Nov 3, 2017 | Adult Education, Books, Supplies & Gear, Education, Moms & Dads, Pop Culture, Books & Movies
By Guest Blogger Adam Witten When’s the last time you had a spare 30 minutes? Can you count those occurrences in the past week on one hand? Like many of you, I’m a working parent and spare time has been as rare as an easy bedtime with my four-year old son. Then, when...
Oct 25, 2017 | Food & Nutrition, Food Allergies / Diets / Restrictions, Holidays, Parenting & Family
By Laura Simon (with input from Angela Fuller from Food Allergy Families of the Triad) I have a confession to make, and I hope you’ll all keep this a secret, OK? Every year, I start buying Halloween candy in late September. I buy at least six bags of my favorite...
Oct 16, 2017 | Adult Health & Wellness, Adults, From the Heart, Health, Just for Moms, Moms & Dads
By Guest Blogger Holly Shuster I’m probably in the minority, but I’m grateful for the messiness of my kids. I’m glad that four years ago they had a particularly messy day – because it saved my life. While scraping from myself the errant dried crumbs left behind...
Sep 25, 2017 | From the Heart, Just for Moms, Moms & Dads, Parenting & Family, Raising Children
By Laura Simon When I got married, the pastor who officiated asked us to take a quiz to determine our love languages. It turns out that I am very much a “words of affirmation” and “gifts” person. Chalk that up to family history, my life as an only child, or my status...
Aug 25, 2017 | Education, Elementary, High School & Beyond, Middle School, Parenting & Family, Preschool, Raising Children
By Rachel Hoeing We hope your children are ready for a terrific 2017 – 2018 school year! Whether your child is in preschool or high school, we have a helpful post for you today. We ran this a few years ago, but had requests to run it again. Please take a read...
Jul 31, 2017 | Adult Health & Wellness, Children's Health & Wellness, Parenting & Family, Raising Children, Recreation
By Guest Blogger Allison Chapple, MS/EdS, LPC, NCC Recently at my neighborhood pool, some moms and I were talking about the upcoming school year and the inevitable question was raised: “What sports are your kids playing this season?” Everyone chimed in about soccer,...
Jul 10, 2017 | Food & Nutrition, Groceries & Couponing
By Kelly Hines I have three kids, which leaves very little time for doing anything other than full on mom-ing. Unfortunately for me, my family insists on eating food – every day! – so one of the things I have to make time for is grocery shopping. More...
Jul 8, 2017 | Food & Nutrition, Groceries & Couponing
By Guest Blogger Tasha Jones, a local coupon consultant Saving money is everyone’s goal in life right? Today I share pointers on what I use every day to save money. As a mommy of two, as well as someone who is a homeowner and about to be married, my life...
Jun 24, 2017 | Parenting & Family, Raising Children
By Guest Blogger Stacy Leighton with Forsyth Family magazine I’m going to let you in on a little secret. Ready? Since the dawn of time, every parent has flown by the seat of his or her pants. Just when you think you have a handle on this child guidance thing,...
Jun 9, 2017 | Education, Homeschooling
By Guest Blogger Laura Simon “But what will you do when they want to go to college? I hear this all the time when strangers – and sometimes, friends – find out I am homeschooling my kids. It’s the second thing they ask – right after the inevitable question about...
May 9, 2017 | Entertaining, Parenting & Family, Raising Children, Recreation, Toddlers & Preschoolers
By Guest Blogger Michelle Barson After welcoming your child into the world, you may find yourself feeling isolated and alone. You’ve spent a few months taking care of your little one around the clock, but inevitably you will begin to crave adult conversations and seek...
Apr 27, 2017 | Education, High School & Beyond, Parenting & Family, Tweens & Teens
By Guest Blogger Chrissy Sergiacomi, School Counselor A few years ago, a friend in college admissions observed that students were coming on college tours at younger ages than ever before. In fact, the running joke in that admissions office was that soon pregnant women...
Mar 17, 2017 | Parenting & Family, Raising Children
By Guest Blogger Stacy Leighton with Forsyth Family magazine I’m not going to lie – parenting is tough! The “picture perfect families” in glossy ads? That’s just false advertising. Real families are messy. There will be days without showers, nights without...
Mar 8, 2017 | Education, High School & Beyond, Parenting & Family, Tweens & Teens
By Guest Blogger Hallie Wolfe Going into high school is scary. Whether you have a tight knit group of friends, or barely know anyone, everyone is nervous for the first day. I’m not a particularly shy person, and I’m all for making new friends, but walking into...
Feb 16, 2017 | Entertaining, Just for Moms, Moms & Dads, Recreation
By Kelly Hines There are few things I love more than throwing a dinner party. I love cooking, I love parties, and I love people. So I’m always a little taken aback by people who think entertaining is outside their wheelhouse. I’m going to break down all the reasons...
Jan 26, 2017 | Recreation, Vacations & Weekend Trips
By Guest Blogger Kelly Gunzenhauser You may ask, why write about a trip to Williamsburg in the wintertime? My boys are ages 9 and 12, and it is getting to that point we all reach, especially with boys, where toys are starting to fall by the wayside. I don’t like to...
Jan 17, 2017 | Books, Supplies & Gear, Education, Moms & Dads, Pop Culture, Books & Movies
By Guest Blogger Ellen Bryant Lloyd Win a book of your choice from today’s blog! Details below! A cozy fire, a cup of tea and a good book are three of my favorite things on cold, winter days. My selections this month include old favorites that warm the soul, and two...
Jan 16, 2017 | From the Heart, Just for Moms, Moms & Dads, Parenting & Family, Raising Children
By Laura Simon In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we thought Laura’s post was so fitting to run today as we reflect on, celebrate, and encourage differences in others. Enjoy! – Katie The comments started the moment my second pregnancy was visible to...
Dec 24, 2016 | Bereavement, Health, Holidays, Parenting & Family
By Anne Powers Many of you read my blog about spending my first Christmas without my Grandmother. Even though she passed away in August, I find that my 6-year-old still brings up how much she misses her. Though she barely knew her, her death is still as unsettled...
Dec 7, 2016 | Parenting & Family, Raising Children
By Guest Blogger Laura Simon Maybe you’ve see the meme circling social media. It lists a set of age-appropriate chores for children, and pictures a mother and young daughter, both dressed straight out of Little House on the Prairie. The child is sewing something with...
Nov 30, 2016 | From the Heart, Hot Topics, Just for Dads, Just for Moms, Marriage & Couples, Moms & Dads
By Guest Blogger Suzanne Danhauer 2015 was one of the most painful years of my life. I never want to repeat it, and at the same time I am intensely grateful for it. We had been married 13 years. We had two high-demand careers, 4 young boys, packed schedules, and lots...
Nov 19, 2016 | Family Time, Parenting & Family, Raising Children
By Guest Blogger Lisa Witherspoon “I want THAT, Mom. Pleeeeease!!!” This is probably something you have heard many times if you have dared to walk through Target or Wal-Mart with your children in tow. As adults, we know that children can’t have everything they think...
Nov 7, 2016 | Humor, Moms & Dads, Parenting & Family, Raising Children
By Guest Blogger Laura Simon I was frantically trying on clearance shoes in TJ Maxx, desperate for something to wear in an upcoming family photo shoot. My daughter, newly two, started to wail from her seat in the cart. “Boots, mama! I ant boots! Boots are...
Nov 2, 2016 | From the Heart, Hot Topics, Just for Moms, Moms & Dads, Parenting & Family, Raising Children
By Guest Blogger Anna Hargett, author of This Perfect Mess Three years ago I was lying in bed at 5:45am staring at the ceiling and wondering how long I could let the baby cry and still be considered a good mother. I already knew what the day held and I didn’t...
Oct 18, 2016 | From the Heart, Just for Moms, Moms & Dads
By Heather Miller For seven years I was a stay at home mom. I did absolutely nothing for myself. I did everything, however, for everyone else. At the time it was fine. I was in the mindset that I was supposed to be putting myself last and that I was doing the right...
Oct 11, 2016 | Parenting & Family, Raising Children
By Guest Blogger Stacy Leighton When our son Tucker was just six years old, he was as curious as he was rambunctious. Once while visiting our friend, April, his curiosity got the better of him. You see, Tucker had never seen a basement, and as he reached for the door...
Sep 14, 2016 | Education, Elementary, High School & Beyond, Middle School
By Guest Blogger Laura Simon School has been in session for a few weeks now. Our kids are learning their schedules, getting to know their teachers, and finding a level of comfort in their new classrooms. This is the time of year when grades begin to appear online...
Sep 3, 2016 | Moms & Dads, Moms on the Move
By Katie Moosbrugger This September, we’re excited to introduce you to three moms who are always on the move – in their careers, with their families, and in their communities. Many thanks to Anitra, Kelly and Kim for sharing their stories with you all...
Aug 19, 2016 | Children's Health & Wellness, From the Doctor, Health, Recreation, Sports
By Katie Moosbrugger If your children are out of the baby phase, chances are good they are either enrolled in some type of after school activity, or you’re thinking about it. If organized sports are on your agenda, you might want to consider the age of your child...
Jul 15, 2016 | Education, High School & Beyond
By Guest Blogger Melissa Kinsley “Mom, in middle school teachers talked about how they are preparing us for high school. In high school, teachers talk a lot about how they are preparing us for college. In college, will they talk about how they are preparing us for the...
