Get the best results from your gingerbread cookie frosting by choosing the right type of frosting. Yep, the type of frosting changes based on your end goals. Who knew? (For the Best Tasting Gingerbread Cookie Recipe Follow this link) Gingerbread Cookie Glue Little hands apply a lot of pressure on gingerbread houses during the decorating…
kids activities
One Pot Meals for Thanksgiving Week Guests
Thanksgiving is not just one meal when entertaining out of town holiday guests. The family time that Thanksgiving provides often last 3-7 days. Delicious, ‘prepare ahead’, one pot meals are essential. Try a few of these recipes this week–be sure to make a double batch to freeze and serve. Having soup on the stove or…
Want More Free Time With Your Family?
I want more free time with my family how about you? When I add up the school/work day and see how many hours I truly spend face to face with my kids I feel sad. Before school, I spend about an hour with them and after school about 4 hours which includes dinner, homework, preparing…
Make Road Trips with Kids More Fun with Free Podcasts ( you might just learn something too!)
Road trips with kids offer family learning and fun on the run. Add to this by including a fun discussion sparking kid’s podcast. Just yesterday, my youngest son and I learned (via podcast) that camels, those desert beasts of burden, are not uniquely fit for sand storms and harsh winds–no, that actually come from a…
Stop Holiday Debt Before Putting Up A Christmas Tree
Debt! Debt! I am done with debt! No more January’s where I am $1000 short after the holidays. A survey by Magnifymoney.com did a national sample of 403 Americans and found the following. On average Americans are $986 in debt after the holidays. Gifts, holiday food, hosting parties and travel rack up the credit card…
Jesse Tree Teachs Kids the Whole Picture of Jesus in One Fun Activity
Jesse Tree connects the story of Adam to the story of Jesus in on the fun activity. Even little ones will enjoy hanging storytelling ornaments on the Tree. Find simple to create find fun templates and related scriptures here for Christmas preparations. Jesse Tree is an exciting way to stitch the whole bible visually into…
Mistakes to Avoid When Painting Pumpkins
We are pumpkin carvers. Painting pumpkins is a new adventure for the Joyous Family. Elijah, age 9, wanted to enter the elementary school’s storybook pumpkin contest this year. The pumpkins were displayed from Oct 15-31 too long for a carved pumpkin to serve–more on this in Painted Pumpkins Your Favorite Book. Plus the…
Unlikely Location For Your Bucket List
I love how children adore facts. My son informed me this spring that the world’s largest aquariums were in Okinawan, Japan and Atlanta, Georgia. Japan is not even on my radar let alone my bucket list, but Atlanta, Georgia now that is a place I love! Elijah loves sharks, “great whites” in particular. Unfortunately great…
5 Hacks for Leaving the House On Time (with or without kids)
I call it the SWAMP! I feel totally sucked in by all the things to do and left undone when I leave the house. Physically, it is like walking through water with weights on. I am pushing with my arms, my legs and my mind to just get out the door. Don’t ask me anything…
Before Buying A Vintage Travel Trailer As a Family Project
Sunset Magazine published an article a House Crush on Wheels with a 1968 Serro Scotty Vintage Travel Trailer in it. I was in love. I started searching online for one. What a big wake up call! $800-$1800 for just a shell! Shell means the trailer is striped inside of all appliances often all the wood…