By: Martianne Stanger Ugh! It’s that time of year again. Time to stop overlooking all the sand, crumbs, and unidentified little objects that have collected in the car after a summer of tramping from one summer activity to another. Time to give the kids another lesson in practical life as our family not only did, … More Seasonal Tasks – To Do or Not To Do
By: Martianne Stanger The school year is upon us. And with a back-to-school, back-to-juggling-multiple-activities mindset, it is easy to forget about something that I feel is of utmost importance: good, old-fashioned fun! Yep, making time to laugh and chat while enjoying face-to-face interaction should be a given every single day of the year. However, time … More Please Join Us In The Million Minute Family Challenge
By: Martianne Stanger One day, a few weeks back, as I got frustrated with the inordinate amount of time it took to pack a dinner picnic and get my young ones buckled safely into the car for a family night, my husband asked me, “Are you happy?” What a ridiculous question. No, I wasn’t happy … More Happiness Happens – Tell Somebody
By: Martianne Stanger Traditionally, summer is supposed to be a time for kids to enjoy long, lazy days spent playing outside. Inevitably, with such stretches of unstructured time comes the complaint, “I’m bored!” Although I am a big believer that boredom can effectively act as springboard for incredible fun, creativity and imagination in children, I … More 3 Summer Science Experiments to Combat the Call “I’m Bored!”
By: Martianne Stanger Not long ago, I shared about how to Make A Summer Bucket List. More recently, in The Skinny on Childhood Obesity, Lance shared a recommendation that children spend at least one hour a day getting moderate exercise. It’s easy to enjoy active summer fun on ideal sunny days, but what about when … More A Rainy Day Bucket List: 10 All Ages Ways to Play Outside on a Rainy Day
By: Martianne Stanger July has passed and September is just around the corner. Don’t let that fool you into thinking summer is over. Back-to-school sales may beckoning from flyers, emails and store windows, but the truth is that summer still has weeks to go. In fact, it doesn’t end until the Autumn Equinox on the … More Summer is NOT Over – 10 Ideas for Savoring the Remainder of the Season
By: Martianne Stanger Summer weather is upon us and even though it brings delight to some, for my husband, it can instigate drudgery. You see, he has a very long daily commute. And, since the A/C in his car broke over a year ago, with no funds to repair it, he gets to make a … More A Cure for a Long, Hot Commute: Dinner, Dancing and Delight by the Sea
Where A Mama of Wee Ones Can Enjoy at Peace By: Martianne Stanger A Summer Riddle for Locals Better than a splash pool in the back yard. Safer than the ocean when you’re a mama alone with young ones. What is it? The wading pool at the Freetown State Forest on Slab Bridge Road! Safe … More Freetown State Forest Wading Pool
By: Martianne Stanger Back in May, Jessica shared some ideas for Organized Summer Fun. Since then, Tanya gave us some tips for having a flawless summer beach day in Beach Bound, I wrote about some of our favorite local destinations in Passport Hikes and Sheila offered a favorite summer recipe while reminding us of the … More Make A Summer Bucket List: Bringing Summer Fun Within Reach
By: Martianne Stanger A decade or so ago, I hiked in the Swiss Alps. Prior to having children, I began knocking off some of the New Hampshire 4000 footers. Now, just tackling Mt. Laundry is conquest enough for me most days. (Trust me on this. All three of my children were hit by the belly … More Grab Your Passport and Go Hiking
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