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Research on naps, meditation, nature walks and the habits of exceptional artists and athletes reveals how mental breaks increase productivity, replenish attention, solidify memories and encourage creativity. Why Your Brain Needs More Downtime, Scientific American When I had my first child, I ignored the advice to rest when he napped or played quietly. I believed […]
Is there anything better than the smell of a campfire, a hike in the woods, creek stomping or star gazing? My answer- Nothing better! I love the smell of burning wood, the crunch of acorns under our shoes, the hundreds of times my children have yelled out, “Mom, you have to see this!” Much of […]
Play is one of the best ways to teach and encourage writing. It takes away the pressure and fear writing can sometimes offer. Games and creative writing activities encourage kids to experiment with language, storytelling, organization, and ideas. Through play, writers learn spelling, vocabulary, how to create imagery, develop a plot, and even revise. Play […]
For a kid who loves writing, a new pen and a notebook, the possibilities of a blank page might be all they need for inspiration. For other writers (reluctant, new, or feeling stuck), those same tools can feel overwhelming, and no matter the writing prompts or encouragement, the page is going to remain blank. Thankfully, […]
The first time learning math facts came into my life I was the student, and I was not a fan. The second time my oldest followed in his mother’s footsteps and also refused to memorize them. I got him learning wrap-ups (which I still think are more fun and useful that the flashcards I had […]
Chester Luggage is the perfect lightweight, waterproof, unique, stylish, the list goes on luggage for families who love to explore!
An alarm on our Google dot rings; it is five o’clock, time to transition into the last part of the day. While the alarm can be a tad annoying, we need a gentle push in the evening. We are tired, and if we don’t intentionally choose how we spend our time, it’s easy to fall […]
Many years ago, a friend made my family a version of this simple curry dish. Buttery, creamy, and a little spicy, I immediately asked for the recipe. It shows up on our table a couple of times a month. My favorite part about this recipe is how versatile it is. Add chicken or don’t. Choose […]
Dear Reader, do you meal plan? I’ll be the first to admit that over the years I have tried all sorts of tips and tricks to make chores and the mundane easier. No matter how many different ways I’ve tried to embrace cleaning schedules, batch cooking, and coupon clipping, they don’t work for me. Meal […]
In our home, grilled cheese and soup make a gray day brighter. Egg scrambles, chicken pot pie, pesto pasta, and Friday’s homemade pizza warm more than just our bones. My friends, the crockpot and cast-iron skillet, rarely rest, and I am always on the lookout for recipes with words like hearty, cheesy, and easy that […]
In 2008 our little family of three packed up and moved from the mountains of Virginia to the mid-west. Heading in the opposite direction of family and friends, we moved to Bloomington, Indiana so my husband could study Lakota and earn his masters and Ph.D. We figured we’d call Bloomington home for seven years, max. […]
My daughter’s goal is to read the Wings of Fire AND the Harry Potter series. She’s eight and started reading fluently about six months ago. It’s a big goal. She wants to read them out loud together and to be perfectly honest, I have no clue how we’ll find time to read that much. (Keep […]
Shopping for the holidays used to stress me out! Over the years I’ve found ways to keep holiday giving simple, and it’s actually become a lot of fun. I love making many of our gifts and focusing on a few things makes the season a lot less stressful. I try to keep these things in […]
Every year I wrap up books and journals and fill stockings with fun pens and pencils. This year will be no exception. I’m on the lookout for fun ways to encourage reading and writing. Below are some of the best writing-related gifts I’ve found to help grow young writers. Gifts to Encourage Writing “If you […]
One day I’d love to travel around the world with my girl. We have big one-day plans. Alaska, Austrailia, Germany, France, so many adventures make up our bucket list. Until that one day comes, we are content to travel together in story. Candlewick Press books never fail to provide stories we want to adventure into […]
