Hi everyone,



Last week, we asked you about your go-to store for back-to-school shopping. This week’s featured mom says she doesn’t rely on just one store--she shops around!

Meet this week's Mom of the Week: Momof2boys!


Here’s what Momof2boys had to say:

“Being a mom of two kids (a 4th grader and a 3rd grader this year!) with growing supply lists as they grow, I don't have one go-to-store. I have many. I check the flyers every week to see who has the best deals. This year for just a few of our great deals we hit Office Max with $.01 filler paper, Target with buy a pack of colored pencils, get a pack of crayons free deal, and as we do every year, we hit Toys R’ Us for the buy your backpack, get your lunchbox for free deal, but of course we had to buy a few extras at that store!”

For a chance to be featured as next week's Mom of the Week, tell us…

After you've put your kids to bed, what little things do you like to do for yourself when the house is quiet?

Let us know in the comment section below.



XOXO


Ali

Hi everyone,

Last week, we asked you what you wear on your feet when you’re playing with your kids. One of my favorite responses came from this week’s Mom of the Week: Jill Mix!

Here's what Jill had to say:

"I have a pair of Bass leather sandals with a sturdy sole. The leather straps are wide (with a heel strap) and offer nice support. I bought them 11 years ago and they still look great with dresses. And when my son says, "Race me!" I don't hesitate! I wore them last summer when my son and I played frisbee golf. Every Mom needs a great leather summer sandal, so she can look great while keeping up with the kids!"

Thanks for sharing, Jill. For a chance to be featured as next week's Mom of the Week, tell us…

When it comes to back-to-school shopping, what’s your go-to store?

Do you have a great one-stop-shop that you rely on this time of year? We want to know where you go when you want to get as many items checked off your kids’ back-to-school list as possible in one visit. Let us know in the comment section below.


XO

Ali

Hi everyone,

Last week, we asked you about your go-to healthy snacks on a hot summer day. One of my favorite responses came from this week’s Mom of the Week: Kelly!

Here’s what Kelly had to say:

"Kabobs! There are so many different kid-friendly options. My daughter loves to help make these. Sometimes we use cheese, turkey, tomatoes, and grapes or other times we just use fresh or dried fruits. I cut up the pieces and my daughter has a great time putting them on skewers. Also, sometimes I let her cut the food into shapes with cookie cutters and we use crazy straws for the skewers. You can then put these into a kid-friendly smoothie to dress it up and make it fun! Another fun and easy summertime snack is to put yogurt tubes in the freezer. These make a great, healthy dessert."

It looks like you are new to the community, Kelly. Welcome! Those are both very cool snacks for a hot summer day! I love the idea of making the kabob ingredients even cuter by cutting them out with cookie cutters. If you've never tried this before, here are a couple good examples:

Images: parents.com & blog.superhealthykids.com

Thanks for sharing, Kelly. For a chance to be featured as next week's Mom of the Week, tell us…

What kind of shoes do you wear for playing with the kids?

Do you have a pair of "play shoes" that perform well on the playground—and look good enough to wear in public? We want to know what's on your feet when you're having fun with your kids! Let us know in the comment section below.
 


XOXO


Ali

Hi everyone,



Last week, we asked you what your beach bag essentials are. Everyone agreed that the most essential item is sunscreen, and this week’s featured mom concurs. She also says she tends to come home from the beach with a lot more than she started with…

Meet this week's Mom of the Week: Erin Walsh!


Here’s what Erin had to say:




“With four kids ranging in age from 3 to 17, there is not much that ISN'T essential to a beach/pool trip.  First and foremost is sunblock.  But we can't have just one kind.  We have SPF60 for the baby, SPF45 for sensitive skin for the 9-year-old, SPF45 waterproof for the 11-year-old and SPF30 for the teenager who needs a totally rad tan. (Do teenagers still say totally rad?)
Once the skin protection is taken care of, we shove in towels and a change of clothes, flip flops, water bottles, sand & water toys, snacks (Clif Kids bars are a hit), sunglasses, wallet (for the post-pool iced coffee for Mommy) and the iPhone so I can keep up with my bloggy buddies and take pictures of all the fun!

What we bring HOME in the bag is another story - sand, random toys that I swear aren't ours, half eaten bags of chips (someone hit the concession stand) and maybe, if I'm lucky, the email address or phone number of another overwhelmed Mommy so we can set up a Happy Hour playdate next week.”

Thanks for sharing, Erin. I love that you leave the pool with lots of fun photos and the occasional new friend—even if it means hauling half-eaten food and sand home, too! :)

For a chance to be featured as next week's Mom of the Week, tell us…

What are your go-to healthy snacks for your kids when it’s hot outside?

We want to hear all about the tasty and nutritious snacks that help keep your kids cool when it’s hot, hot, hot! Let us know in the comment section below.
 


XOXO

Ali

Hi everyone,



Last week we asked you what your first thought is after your alarm goes off in the morning. A lot of you said that your kids have actually replaced your alarm clock and therefore, your first thoughts are about taking care of them in the morning. This week’s featured mom agrees, but admits that she’s not always thrilled (and that she's sometimes confused!) by her kids’ early-morning wake-up calls…

Meet this week's Mom of the Week: Britney Asbell!


Here’s what Britney had to say:




“I have an almost 3 year old and an 8 month old that are my alarm clocks and they both get up at 6:30 to 7 every MORNING!!! It never fails, so when I wake up to my alarm clocks in the morning, I think about "Why in the world do they get up so early?" Sometimes (not often) I get up before they do because my husband wakes me up before he goes to work, and on those days they decide to sleep in till 7:30 or 8:00. LOL : )”





Isn’t it funny how that works? Thanks for sharing, Britney.

For a chance to be featured as next week's Mom of the Week, tell us…

What are your beach bag essentials for a day at the pool or beach with your kids?

We want to hear about your must-have items for a foolproof day of fun and sun with your kids! So let us know what’s inside your bag in the comment section below.
 


XOXO


Ali

Hi everyone,

Last week we asked you about your go-to everyday hairstyle for summer. A lot of you said that you rely on a ponytail to get your hair up and out of your face on a hot summer day. But we got a twist on that idea from this week’s Mom of the Week: Wendy Hicks!


Here’s what Wendy had to say:


“With 10-year-old twin girls who are already knee-deep into wanting their own hair done up with cute buns, twists, funky ponytails, or braids...it leaves little time for my own hair. When in a rush, or for a beach/pool day, my go-to is a funky side braid. I twist the hair from my left ear all the way around to my right ear, grab it into a pony and braid. Once the hair is in a braid, I will squish it and pull it from top to bottom to give it a messy look. I also have been wearing feathers since April and they really make the braid pop. It only takes a minute!”


Thanks for the fun tips, Wendy. I noticed that you're new to the community, so feel free to upload a few photos to your profile when you have time (*UPDATE: She did! Check out Wendy's family pics above!). I'd love to see your feather extensions. I’ve been wearing feathers in my hair this summer, too! If any of you want to learn how to put feathers in your hair, click HERE to watch the video that my hairdresser Matthew and I made explaining the process.

For a chance to be featured as next week's Mom of the Week, tell us…

When your alarm goes off in the morning, what’s the first thing you think about?

We can’t wait to hear what’s on your mind—whether it’s practical, funny, sad, or completely random!
 
XOXO

Ali

Hey moms!

For a chance at landing next week's Mom of the Week title, tell us…

What’s your go-to everyday hairstyle for summer?

We know you don’t have all the time in the world to style your hair, but we’re guessing you still like to look nice! So what’s your favorite easy hairstyle for a hot summer day?

Please share whatever tips you have in the comment section below!

XOXO

Ali

Hi everyone,

Last week’s Mom of the Week question has been one of my favorites yet! Reading your responses gave me so many fantastic ideas for fun summer weekend activities to do with my own family. So thank you, and congrats to this week’s Mom of the Week: Patricia Tebbe!



Here's what Patricia had to say:

"Weekends are precious to us because my husband is often away for work during the week.  At the beginning of the summer, I sit down and make a list of all the activities I want to do and try as a family during the summer. The list is a combination of some really simple activities like have a picnic, make s’mores, fly a kite, and make root beer floats. Others require a little bit more planning like collect shells at the beach, play at the splash pad, hike to a waterfall, go to the zoo, and visit the aquarium. I like to write them all down on bits of paper, put them in a pail and let my daughter pick out the activity at the beginning of the week. It's fun and gives us something to look forward to all week!"

Patricia, this is great! I love making lists and drawing a new activity out of a pail each week with your daughter is an excellent way to have fun with the planning process.



Also, thanks for creating your “Summer Bucket List” photo album on your profile (click HERE to see Patricia’s photos). What a fun way to share your summer adventures with the rest of us! Congrats again, Patricia, on being named Mom of the Week!

XO
Ali

P.S. If this post inspires you to create a Summer photo album of your own, be sure to paste a link to it in the comment section below!

Hey moms,
 
This week, we want to know…
 
What’s your secret for making summer weekends special for your family?
 
With Independence Day celebrations still fresh in your mind, tell us what you do to make summer weekends fun and memorable. Is it gathering for a picnic or cookout? Or sleeping under the stars in the backyard? Or hiking, camping, or canoeing? Or just hanging out at a pool or lake, or at the beach? Tell us about your summer weekend family favorites in the comment section below—you could be named our next Mom of the Week!
 
XOXO
Ali