“Let’s go for a ride.” Those were five words I was always excited to hear as a child. My (Becky’s) family was big on what we called ‘Sunday Drives;’ a day when mom would pack the picnic basket and we’d all pile into the Family Truckster for a fun day exploring the Brainerd Lakes area… Read More Cultural and Historical Destinations Perfect for an Up North Road Trip
Lakes Area Music Festival (LAMF) has partnered with Paul Bunyan Education Cooperative (PBEC) has joined forces to bring the Lakes Area a sensory family music event! On July 29th from 4:30-6: 00 p.m., LAMF and PBEC will be showcasing a string quartet performance that includes a meet and greet with the… Read More Lakes Area Music Festival offers a Sensory Friendly Music Event
{Guest post from Master Gardener and Extension Educator for the University of Minnesota’s – Master Gardener Volunteer Program, Jackie Froemming} The Master Gardener Volunteer Program uses research-based horticulture knowledge and practices to inspire change and promote healthy people, communities, and environment. Extension Educators have developed educational toolkits for volunteers to use in their communities to… Read More How Master Gardeners are Empowering the Minnesota Public
Anyone who knows me (Becky) knows that adult coloring is something I truly adore. It’s a form of relaxation that is portable, doable, and never fails to help me “power down” after an intense day. And honestly, I’m kinda picky about what I want to spend my time coloring. So when I stumble upon a… Read More 5 Wonderfully Diverse Coloring Books for Kids and Tweens
The threat of multiple impending winter storms seems to be promoting sheer panic for those in the southeastern areas of the U.S. while us Northerners are secretly thrilled that the resorts, ski lodges, and the snow-toy dealers will have a banner selling year. Blizzards are inconvenient, messy and yes…COLD. We can complain bitterly about them… Read More Blizzards | It’s All About Perspective
December is arguably my most favorite month of the year. Sure, it’s usually cold in Minnesota, but I don’t mind the snow and cold one bit until AFTER the new year. It’s still new and pretty, and I’m 100% ok with a white Christmas! I love everything about the holiday season, from the music and… Read More Ideas of Holiday Traditions Your Family Will Love
This time of year, gratitude and thanksgiving are at the forefront of everyone’s mind. The holiday season seems to inspire us to count our blessings and appreciate what we have to be thankful for. For those of us who are raising children, we likely want to encourage and teach our children to experience gratitude this… Read More How to Cultivate Gratitude in Kids | Help Your Kids Give Thanks
The UpNoPa moms LOVE this community where we live, work and play every day. Heck, that’s how Up North Parent came to be in the first place! We created Up North Parent because we are passionate about supporting thriving families and strong communities and wanted to provide inspiration for both. We also believe that the… Read More Brainerd History Week and the 39th Annual This Old Farm Pioneer Days
“Going for a drive” is a simple and relatively inexpensive way to enjoy summer while also taking in the sights, sounds, and attractions that the Up North/Lakes Area has to offer. And anyone who’s lived here for more than one season knows that gardening is a BIG DEAL in this community. Rightfully so since dirt… Read More The Up North Parent Healing Gardens Tour
My birthday is in the beginning of December, and I live in Minnesota. That means for all of my birthdays, it has been cold and 95% of them have had snow on the ground. My sister, on the other hand, was born in July. Her birthdays have always been just after the midpoint of summer,… Read More Half Birthday Celebrations | Half Birthday Party Ideas for Kids