Cool Stuff for Back to School: The Mom Edition

All of the Pretty Prudent kiddos are back at school. Miss Scarlet headed off to second grade last week…

11894664_1029361613764151_188568401580687129_oClare and Quinn are already loving third and first grade…11953302_1032275343472778_2083662388686851477_oAnd despite the weird smile, this little guy is happy to be starting his last year of pre-K. Maybe.

gordo In honor of school being in full swing, we are here to share a few back to school supplies that are more fun than no. 2 pencils and story journals. Just a few ways to treat yo’ self as we head into a busy Fall. I mean, the kids can’t have all the fun. But there are a few goodies in here for them too. We’re not monsters. (more…)

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Lands’ End for Back to School a.k.a Where Did My Babies Go?

This post features clothing and accessories from our sponsor: Lands’ End

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Oh boy these kids are getting big. Last year I styled, and Clare, Quinn and Gordon modeled, some kid outfits for Lands’ End Back to School. We all had so much fun. This year I decided to let each kid, yes even 4-year-old Gordon, pick every item for their back to school photo shoot. It is with a big sigh of relief that I share the results. In my opinion, they totally nailed this “first day of school” style thing. Now it’s time to master multiplication, and reading, and flushing. I digress. Let me show you all the fabulous, and adorable, and totally cool goodies they found.

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Clare has mad style. I want this entire outfit in momma size. She started with the very grown up Campus Flap-Over Backpack. (more…)

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Easiest & Best Pasta Sauce Recipe Ever

Easiest & Best Pasta Sauce Recipe Ever Stop buying pasta sauce in a jar. For real, knock it off. It’s so easy to make your own, right out of the pantry, at the last minute. I’m gonna give you the scoop on my basic recipe for the easiest & best pasta sauce ever, then list all the ways you can customize it depending on what you happen to have in stock in your fridge or cupboard at the moment.
Easiest & Best Pasta Sauce Recipe Ever
Get the Easiest & Best Pasta Sauce Recipe after the jump… (more…)

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10 Ways to Make After School Matter

This post is sponsored by The Children’s Courtyard. Visit childrenscourtyard.com to schedule your tour today.

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I’ve always felt fortunate that my job allowed me to pick my kids up from school at 3 and the rest of day was ours to enjoy but in second grade my daughter started asking why she couldn’t go to after-school care. What???  I give you snacks, help you with homework, plan the occasional play-date, and take you on fun errands to the grocery store. What do they have that I don’t? So when The Children’s Courtyard invited me to tour their School Age program and see what they are all about, I was eager and curious to learn what was making Clare yearn to join them.

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I was blown away by the fun these cute kiddos were having. While my work schedule doesn’t justify after-school care at this time, or before school care, they offer that too, I thought I could infuse some of their magic into our own routine and someday, if I go back to 9-5, I would feel good knowing the kids were having an enjoyable and enriching afternoon.

Here are 10 ways that I plan to improve our after school experience this year, inspired by The Children’s Courtyard and their My Best Self! Program, where school-age students focus on goal-setting and reflection, complemented by homework support, team-building opportunities, and physical activity.

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Things to do with Kids in Magical Mesa, Arizona

Mesa Arizona Things to do with Kids 1 Scarlet and I took a little road trip this summer. Well, when I say little I mean long. It was long, and hot! We drove to New Mexico to see my new sister and my nieces and meet my nephews for the first time.
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The drive is about 15 hours from Los Angeles so to add a little fun and break up the trip, we decided to stop in Mesa, Arizona for a couple nights on our way there and back. I’m so glad we did.
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There was lots to see and do that really made the trip much more bearable for my seven-year-old (and me). Mesa Arizona Things to do with Kids 9

Check out the fun there is to be had for families in Mesa, Arizona after the jump… (more…)

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#10andCounting

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Ahh, I’d say that it feels like just yesterday that we walked down the aisle but there is too much history in these past 10 years! An 8, 6, and 4 year old child, 3 moves, building a house, and 2 – 7 year old business’s against which to measure the time. We’ve packed a lot of life into 10 years. This week Rick and I are eating and drinking our way through Oregon, with a few adventures mixed in, so I thought I would add to the celebration by posting a few of my favorite photos from that day. They were shot with film! Yes, that is how long we have been married!

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Most Clever DIY Dollhouses

Turn a simple bookshelf into an adorable DIY Dollhouse with this tutorial from LAnd of Nod. And when they outgrow their dollhouse (does anyone really ever outgrow a dollhouse? I know I never did.) you can use it for it’s original purpose of storing books! Get the tutorial from our friends at Land of Nod.

This cardboard dollhouse from Tasmin Brown is adorable!! Gah! Get inspired by her flickr album.

This cardboard dollhouse from Aprill Aprill is magical in it’s design and I love that it’s kid-made.

Ana White shares the plans to build your own beautiful wooden dollhouse sure to become a family heirloom. Get the plans here: Ana White Dream Dollhouse.

This DIY Suitcase Dollhouse is another take on the traveling dollhouse, but this one is large enough for all their little imaginary friends to occupy. Learn how to make it on My Poppet.

Our DIY Doll Suitcase is the perfect on-the-go toy for pretend play in the car or on vacation.

Sherri and John from Young House Love made this beautiful dollhouse (and give a step-by-step DIY) for their daughter Clara. It’s clean, modern, and lovely like everything they do.

When it’s time to decorate, head over to Craftiness is Not Optional for her painstakingly perfect attention to every minute detail. Her dollhouse is amazing.

Happy playtime prudent friends!

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How to Sew A Bow Tie

How to Sew A Bow Tie Tutorial We first shared with you our tutorial on How to Make a Bow Tie FIVE YEARS AGO. Oh my. And that post was so popular, little boys everywhere were rocking prudent bow ties in their family photos. How cute is this?
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The post was so beloved that we thought maybe we would include a tutorial for making a bow tie in our book, Pretty Prudent Home. But then we thought, bow ties aren’t really a home decor item, are they? But lucky for you, it took as a minute to figure out that obvious fact, and by that time we has already had all the steps beautifully illustrated by the amazing Sonya Benham. Oh, and modeled by my sexy husband. How to Sew A Bow Tie

So I’ve gone ahead and updated our DIY instructions to be extra clear and illustrated here in this post. Of course, if you prefer the photographic tutorial, you can still get it here: How to Make a Bow Tie.

Read on for our updated 5-years-on How to Sew A Bow Tie Tutorial… (more…)

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