young family with new baby

Sweet Baby Sounds

NEWBORN CRIES & FLEETING MOMENTS IN TIME A stranger’s passing comment kept pulling me back to the person I used to be. It would materialize in my mind, usually at significant events like birthdays. But sometimes, it would emerge at the mere sight of a baby, especially if I heard the crying. The sound of […]

Striped diaper bag for toddler, mom supplies for being on the go with everything your child needs from snacks and diapers to toys and first aid.

Diaper Bag Checklist

PACKING LISTS FOR BABY, TODDLER & MOM, ALL-IN-ONE The digital age has unburdened us from the physical heft of books, stereos and cameras. But for new moms, there is no clever device or app that can replace the diaper bag. Until someone figures that out, consider your diaper bag to be your parenting comrade-in-arms. Think Gary […]

You & Your Little Yogi

  YOGA POSES FOR EVERYONE IN THE FAMILY There are few absolute truths in life, but as a parent, I feel I can say one of them is that Charlottesville’s a great place to raise children. With the constant streaming of young families, this area boasts a huge number of resources and services that cater […]

Allens Scottish Shortbread family baking in kitchen

A Mompreneur and the Family Cookie Business

Laura Shares Her Typical Mompreneur Day I wake up at 5 am, and make sure that within that still block of time before the girls join us, every thought pertaining to the cookie business gets recorded in my planner. Something about early morning, prayer and copious amounts of cold brew coffee that ushers in a […]

Valentine DIY: Easy-Peasy Card & Doily Envelope

DIY VALENTINE AND DOILY ENVELOPE I love making “pretty” things, but as a mom and publisher, I don’t have a lot of time for crafting. So, I’m always dreaming up easy projects that pack a lot of punch. I think this Valentine DIY doily envelope is a great example of this. They are seriously so […]

TinkerTar guitars created by Charlottesville VA Brian Calhoun

Brian Calhoun, Creator of the Famous TinkerTar

Meet The Founder of TinkerTar and Chickapig Charlottesville area native, Brian Calhoun is perhaps best known to local families as the creator of the popular game, Chickapig. Others may recognize his name as the co-founder of Rockbridge Guitar, a company that has crafted instruments for artists such as Dave Matthews and Keith Urban. Calhoun’s latest […]

Mom and daughter making soup

Three Hearty Soup Recipes

3 HEARTY SOUPS TO HELP YOUR FAMILY THROUGH THE WINTER Busy families need plenty of healthy soup and stew recipes to make it through the winter. This chicken or turkey soup puts leftovers to good use. The beef stew recipe is so good that it makes a tasty featured dish at any gathering. And, split […]

I (Heart) Pancakes

HEART-SHAPED PANCAKES: A DELICIOUS WAY TO SAY “I LOVE YOU” When I created this recipe, we were on strawberry overload at home, and I wanted to get creative on how best to use them all while they were fresh. I love pancakes, and we were eating them pretty regularly at the time. So with Valentine’s […]

Family reading together

Black History Month Books for Kids

CHILDREN’S BOOKS FOR TEACHING ABOUT BLACK HISTORY Reading with your children is one of the best ways to engage with them on important issues. This February, honor Black History Month by taking time to read with your family, and encourage your kids to learn and talk about diversity and our country’s history. Check out this […]

Girl with laptop doing homework

Tips on Being A Great Homework Parent

CHARLOTTESVILLE TEACHER SHARES TIPS WITH PARENTS ON HOW TO HELP WITH HOMEWORK In the book, The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate, Ivan, a silverback gorilla, watches his human friend Julia consistently agonize over homework and remarks, “Homework, I have discovered, involves a sharp pencil and thick books and long sighs.” Sometimes, but not […]