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
Summer break is always a time deeply anticipated by kids, but sometimes not-so-much by their parents. Three weeks into summer vacation is when the shiny newness of not being in school starts to tarnish and boredom sets in. Whether your kids are 5 or 15, parents know what bored kids do. Bored kids tend to:… Read More Summertime Money Making Ideas for Teens
Laura and I (Becky) are always in awe of local parents who are in the midst of creating a new business or rocking a current one. We especially love to see that entrepreneurial spirit in our local teens and tweens! We are honored today, to share an inspiring story of two 10-year-olds who have taken… Read More Got Pets? Twin Tweens Turn a Love of Pets into a Dog Walking and Pet-Sitting Business
Summer is right around the corner and if you’re like me, you’re READY. The winter was LONG in Minnesota, and we are ready to spend our days outside all day, every day. Summer notoriously passes way too quickly, so I always try to be intentional and proactive about squeezing the most out of the precious… Read More Summer Bucket List for Toddlers
Summer is almost here and we are excited! It’s a special time of year, especially if you live in the north like we do and have winter for half of the year. Our amazing summer months are what keep us sane through the frozen winters, dreaming about the warm weather and the summer fun we… Read More Summer Life Hacks for Busy Moms
On April 10th, 2018, the Brainerd Public School District 181 will face one of its most important and significant days yet. This day sincerely holds the future of our school district in the palm of it’s hand. On Tuesday, April 10th, 2018, a three-question ballot will be voted on across our school district, for a… Read More Vote YES with Us! | 2018 ISD 181 Brainerd Public School Referendum
We are celebrating Picture Book Month! I would venture to guess that in most households with Littles, it’s Picture Book Month EVERY month! And that’s great because it’s no secret that reading to our young ones is beneficial in many ways. But once a year there is indeed an international recognition called Picture Book Month. Picture… Read More Read*Share*Celebrate | Best Baby and Toddler Board Books
When I (Becky) was a kid, my mom was notorious for always telling me, “Don’t sit too close to the television screen! You’ll ruin your eyes!” I was never quite sure if that was true or not back then, but what I do know now is that my vision stinks. And I don’t think it… Read More Electronics, Blue Light and Your Child’s Eyes | Myth or Fact?
The Bible tells us that for everything there is a season. This holds true for the climate, plants, crops, sports, school and life in general. It applies in particular to motherhood. Everything is a season in motherhood. (Parenthood, actually, but I (Laura) am speaking from a mother’s perspective). The newborn days, infant months, toddler years. Considering when… Read More For Everything There is a Season, Especially in Motherhood
I can’t even begin to tell you how stoked I am as to how popular our previous post, Gently Used & Previously Loved -Thrift Stores in the Brainerd Lakes Area has been with UpNoPa readers. This subject is near-and-dear to my heart for many reasons, but the main one is how, over the last 20+ years,… Read More Previously Loved | Thrift Store Shopping Hacks for Busy Parents