Yes, I am the kind of parent that brings their kids on a brewery tour and I didn’t do it just for the free beer. In fact, I skipped the samples all together which might make you wonder why I even bothered to go at all. When I was planning family activities for our spring…
DanTDM Creates a Big Scene as a YouTube Red Original Series (w DC ticket giveaway)
Chances are if you have a Minecraft lover in your house, they’ve heard of DanTDM and they’re probably pretty excited that he’s currently touring in the United States AND his YouTube Red Original Series, Dan TDM Creates a Big Scene, launches tomorrow— Friday, April 7! If you’re not sure who I’m talking about, Dan Middleton, is…
How to Save Big on Samsung Kitchen Appliances at Best Buy
This is a sponsored post Every year I attend CES, I get appliance envy and this year was no different. Sitting in Samsung’s press conference I anxiously awaited the announcement about their newest appliances and wasn’t disappointed. Suddenly I was dreaming about upgrading our refrigerator, range, and washer and dryer.
3 Things to Think About Before Starting Piano Lessons & Piano Buying Tips
Every day Thomas comes home from school and shares what National Day it is. Shared on the announcements every morning, we’re reminded of ones we should honor (National Thank a Mail Carrier Day, National Carrot Cake Day, and National Puppy Day) and schooled on the more obscure ones like National Bunsen Burner Day, National Tile…
7 Travel Must-Haves for Your Next Family Vacation
How does family travel make you feel? Excited, eager, nervous, or terrified? If traveling with kids seems exhilarating, yet terrifying, that’s because it’s part of the adventure! I’m a big believer in saving money to create memories and opportunities to experience something different through travel but traveling doesn’t always have to mean hopping on a…
Why iRobot’s Roomba 980 is for More Than Just Spring Cleaning
Spring is in the air and while I’ve been in a spring cleaning frenzy trying to clean closets to rid the dark corners of forgotten items from years’ past, the rest of the house always needs help. Dust bunnies multiply and colonies appear throughout the house with dog hair, crumbs, dirt tracked in from outside,…
Teaching Kids About Growing Up Chinese American in San Francisco with An American Girl Story – Ivy & Julie 1976: A Happy Balance
This is a sponsored post As a child of the 70s who grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, watching An American Girl Story — Ivy & Julie 1976: A Happy Balance was like a peek into my childhood. The newest American Girl special tells the story of Ivy Ling, a 10-year-old Chinese-American girl…
Kids, Reading & Technology! Square Panda Facebook Chat Recap (w giveaway)
This is a sponsored post When I was a teacher, I always dreamed of working with cool tech companies who made great products for kids and these days it’s always a thrill to partner with amazing brands whose devices empower our kids to learn through engaging learning experiences that are just right for them. Square…
Beauty and the Beast: 5 Things to Do Before You Go & 3 Topics to Discuss After the Movie
Beauty and the Beast isn’t just another princess movie. Beyond the castle and the gorgeous gown is a story that conveys strong themes that empower the next generation of girls while teaching our boys to honor and respect strong women. Despite being the tale as old as time, Beauty and the Beast has grown up…
Join Me & Square Panda to Talk Kids & Reading on Facebook this Sunday, 3/19 at 8 pm ET / 5 pm PT
This is a sponsored post When I began looking for my first teaching job straight out of graduate school, I remember my mom suggesting maybe first grade shouldn’t be my first choice. She was a lifelong educator who knew the pressure that came with teaching kids how to read. I ignored her advice and jumped…
