My children bring so much joy and happiness into my life.  They also seem to multiply our household laundry load- I feel like I’m forever catching up on washing or folding!  If you do a lot of laundry, the cost of detergent can add up fast.  Why not make your own?  It’s easier than you might think, and it can save you a load (pun intended) of money.

What you’ll need:

• 1 bar of whatever bar soap you prefer

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Any good photographer will tell you that the clothes you choose to wear in a photograph are as important as the setting.  The right clothing can turn a good family portrait into a great one.  Think outside the box of standard khakis and white shirts.  Allow yourself to get creative!

Choose a color palette and don’t be too “matchy”

The below palettes and clothing combinations may inspire you.  Or, look at family portraits on Pinterest.  Instead of choosing matching polo shirts, choose two, three, or even four colors.  You’ll notice most of the palettes below include at…

Young children learn through play; it’s how they experience their world.  It’s why you’ll often see them putting things in their mouth (things that should never, ever go in a mouth) or find toys crammed in your vacuum cleaner attachment or toaster.  It’s why they love to eat things with their hands and play in the dirt.

Give those busy little hands something to do!  Sensory play is a wonderful way to teach toddlers math (sorting, measuring), creativity, gross and fine motor skills, cognitive skills, and social skills.  Plus, it’s a good way to create boundaries…

Most women have cravings for certain kinds of food, and I’ve begun to believe that these cravings are more than a simple desire for a certain kind of food.  I think they really mean something.  Food cravings are your body’s way of telling you that it’s missing something- something found in that food.  Like chocolate, which contains magnesium, or salty foods, which contain chloride.

Unfortunately the foods we eat in order to satisfy these cravings are often not healthy for us.  And while I think a handful of chocolate chips or some tortilla chips (two of my favorites)…

I loved vegetables as a kid.  My mom tells me that as a kid I used to reach out and snatch florets of broccoli as we were grocery shopping.  Unfortunately, not all kids share my love of fresh produce.  According to the US Department of Health, children should be having 3-4 servings (cups) of vegetables every day.  You may find that it’s difficult to get your children, especially younger ones, to eat just one serving!

So how do you give your kids their recommended daily dose of veggie goodness without…

This post is part of an ongoing series titled “DIY.”  Every few weeks we’ll feature a craft or do-it-yourself item.  We’d love to see pictures of your take on these projects and hear about your DIY ideas!

Chore Board

It can be tough to keep track of which chores your kids (and you) have done or still need to do, especially when you’ve got a lot of other things going on.  A Chore Board is an easy way to keep track of everyone’s weekly responsibilities, and there are lots of ways to make your board…