Do Something Good Advent Calendar: 25 Days Of Good Deeds!

We're a Catholic family, and we tend to take advent quite seriously.  I love to think about preparing my heart for Jesus to be born, but over the years I haven't felt connected to the candy advent calendars so we've always done an activity advent calendar.  So, for example, we'd watch a Christmas film together or drive around and look at lights.  What I realized is that we weren't doing anything we wouldn't do anyway, and we certainly didn't have…

Gift Guide For The Next Generation Of Harry Potter Lovers!

Disclosure:  We received some LEGO products and the Kano Harry Potter for free for consideration.  Most of the LEGO sets featured in this post are actually from Liam's birthday presents!  [There are no affiliate links in this post.] I'm keeping it short and sweet today, because I know a lot of us are shopping today and don't have a ton of time for reading. Here are my gift suggestions if you have an aspired Hogwarts pupil in your home. Liam has…

The Honest Christmas Card Challenge

The winter before I launched this blog to go beyond friends and family and a creative space to organize my photos and recipes.  I stood on the cold lament flooring in our 1940s ranch home in the Midwest, I was feeling particularly grinchy this year.  My son, then three, had recently had four minor surgeries and the recovery was going very, very, very badly.  It felt as though I hadn't slept in nearly eight months, and I wasn't sure I…

An Experience Gift The Whole Family Will Enjoy With Fender + A Free Trial!!

This post is sponsored by Fender but the content and opinions expressed here are my own. I have been pretty forthcoming this Christmas holiday about how we are simplifying and focusing our gift choices on really tangible, helpful, useful things the kids won't throw down in a few days! Last year, I was introduced to Fender Play, an app that teaches you virtual guitar and ukulele lessons! Sawyer & I have been loving the flexibility, and the opportunity to master…

Tips For Simplifying The Holidays As A Family!

This post is sponsored by Red Baron but the content and opinions expressed here are my own. This holiday season for me is all about re-centering our family and our priorities.  I told you guys over on stories the other day that I am done being on the stressed out, rat race of the holidays. It happens to the best of us, right?  Usually, a series of GOOD things, derail us and wreak havoc on our hearts.  We will find…

Support Make A Wish® This Holiday With A Fun, New Tradition!

This isn't sponsored, just wanted to shout out two amazing brands doing amazing things in our local community!  Did you know there's an easy way to support the amazing work of Make A Wish® in your community FOR FREE this holiday season?  As you may recall we went to Disney back in February, and were blessed by the opportunity to learn more about the incredible work of Make A Wish®.  Living here in Oregon and plugging into the community we've…

Host A Holiday Happy Hour With Your Kids!

This post is sponsored by Sparkling ICE but the content and opinions expressed here are my own. My boys love being able to drink like the grown ups, and while sometimes it simply isn't possible, I love to make special holiday happy hours with my boys. The idea came from a mentor friend of mine who shared that her family always loved to have Sunday tea time.  We aren't huge tea people so for our family it wasn't super realistic…

A Decade Of Adventures With Our Dog! [& I Want To See Your Dog, Too!!]

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and Purina. All opinions are mine alone. #FuelTheirPotential #CollectiveBias It is so hard to believe our dog recently celebrated his 10th birthday! Since we met this precious husky, we've been to many beaches across the country, lived in five states, had two kids, and so much more in between!  Since the kids have been in school this fall, I've fallen in love with sneaking out for crisp fall hikes with my…