14 Empowering Quotes To Help You Harness Your Inner Wonder Woman

About a week ago, I was talking to my husband about how I was both sad and relieved that summer was over.  I was lamenting the fact that I felt like I'd kind of failed my older two kids in the summer fun department because so much of my time was spent in three hour blocks due to our new baby.  As a result, they mostly played together inside, watched shows or were out in the backyard.  Sure, I still planned some activities and we crossed a few things off our bucket list but as a whole, I felt the summer wasn't all that memorable.  I crave routine and predictability and with the start of a new school year, as well as a baby who's schedule is emerging, I finally have both of those things.  And that's when that old enemy "mom guilt" started creeping in big time and I felt bad for looking forward to my kids being gone at school.  If you have kids, I'm guessing you've felt this way too at least a few times in your life.  It can be so easy to let that voice tell us that we didn't do enough or what we did do wasn't good enough.

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Learning How To Speak Your Partner's Love Language

When my husband and I were first married, I made the (silly) assumption that my husband should be able to read my mind.  "I shouldn't have to tell him how I feel or what I want.  He should just know."  (Cue the laughter.)  Ten and a half years into marriage and my husband and I are still learning how to better communicate with each other, but we try to take the guesswork out of it by actually telling each other what we want or need from the other.  When I was in 7th grade, I decided to take French class to learn how to speak the language.  I stuck with it for five years and by the time I made it to my junior year of high school, I could carry on a decent conversation and felt fairly confident that if I ever made it to a French speaking country that I'd be able to get by.  But just like learning a foreign language takes time and practice, so does learning how to speak your partner's love language.

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Back To School Questionnaire {Free Printable}

As we move into another school year, I'm realizing more and more that time just passes by so quickly.  I think about when I was the same age as my daughter is now and while I have some clear memories of that time, I don't remember many seemingly small things that would have been fun to know, like what did I want to be when I grew up?, or what was my favorite subject in school?.  That's why I'm glad that there were teachers who recorded these things for me, which I then took home to my mom, who turned around and saved it in a giant box for me to look at when I was older.  I plan on doing the same thing for my kids as they progress through school.  However, I also like the idea of being able to see how they change from the beginning of the school year to the end of the school year, which is why I created this fun and simple back to school questionnaire.

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Kids Night In Box: Mind Your Manners

As a parent, teaching my kids to be thoughtful, kind and respectful of others is important to me.  Something we've worked on from a young age is manners, such as saying please and thank you, waiting their turn to talk and not chewing with their mouth open.  But sometimes it feels like the things I say go in one ear and out the other.  That's why I'm thankful for the different resources available to help me teach them.  Having the lesson come from someone (or something) other than me can create an environment where my kids are more willing to listen.

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Kids Fiesta Birthday Party

For my son's birthday party this year, we decided to go with a fiesta themed party.  Truthfully, there was no other reason for this besides the fact that we had planned it on Cinco de Mayo.  It was a fun and simple party and the kids all loved it!  I loved that it was so easy to put together and besides a quick run to the dollar store and Walmart, I was able to use items I already had at home!

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Easy Rapunzel Braid

I learned how to braid when I was about seven or eight and would practice on my mom's hair all the time.  Now that I have a little girl of my own, it's been fun to try out different hairstyles on her.  Braids are an easy ways to keep her hair back and add a little style and this Rapunzel braid might be one of my new favorite hairstyles for her.

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Ocean In A Bottle

In an attempt to keep my kids entertained and engaged this summer as well as retain some of my sanity, I'm trying to stick with simple activities and projects that don't take too much time to prep.  This ocean in a bottle experiment completely fascinated my kids and they kept coming back to it throughout the day to shake their bottle up and watch the glitter swirl and the water and oil separate.  It took me less than five minutes to gather the supplies and five minutes more to help each of them create their own ocean in a bottle.

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Kids Night In Box: Camp

I never went to summer camp as a kid, but I did spend plenty of time camping with my family growing up.  Living in Utah, we have a lot of mountains nearby to explore and it's one of my favorite places to be.  So when I saw our Kids Night In box's theme for June was Camp, I knew my kids would be in for a fun group of activities.  Included in our box was a book, supplies to make a harmonica and a pair of binoculars, as well as a fun size bag of marshmallows, graham crackers and chocolate.  They couldn't wait to start!

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20+ Easy Ways To Spend One On One Time With Your Kids

One of my goals this year has been to spend more one on one time with each of my kids.  This has proved to be more challenging that I thought it would be.  My oldest just finished kindergarten, my middle on is in preschool and the baby is just barely four months old, so we spend a lot of time together.  But what I've come to realize as I've made an effort to plan one on one time with them is that they don't care if it's 10 minutes or 2 hours.  They just want to have my undivided attention while we do something together.  Being a busy mom of three usually means that we're leaning more towards the 10 minutes rather than the 2 hours side of things, so I've had to become a little creative to work that time in.

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Homemade Snow Cone Syrup

One of our favorite traditions in the summer is getting snow cones, but this year, I decided to change things up a bit and make our own with some homemade snow cone syrup to go with it!  The weather here in Utah where I live has been super hot lately so we’ve been splitting our time between going outside in the morning and staying inside in the afternoon. To beat the heat, we’ve been eating lots of popsicles and now we can add snow cones to the mix! I got this recipe in an old neighborhood cookbook that was given to me by a relative as a wedding gift, but it wasn’t until recently that I actually started going through it and trying out recipes. And let me tell you, this homemade snow cone syrup is a winner!

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Communicating In Marriage

"If you were stuck on a deserted island, what three things would you bring with you?"  We've probably all heard this question at least a handful of times and jokingly replied with something obvious like, "a boat".  The truth is, most people aren't going to find themselves lost on an island in the middle of no where.  But if you consider the question in a slightly different light, it becomes much more relatable: "If you had to choose one person to spend the rest of your life with, who would it be?"  Hopefully, you'd choose your spouse!

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Hello Dollies (7 Layer Bars)

Growing up, we almost always had some kind of homemade treat on the counter in our kitchen.  My mom has a sweet tooth and loves to make desserts.  One she made regularly was called Hello Dollies, which I found out later are also called 7 Layer Bars.  I still have no idea why they are called Hello Dollies, but hearing the name always reminds me of one of my favorite musicals: Hello, Dolly.

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3 Tips For Creating A Mom Friendly Wardrobe

I was talking to a friend the other day about the struggle of finding every day clothes to wear that fit our lives as stay at home moms.  Often the only excuse we have to dress up is when we go to church or if we happen to have a night out with friends or the ever elusive date night.  As I thought back on this conversation later that day, I realized that my wardrobe has changed quite a bit in the last six years since my oldest was born.  The clothes I wore to work were no longer comfortable for my new routines and responsibilities and so I've shifted to pants that are easy to move and play in and tops that stay in place when I bend over.  You've probably heard the term "mom-iform" (mom uniform).  More often than not it has a negative connotation because the assumption is that if you are in clothes that are easy to move around in, they are probably low on the style scale.  But I want to share some qualities you can look for in clothes that will help you stay stylish and on budget.

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How To Make Paper Beads

I love doing crafts with my kids that I used to do with my mom when I was growing up.  One of my favorites was making paper beads out of magazines, which I'd then turn into very fashionable bracelets and necklaces. *wink*  At six and four, I decided my kids were old enough to try making their own paper beads so I pulled out some scraps of colored paper, glue and a few other materials to get them started.

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Kids Night In Box: Finance Club

The other day, my daughter had a small pad of paper and a pen and was going around the house marking different things "for sale" and putting a price tag on them: puzzle piece - $88, piece of play food - $1000, a magnet - $5 and so on.  Being 6 years old, her concept of money is still developing but she's at the point where she recognizes that everything has a price attached to it.  My son, who is 4, thinks he's rich if he has 100 pennies.  This month, we had the chance to review the Kids Night In box and learn more about money and both my kids really enjoyed it.

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Galaxy Bars

What is it about outer space that is so fascinating to us?  Maybe it's the idea of the unknown or just the thought that there are things out there that we haven't seen, but know they are there, like giant stars and black holes.  From a young age, I remember learning about the planets, moon, stars and galaxies and finding it all so interesting.  My kids are getting to the age where they are experiencing the same wonder and it's been fun to relearn with them.  (I even got to tell my kids about how "when I was a kid, we had nine planets".  Talk about feeling old!)  Today I'm sharing a family recipe with you that I've adapted to go along with the space theme and I'm calling them Galaxy Bars.

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3 Reasons You Should Mail Out Announcements

When was the last time you sent or received a card or letter through the mail?  How does it make you feel to get something other than an ad or a bill?  I know that it almost always brings a smile to my face.  There's a reason people still send out wedding invitations, graduation and birth announcements and Christmas cards through the mail.  There is something about having a physical piece of paper in your hands that makes it a little more special.

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Memories Shadow Box Anniversary Gift

My husband and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary at the beginning of this month.  It's hard to believe that 10 years have gone by so quickly!  Since we just had our third baby a couple of months ago, we are going on our anniversary trip next year.  But I still wanted to give my husband something to commemorate the last 10 years together.  A friend of mine shared the idea of using a shadow box to write down memories or moments we've had together.  I found some really cute and simple white shadow boxes at Target with some little wood hearts included that were perfect.  The whole project only took me about an hour total, but the end result was exactly what I hoped for.

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Kids Night In Box: Day At The Farm

I love doing fun activities with my kids at home, but sometimes the thought of coming up with an idea or theme and then gathering all the materials together feels like more than I have time for as a busy mom of three kids.  So when I heard about the Kids Night In Box, I thought it would be a great solution and also a great opportunity for my kids to do something new and fun together as a family.

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Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow and Pink Polka Dot Bikini Baby Onesie

With summer right around the corner, I know my kids are going to be spending a lot of time in their swimsuits.  My baby, on the other hand, is only a couple of months old and won't be needing a swimsuit for another few months at least.  But that hasn't stopped me from putting her in a cute little baby bikini!  The best part about it is that she is still protected from the sun and she looks adorable.  This no-sew baby bikini onesie is super simple to make and would be a fun gift for those little summer babies.

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You Are Doing Better Than You Think You Are

As mothers, we have a lot of responsibility placed on our shoulders.  At times, it is a burden we gladly carry.  Other times, the weight of it is heavy and it's all we can do to put one foot in front of the other.  I've laughed with my children and I've cried with them and over them and for them.  They are some of my greatest joys and present some of my greatest challenges.  Motherhood, it seems, is full of contradictions.  So it's understandable that as a mother, it can feel at times that we are stuck in this middle ground, where we're not sure if what we're doing is making a difference.  Mom guilt is real and it can cause us to question our methods, our abilities, our strength and endurance.  But I'm here to tell you that you are doing better than you think you are.

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Protecting Our Kids From Pornography

As parents, it's our responsibility to set boundaries and monitor our kids' activities.  By setting rules and limits for our kids, they know what is expected of them and they know when they've crossed the line.  It creates consistency and accountability.  But we can't be everywhere, with each child, all day, every day, tracking their behavior  And if your kids have electronics (cell phones, tablets, computers, etc), that is just one more device you have to try and monitor.  This might be manageable if you only have one or two kids, but you start adding more kids and more devices and it can become overwhelming and inevitably, things are going to slip through the cracks.   So how can we still be attentive parents and monitor our kids use of their devices without checking them multiple times a day?

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5 Reasons To Visit Pixar Pier

As you might have heard, Paradise Pier at Disney California Adventure is getting a makeover this summer.  Starting June 23rd, guests who visit the Disneyland Resort will be able to enjoy Pixar Pier.  Here, you'll be able to experience thrills, laughter and memories with all of your favorite Pixar pals.  If you're not sure what Pixar Pier is all about, I'm here to give you the scoop!  I've partnered with my friends at Get Away Today to give you 5 reasons to visit Pixar Pier.  Keep reading for an exclusive promo code to use on your next Disneyland vacation package, just for Sunshine & Munchkins readers.

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5 Fun {and Free} Disney Printables

I love Disney movies.  They make me laugh.  They make me cry.  And I have no problem admitting that I still watch them by myself sometimes at night.  So when I saw this month's prompt for Movie Club Monday was for Disney movies, I was so excited!  Then I felt a little bummed because I was having a hard time choosing just one movie to post about.  And then I thought, why choose just one?  So this month I'm sharing some of my favorite Disney movie quotes and song lyrics with you ("with you...with you...with you...with you...with you!")

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$10 at Target: Back Seat Boredom Busters and Organization

When we bought our new van last fall, we moved my daughter to the back seat in preparation for when baby #3 would be joining us.  She loves having the back seat all to herself and being able to color and read to her heart's content, but unfortunately, it's become a bit of a mess due to a lack of organization.  I've been meaning to find something for her to store her different belongings, but it didn't happen.  That is, until I went to Target last week and found some awesome stuff in the dollar spot!

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3 Baby Products To Bring You Peace of Mind

Since having baby #3 a little over five weeks ago, it's been quite a whirlwind and life is definitely more complicated with trying to manage everyone's schedules (and the baby's non-schedule) while still getting stuff done both around the house and outside the house.  Thankfully, there are some great products out there that will allow you to be more productive, help your baby get more sleep and give you peace of mind.  A few weeks ago, I shared some items that were on my wishlist for baby #3, including the DockATot, the Binxy Baby baby hammock and a swaddle from The Ollie World.  Since coming home from the hospital, all three of these products have been so helpful as we adjust to life as a family of five.

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Springtime Butterfly Kit and Journal

Springtime is one of my favorite times of the year (minus the allergies, of course).  I love seeing all the new life: buds on the trees, flowers poking up through the dirt and baby animals.  The minute it's warm enough for my kids to start playing outside without a jacket and shoes, you can find them in our yard, digging in the dirt, catching bugs and chasing butterflies.  This year, we decided that a butterfly kit would be a fun way to welcome spring.

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3 Ways My Happy Baby Wrap Makes Me A Better Mom

I'll be honest: I never thought of myself as a "baby wearing mom".  I just figured I'd hold my babies or put them in the swing or bouncer if I needed to when I was at home and keep them in the car seat, cart or stroller when we were out.  But do you know what I've learned since having my first baby over six years ago?  That I am a baby wearing mom and when I use my wrap, I am a better mom because of it.

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7 Things To Pack To Make Your Hospital Stay More Comfortable

Whether your stay in the hospital is planned or unexpected, there are a few must-have items you should take with you to make your time there as comfortable as possible.  I've learned that while the hospital can supply you with the essentials, that doesn't mean what they provide is what you'd choose to use.

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Movie Club Monday: 45+ Movies Based On Books

I had the best of intentions when it came to this month's theme for Movie Club Monday, but between having a new baby and then being in the hospital for a week with her when she was two weeks old for RSV and bacterial pneumonia, I wasn't able to do what I had in mind.  So that led me to plan B where I decided to poll some of my friends and find out what their favorite movies based on a book are.  Being a book lover, I have a hard time when books get adapted into movie form because inevitably they will have to leave parts out and sometimes they even change significant parts of the story line.  But every once in a while, you find a movie that stays pretty true to the book and it's enjoyable to sit back and watch the movie on a screen.  So I've listed out over 20 books that have been adapted to film and are worth looking into.

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Staying Connected With Your Spouse After Having Kids

Adjusting to life as a couple after having a baby can be a real challenge.  So many of the things that seemed simple beforehand suddenly become more complicated and time consuming: leaving the house, taking a shower and even getting dinner on the table take more time, effort and planning.  With a new little one in the house, you will probably find yourself thinking that there is no way you can do it all.  And so you start looking at where you can compromise.  Unfortunately, one of the first things to get pushed to the back burner is your relationship with your partner.  It might be a mutual decision or an unspoken agreement, but either way it's going to take a toll on your relationship.  So you might be asking yourself, just like my husband and I have after having our first two kids: how can I stay connected with my spouse/partner after having a new baby?

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Movie Club Monday: Leap Year and St. Patrick's Day Inspiration

As a kid, I was always fascinated by the idea of "leap year".  I imagined how funny it would be to say that my birthday was on Leap Day because then when I was 16, I would have only had four "real" birthdays.  (I've celebrated eight leap years myself.)  So while this year may not be a leap year--the next one is in 2020--I thought it would be fun to incorporate it into this month's Movie Club Monday theme which is a romantic comedy.  The movie of choice:  Leap Year, of course.  *wink*

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Maternity Pictures and 38 Week Bumpdate

My husband and I were talking earlier this week about some of the things we were looking forward to with the arrival of our baby girl: seeing what she looks like, watching our other two kids interact with her, snuggling her and just having her here with us after such a long time of hoping and praying.  We also talked about some of the less fun parts: feeling like a zombie due to nighttime feedings, buying lots (and lots) of diapers and frequent changes in routines.  *wink*  I also shared with him how hard this last trimester has been for me with this baby.  I've been sick 5 different times (although it feels like one long, horrible cold stretching from Thanksgiving to now) and so the normal lack of sleep and discomfort that comes with pregnancy has just been exacerbated.  This has also meant that the kids and I haven't left the house as much so we've been dealing with a lot of cabin fever.  All this to say that while I'm very grateful to be pregnant, I'm also looking forward to bringing her into this world and getting back to my non-pregnant self.

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My Hospital Bag Packing List {Plus FREE Printable}

Being prepared when I leave my house, whether we're going to the store, the park or a play date, is something that makes me feel more confident and in control.  And when it comes to packing my hospital bag, I like to do it ahead of time so I'm not worrying about what I do or don't have when the time comes to leave for the hospital.  Even though I'm only about 37 weeks right now, many of the items I'll be bringing with me can be packed ahead of time.  Whether you're a first time mom or one whose done this a time or two, scroll through this list and see if there is something you might have forgotten to pack.  I'd love to hear what else you'd add!

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$10 at Target: Spring Refresh

We've been having some very un-winter like weather the last couple of weeks, which is probably why I was so drawn to the bright spring colors and decor at the dollar spot when I went to Target this last weekend.  (Although we do have a winter storm warning in effect right now, so my dreams of spring may get put on hold for a little bit longer.)  I love decorating for spring and have slowly been getting rid of my old decor and transitioning to pieces that are more my current style.  I love bright colors, as well as the flexibility to use different pieces over multiple seasons.  I can't wait to officially start decorating for spring with these fun items.  And can you believe I scored them for less than $10?

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DIY Dollar Store Jeweled Vases

I've mentioned before that the dollar store is one of my favorite places to find craft supplies.  If you haven't taken the time to browse the craft aisle, definitely do it the next time you're there.  You might be surprised!  When I walked in last week, I didn't have anything specific in mind in terms of what I wanted to do for this month's Inspire My Creativity challenge.  After throwing a few items into my cart, an idea formed and that is how I came up with this month's craft: jeweled vases.  (And I'm not kidding when I say this is probably one of the the quickest and easiest crafts I've ever made!)

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A Wish List Gift Guide for Baby #3

At almost 36 weeks, preparing for my third baby has been a different experience than with my other two kids, partially because my wish list is a lot different.  I already have all the bigger items, like a portable crib and double stroller, and a lot of the basics like a car seat and burp cloths.  But where I noticed a desire for new items were those things that would make my life as a mom of three kids easier.  My youngest is almost four which means that there are a lot of new products on the market and I definitely want to get my hands on them!  Today I'm sharing my baby #3 wish list and I'd love to hear what you think or what you'd add.

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Cinnamon Roll Bites for Two

One of the first things I learned to make in my 7th grade Home Ec class was a classic monkey bread using refrigerator biscuits, cinnamon, sugar and butter.  While I was familiar with baking and did it a lot at home, I'd never made these before and thought they were delicious, especially when eaten warm from the oven.  I found out quickly however, that monkey bread left to cool, sit and eat reheated was hard, crunchy and not nearly as good as fresh.  I've tried out different recipes for monkey bread over the years, but it wasn't until I stumbled upon one calling them cinnamon roll bites that a light went off in my head.  With a little bit of tweaking, I was able to create a recipe for cinnamon roll bites for two and the bonus is that they taste just as good when you reheat them. *wink*

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5 Tips For When You're Sick and Pregnant

Being sick as a mom can be really draining on multiple levels: mentally, physically and emotionally.  Not to mention that we often need to keep up with all our regular responsibilities around the house, helping kids with school or other activities, meals and anything else that's on our plates.  Add in being pregnant and you might just be feeling like death warmed over.  This is exactly how I've been feeling up until the last few days or so.  I've been sick four different times since Thanksgiving and I've felt so run down and not a very fun or engaged mom and wife.  While the options for what we can do do help ourselves feel better are more limited when pregnant, there are some tried and true ways that can help you get back on your feet a little bit faster.

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Movie Club Monday: The Princess Bride Inspired Taste Testing Activity for Kids

You know those movies that you grow up watching that you absolutely love?  The ones you could watch a million times and quote all the lines and still enjoy it?  For me, one of those movies is The Princess Bride.  My sisters and I would watch it together and anytime one of us would quote it (either in or out of context), we'd all bust up laughing because it just never got old. "That's inconceivable!"  "I'm a poet, did you know it?" and "Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya.  You killed my father.  Prepare to die." are just a few that make the rounds and it always takes me back.  Last month, I shared some monthly link parties that I am going to be participating in this year.  Today is the first one that is part of the Movie Club Monday series and the theme is nostalgic films.

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$10 @ Target: Sweets and Treats

Happy Monday!  I'm in denial that we are already half way through January.  Wasn't Christmas just last week...?  Either way, I'm trying to enjoy the last few weeks before baby #3 joins the party.  I headed over to Target this last weekend (kid-free!) and joined the throngs of women wandering walking with purpose through the aisles.  (Who am I kidding?  I spent 2 hours just browsing through different departments.)  If you were with me last year, you know that once I month I go to Target with the goal to spend just $10 and see what I can get, so let me show you!

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Easy Blooming Envelope and Card

One of the many craft supplies I hoard stock up on is scrapbook paper.  I have stacks of it and yet I can never seem to have enough.  I know I can't be the only one with this problem, so I'm trying to be more creative with the ways that I use it.  A goal that I have for myself this year is to send more cards to people: thank you cards, just because cards, thinking of you cards, etc.  But buying that many cards can get expensive, so I've decided that I am going to try and make my cards.  I'll still have some store bought ones on hand but I figure if I have so much cute paper, I might as well use it.  So I used my Silhouette cutting machine and creating a super fun and simple template for some mini cards and envelopes.

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Third Trimester Bumpdate + New Year, New Baby Giveaway

I realized the other day that I am almost exactly 2 months out from my due and I have yet to do any kind of pregnancy update on the blog beyond a few mentions here and there.  It's hard to believe that it's coming up so quickly!  So I thought with the new year, it would be a fun time to share a little bit with you about my pregnancy and also let you know about an amazing giveaway that I'm doing with some other pregnant mama blogger friends.

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2017 Year In Review + Reader Survey

And just like that, we are five days into 2018!  While I can't say that it feels much different than 2017 so far, I have a feeling it's going to be another good year all the same.  On Wednesday, I shared my top 10 posts of 2017 with you.  It was fun to see what was most popular and to find out that some of my favorite posts also happened to be some of the most read posts.  If you've been following me over the last year or so, you may have noticed that once a month I've been doing a monthly review using numbers to share what happened that month.  It's been such a fun and unique way for me to remember the month and give you a little peek into my life.  So in keeping with that, here is the year 2017 in numbers.

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Top 10 Posts of 2017

It seems like at the end of every year, there's a period of reflection.  2017 was no different for me as I took the opportunity to see what the top 10 most popular posts were on my blog.  Overall, there's a huge variety of posts, but then again, that's what I share with you all, so I suppose it's not all that surprising.  So without further adieu, here are the top 10 posts of 2017!

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