Black Friday Deals

Yes, I know that today is only Tuesday and Black Friday is on Friday ... but this is your guide and is early so that you can look through things without having to take time out of your family holiday. I will NOT be posting any Thursday deals. That isn't how I work. While I will be working on Thanksgiving, it is because I am CHOOSING to keep drunks off the road following an event. This is not a mandatory thing. I just want life to be a little bit safer and everyone is able to get home to their families for the holidays. With that said ... Here you go!

Click the graphic to go straight to the deal!

Back to School Bash

Well, the party was designed to be for moms celebrating their kids going back to school. However, I wanted to get a group of friends together who no longer go to school together and have some fun! I am SO glad I decided to change the tactics.

*Disclosure - This party was sponsored by Fruit of the Loom. I was given a party pack through House Party with coupons and decorations, as well as party ideas. I was not expected to blog about the party, nor was I promised money for a good review. All opinions are my own!*

Where has the time gone?

My 11 year old daughter loves to look pretty, just like her mommy. It gives her a boost of confidence and she walks a little taller.  Many people have told me that I need to stop aging her so fast, but I think that allowing her the ability to feel good about herself is something that all girls need. We allow her to say "I did great," or "I look good today." I think it is important for the self-esteem, and as long as it isn't all the time, I don't think ti is going to make her full of herself.

Family Entertainment at a Discount!

With the weather being nice outside, you may not think about it when it is in the 90s or when it is snowing. However, when the weather goes to pots, it is time to try to entertain the kids inside. Thankfully, there are a few locations around the KC Metro that you can take them so your sanity remains intact and your children enjoy themselves.

One of these locations is Cool Crest in Independence, MO.

Lock up your guns!

As a parent, you are constantly worried about keeping your children safe. You make sure the smoke detectors work, you put up baby gates, and you take care to make sure they are not exposed to vile things on the internet. However, 1.4 million homes in the United States contained guns that are not locked up or protected in any way.

Kicking the Summer Blues ... with Books

I have to be honest. My favorite time of day with my kids is when the younger two are napping and the older two are reading. It is quiet and peaceful ... not something I get to experience much with 4 little ones in the house. It isn't that my children fight a lot ... it is more that they get bored and then get into mischief. That compounds with the fighting. I know I am not alone with the summer blues, and people counting down until school starts. Some days are worse than others, but the two hours of peace I get during the day recharges me and reminds me of why I love them so much.

Teaching Preschoolers - Easy as A-B-C

*Note - This blog post contains affiliate links, however all opinions expressed are my own.*

Your child's mind is very impressionable and they learn at a very rapid pace when they are young. It is vital to start reading to them young, and studies have even shown that playing classical music while they are in the womb will help the brain grow. It can go unsaid that this makes starting preschool by age three important.

Father's Day

Today is a day that has a tendency to get pushed under the rug. Fathers just don't get as much credit as moms. I don't know that I really understand why. I am a stay at home mom, but my husband supports me, makes sure I can stay a SAHM, and work hard to be there for the kids activities.

New Heroes of the City

In March, I got the opportunity to talk about Heroes of the City and the app for both the iPhone and Android devices. I was approached again to talk about their new app, Heroes of the City Baby App.

Crazy Weekend!

I am in the process of recuperating after a crazy weekend. Between the 21st and the 26th, we had 12 people come and go in our apartment and celebrated a graduation & an anniversary. We have put the house back in order and are looking at rearranging things to make it work better for us. However, I have some time to get everything caught up!

FamilyFun Magazine Sweepstakes

One of my favorite magazines is teaming up with Purex to offer an awesome sweepstakes. FamilyFun is a parenting magazine that is released by the creators of American Baby and Parents magazines. Right now you can get a two year subscription for less than $8! You can find articles on getting pregnant, being pregnant, babies, toddlers, children, parenting, and then everything in between.

My oldest child is a middle schooler!

I cannot get over the fact I now have a middle schooler in this house. How in the world did this happen? I swear it was only yesterday that she was born! I love my little Peanut and couldn't be prouder of her. However, age can slow down at any point! We celebrated her achievement today and thanks to Chinet, we were able to do it in style.

*Note - we were given a package with plates, napkins, cups, and other goodies from Chinet through House Party. We were not required to blog about it, and all opinions are my own.*

It's been rough

You ever have those days where you don't want to talk to people because you have absolutely nothing nice to say? Yup, it has been one of those weeks. I have had one of those weeks where almost everything either annoys me or I am just not "not feeling it."

However, with it being Mother's Day, I am pulling out of my funk long enough to write a post.

Recap of A to Z Challenge

Well, I wrapped up the A to Z Challenge! Did you like all the parenting advice? Was there anything you wished I had covered? Let me know! Did you miss any of the posts? If so, you are in luck, here are the links to every one!!

R - Reading

I feel like the Little Engine that Could. I am thinking of all the reasons why I want to get through this and actually accomplish it. Why? Because I RARELY accomplish things I start. *sigh* So, today's letter (for me) is R. I want to touch on reading with your children.

Q - Questions

Seeing as I am only on Q and today is the last day of April, I didn't make it. However, I am a firm believer in continuing the race, even if you finish two weeks after everyone else! LOL

Anyway, this topic is one that parents hate to deal with. We all know it is coming, but we don't want to think about it. Today, I am talking about Kids Asking Questions.

P - Phobias

The topic for today's #atozchallenge is Phobias. Fears are very real to children, and they are not something to be belittled. Your child may be afraid of the dark, afraid of water, or even being alone ... How you handle their phobia will determine how your child learns to cope.

O - Oral Health

How often are you supposed to brush your teeth? Do you know? What is the best way to teach your child how to brush their teeth? When do you start brushing your child's teeth? Today for the #atozchallenge, I will be talking about your child's oral health.

N - Nutrition

WAY behind on the #atozchallenge but I am NOT going to give up! I am going to get a few scheduled so that I have them ready to go. I started off on such a great foot and then went downhill quickly. Such is the parenting life, I suppose. The letter for today is N and the topic is Nutrition.

M - Motor Development

Getting in another A to Z Challenge blog ... I am four days behind. Oyi. I am not surprised since I am WAY behind on Camp NaNoWriMo. The life of being a mom, a writer, and a blogger is easier said than done. I am just thankful that I have children who are excited and supportive of my dreams. Watching them grow makes the long hours of working at home worth it. Which leads me to the topic today ... motor development.