Category: Ideas + Advice for Families

Don’t Do It

How to Not Overcommit Yourself

Ladies, the start of the school year is upon us and that means lots of sign ups and volunteer sheets and new jobs to be done at school. This post is on how to not overcommit yourself because it’s oh so easy to do.

This time of year, I usually feel pretty hyped up.  I am fresh and haven’t experienced lunches, homework or projects for 3 whole months.

But sometimes this gung-ho energy can get me into trouble. What kind of trouble? The saying “yes” to every volunteer opportunity trouble. Like even just this morning I was sent sign-up sheets to volunteer and I immediately thought because I was sent the sheet, I am obligated to sign up.  But not necessarily.

Volunteering is an amazing gift if you have time available to dedicate to it.  I love to volunteer. I love to be around school. I love to help.

I don’t love being overcommitted and stressed out. Especially at the sake of my sanity or time with my family.

Preserve Your Summer Memories [Giveaway!]

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% my own, I love Pictli!

———->>>>>   Giveaway!   <<<<<———-

Make sure to enter below to win TWO Pictli framed photo gifts to preserve your summer memories –
ONE for you and ONE to send as a gift!

framed-photo-gifts

Framed Photo Gifts

Every summer my girls go to San Diego to stay with their grandparents for four fun filled days of non-stop activities. My sister-in-law lives  in San Diego as well, and this year, in addition to all the fun stuff the grandparents planned, she took my girls stand up paddle boarding for the first time along with treating them to an entire day at the Aquatica Water Park by SeaWorld.

Anyone who can brave a water park with two kids for the day deserves a big thank you, so I went online to Pictli and created a framed photo gift of the girls paddle boarding to send her as a thank you gift.  And, it took me all of about 5 minutes. I LOVE IT! 

What We Can Learn from the Maddy Middleton Tragedy

  Last month 8-year-old girl Maddy Middleton was abducted, raped and murdered in her Santa Cruz apartment complex. The perpetrator was not a stranger and this was not a random abduction.  The killer was a 15-year-old boy who lived in her building who lured her to his apartment. Her tragic story shook me to the core.… Continue reading What We Can Learn from the Maddy Middleton Tragedy

Not Scary Movies for Kids

Not Scary Movies for Kids 

20 Not Scary Movies for Kids

(Links in post are Amazon Affiliate Links)

Last week I went out to dinner with five of my class of ’92 high school girlfriends I hadn’t seen in years.  Old photos were passed around and we laughed our you know whats off at the styles back then. I think the shoes were the most offensive – does anyone remember Reebok high tops with big scrunch socks?!  How on earth was that ever considered cute? Wow.

We had four hours to catch up and many parenting topics arose, which gives me endless parenting blog fodder. I love it.

This post was inspired when a friend mentioned her kids are so sensitive to “scary” stuff, that she has been forced over the years to find not scary movies for kids her family could watch together.

Of course, what scares a kid can differ from child to child, so these movies listed below are not necessarily scare-proof. However, a great way to check out the details on a movie before you watch it with your kids is www.commonsensemedia.org. The age recommendations for the movies below were taken from that site.

You simply plug in the movie and you can get the full rundown of the story line and ratings on things such as educational value, positive messaging, violence & scariness, and more.

Please add any not scary movies for kids you have discovered in the comments. Would love to keep this list going!

OC Parks Summer Concert Series

Ahhhh, summertime! I love summer. Long days, warm nights and sleep-in kind of mornings. And with this glorious season comes an annual Orange County FREE family-favorite event, the OC Parks Summer Concert Series 2015.

OC Parks welcomes back its annual outdoor summer concert series with five free concerts at Mason Regional Park, Mile Square Regional Park, Irvine Regional Park and Craig Regional Park where Southern California artists will be performing live under the summer sky on Thursday evenings now through August 27, 2015.

All of the OC Parks Summer Concerts are part of the KROQ ‘N Surf summer series and take place from 6 to 8 p.m.. They offer free admission and free parking and are open to the public of all ages. Friends and families are invited to come out, bring a blanket and a beach chair and enjoy great local live music under the stars at OC Parks this summer season.

OC Parks Summer Concert Series 2015 

oc parks concerts