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From Instagram to print

Nichole Beaudry — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 14:41:00 -0700

If you look through your Instagram photos, how many do you have? And how many would you love to see more of? Here are some fun ways to get those photos off your phone so that you can see them and share them with others.

What is "clean" parenting, anyway?

Nichole Beaudry — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 08:00:00 -0700

If we’re honest, we’ve all had those moments at the end of a long day when we resort to less-than-stellar “dirty” parenting techniques. And we all know they don’t work. So, how do we ditch the dirty and get clean? Here's how to clean things up.

4 Family rules to bend this summer

Nichole Beaudry — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 11:00:00 -0700

Yes, rules are incredibly important to the way a family functions and they're in place for a good reason. But, sometimes, rules are meant to be broken. Here are four family rules to break this summer that will bring you closer as a family.

Practicing Gratitude: Rediscovering reading

Nichole Beaudry — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 09:00:00 -0700

I’ve always had a stack of books on my nightstand. Both fiction and non-fiction titles waited in a neat pile for me to crack their covers. As a grad student, buried in novels, literary criticism and reference materials, I never imagined a day when reading wouldn’t be a central part of my life.

Practicing Gratitude: Refocusing on what's important

Nichole Beaudry — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 09:00:00 -0700

Each week, I sit down and mull over the past week or so to decide which moment to share with you here. This week, that was much harder than it should have been to find something for which to be grateful and that’s a problem.

Top 10 toys for fine motor skill development

Nichole Beaudry — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 15:00:00 -0700

One of your child's most important and challenging jobs is developing his fine motor skills that he'll need for everything from picking up Cheerios to one day tying his own shoes. Offer up these fun toys and watch him have a great time while quickly mastering those skills!

Practicing Gratitude: Facing kindergarten

Nichole Beaudry — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 09:00:00 -0700

Parenting has proven to be an exercise in learning to let go one step at a time. I've tried to handle it with grace, but as my daughter prepares for kindergarten this fall and I find myself struggling more than I anticipated, her little girl wisdom has given me hope.

Best apps to use with Instagram

Nichole Beaudry — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 10:00:00 -0700

We all love Instagram, but did you know that there are a bunch of apps that can be used with it to make it even better? Here are our favorite apps that take an already fun picture and make it more fabulous.

An American Girl mom: Nia Vardalos in her first mom role

Nichole Beaudry — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 08:30:00 -0700

We recently had the opportunity to chat with Nia Vardalos about her latest film, An American Girl: McKenna Shoots For The Stars™, a heartwarming story of a young girl whose dream to compete as a world-class gymnast is threatened when she begins to struggle in school.

You will eat: Picky eater survival guide

Nichole Beaudry — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 10:00:00 -0700

We’ve all seen the look — the clenched jaw and the determined glare of a child who refuses to eat what you’ve put in front of him. Stock your cabinets with these nine fun items and watch your child loosen up and actually eat something!

Practicing Gratitude: Finding gratitude after the heartbreaking loss of a child

Nichole Beaudry — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 09:00:00 -0700

There's no denying that it's easier to feel gratitude when life goes smoothly. But when life hands you unspeakable heartache, how do you go on to be grateful for anything? Jessica Watson's story is a beautiful example of putting one foot in front of the other and finding joy again.

More tech time, please!

Nichole Beaudry — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 10:00:00 -0700

As parents, it seems as though we’re always striving to limit the time that our kids are using technology. We’re forever encouraging them to turn off the television and put away the video games, cell phones and tablets. But what if we have it all wrong and we should actually encourage more tech time?

Backyard turned summer camp

Nichole Beaudry — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 13:00:00 -0700

Even if traditional summer camp isn't on your agenda for your kids this summer, they can still get in on all the fun with these tips for planning the perfect camp experience by turning your family’s backyard into a virtual summer camp!

Prep your medicine cabinet for summer

Nichole Beaudry — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 12:00:00 -0700

With summer fun come bumps, bruises, scrapes, itchy rashes, bee stings, sunburns and cuts. Now’s the perfect time to peek inside your medicine cabinet, toss out all expired first aid supplies and restock with everything you’ll need to treat common summer injuries.

Practicing Gratitude: Best books on gratitude

Nichole Beaudry — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 09:00:00 -0700

What if you woke up tomorrow with only the things that you expressed gratitude for today? Of all of the beautiful things in your life, what would you see when you looked around? Feeling and expressing gratitude is something that can be learned. Here are four books to help.

Kids, drink up!

Nichole Beaudry — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 11:00:00 -0700

Summertime is great for outside fun, but our kids are among those who are most susceptible to heat-related deaths and illnesses. Here are some simple tricks to make sure your kids are staying hydrated while they’re outside soaking up the summer fun.

4 Ways to foster your child’s creativity

Nichole Beaudry — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 12:00:00 -0700

In a society where we’re constantly entertained, it can be tricky to foster creativity in our children. Here are a few fun ideas that push them to think in new ways to help them to turn off the electronic devices and explore their own creativity.

Practicing Gratitude: Falling in love with your spouse all over again

Nichole Beaudry — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 09:00:00 -0700

Life can easily become consumed with errands, chores, responsibilities and child wrangling, leaving little time or energy to reconnect with your spouse in a meaningful way. Sometimes reminders to make time for each other come along when you least expect them.

Birth photos: Motherhood after overcoming infertility

Nichole Beaudry — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 07:00:00 -0700

When you struggle with infertility and the months of waiting for a pregnancy turn into years, it can be difficult to imagine ever holding your baby. We spoke with more than a dozen moms who bravely battled infertility and won and we’re honored to share their powerful stories with you.

4 Things that your kids learn from your healthy marriage

Nichole Beaudry — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 13:00:00 -0700

Making your marriage a priority is one of the best gifts you can give your children and it’s one that will shape how they view their world. The love that parents show one another offers an excellent example of what real love looks like.