouldn’t be lying if I told you that the last time I had my car seat properly checked out was by the valet at Brigham & Women’s the day we left with my newborn daughter. Physically having a car seat …
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 …
Get active! Outdoor family games that are just plain f.u.n.
If you’re the person who gets up at 5:30am and goes for a jog before the kids get up, this article is not aimed at you. Let it be known that you people who are able to muster the motivation …
Feeling hot, hot, hot! Why grilling is the way to go.
If you’re like me, one of the things I really look forward to in the summer is eating outside and grilling. Less mess, tasty flavors, it just feels more relaxed. Sometimes we fail to give the grill the respect it …
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 …
Unique Grilling Recipes. Thinking Outside The Charcoal Bag.
Nothing says summer like outdoor grilling, but are you ready to move on from the steaks, burgers and chicken? Check out our ideas and recipes for whipping up some conventional dinners in a new and unique way. Appetizing Appetizers.Looking to …
Pool Safety is no joke. Learn how to keep your kids safe.
It’s hot (yay!) and everyone is seeking out the closest watering hole or pool. Break out the beach chairs, grab a magazine and relax by the water…what could go wrong? It is horrific to even consider the possibility, but kids …
Eating out? Best and worst Kids’ Menus.
Between tricky restaurant choices, finicky eaters, and the desire to provide healthy, nourishing food, taking the kids out to eat can drive any parent crazy! Here’s the inside scoop on better choices and some easy steps on how to lighten …
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 …
How to Cure a Bad Day. Tips For Keeping Your Head on Straight.
Maybe it’s the incessant freezing temps or the fact that my house seems to clutter just by looking at it, but I’ve been hard-pressed to maintain my usually positive attitude lately when dealing with small annoyances (alarm failures, kitchen accidents …
Breast Pumps Tax Deductible? Yup! Plus 5 Health Expenses You Can Write Off.
The IRS announced today that new parents can write off breast pumps (or buy them with pre-tax flexible spending accounts), now that it officially considers them a “medical expense.” As long as you spend at least 7.5% of your total …
Calgon, Take Me Away! Simple “Time Out” Tricks for Mom.
Once you become a parent, doing everything for others (and all at once) becomes woven into our DNA. But it’s important that we keep an eye on our own mental health before the train really runs off the tracks. Sneaking …
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 …
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. …
Technology Free Weekend? We DARE You!
There have been many, many times over the past year when I’ve gathered up my resolve and decided to cut down on my non-work Internet time. It’s not like there aren’t a million other, more productive things I could be …
Best Local Thrift Shops That Are Doing Good. PS: Thanks For Cleaning Out My Closet.
Ready to do something with that bag of clothes or box of old toys in your basement that’s tagged for donation? Avoid the parking lot drop-off bin to Who-Knows-What-Charity and check out our list of local thrift shops that are …
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 …
Apple Picking Season Has Commenced. Fail-Proof Dessert Recipes (Yours, Not Mine).
I don’t bake. Well, I do bake, but I stink at it. Suffice it to say, if I were in a dessert challenge on Top Chef, I would definitely be asked to pack my knives and go. But it’s apple …
Best And Worst Restaurant Salads. Just When You Thought You Were Doing Good.
It’s summer, it’s hot. Doesn’t a nice cool salad sound delicious, light and healthy? And then, WHAMO, you’ve consumed an entire day’s worth (or two) of fat and calories in one sitting. This isn’t fair! Normally, ignorance is bliss, but …
Is McDonald’s To Blame For Making Our Kids Fat? Here’s Your Chance To Weigh In (No Scale Required).
Everyone knows that fast food chain restaurants aren’t winning any awards for being nutritionally responsible. But one public interest group is taking it a step further and claiming that McDonald’s is guilty of “predatory marketing” using their Happy Meal toys …
Tips On Creating Active Families For The Lazy Person.
Everyone in my family, particularly in their youth, has always been thin. We were able to eat a lot, exercise rarely and diet never. But did that mean we were “healthy”? Not really. My family never hiked and I’ve never …
This Book Got My Kids To Eat Tomatoes. Great Books For Life Lessons.
Do you remember that book Little Red Hen? It was one of those Golden Book stories that we all had and it was about this hen who asked the other farm animals to help her plant grain, but no one …
OMG, Texting Behind The Wheel Is So Not Worth It.
I always thought those Baby On Board signs that people hang in their car were super obnoxious. That is, until I had a baby on board. I’d be driving somewhere with my little bundle of joy and see people swerving …
