Natural Fingerpainting with Blackberries

ByKori
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We have a wild blackberry bush in our backyard and every summer, I look forward to picking fresh blackberries. Usually they never make it into the house because I can’t wait to eat them. Today, Squeaker decided she was going to “help” me pick some of the berries. And aside from the occasional red berry, she did quite well with plucking them off the bush. Now, while I love blackberries, Squeaker isn’t a fan. So she tends to just smash them in her hands. Once I saw how vibrant the purple hue was on her fingers, I grabbed her and ran back into the house for some cardstock to do natural fingerpainting with blackberries on the deck. Squeaker, at times, has been a little squeamish…

How to Find Free Money for College and Cut Back on College Expenses

How to Find Free Money for College and Cut Back on College Expenses

ByKori
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I did not have a college fund growing up and sometimes I wish I had started saving money as a child. I knew that I wanted to go to college though my choice of major was changing from week to week. It was still something that I could have saved for and maybe I should have saved for. But, not all families are in a situation where they can save for college. That’s why I want to discuss a few ways to find free money for college to help offset this expense. Some ways to save money on college expenses include: attending a state funded school (which means usually getting a tuition discount for being a state resident), and buying used books or renting your…

How to Sort Out Debt

ByKori
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When you’re in the initial stages of figuring out how to wipe out debt, one of the first steps that you’ll need to do is sort out debt. And while this may seem like a simple enough process, sometimes it’s difficult to figure out where to start. Today, we’re going to talk about how to begin that process and then the steps that you might want to consider taking next. Going overboard with your finances is not hard to accomplish. See also: How to take control of your personal finances Experts have said that the average American family owes $7,500 in credit card debt alone. If that were not enough, many people now owe more than their home is even worth. But alas, all is…

50+ Fourth of July Ideas for Kids

ByKori
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With the 4th of July quickly approaching, I wanted to share a list of ideas with you. I have gathered together over 50 fourth of July ideas for kids including recipes, fun crafts and activities, and learning printables as well. With this list, you’re sure to find something that your kids can do to celebrate the 4th of July or any patriotic holiday. Of course, I’m sure that I could keep adding to this list and the list for next year will definitely be bigger. I absolutely love this holiday for numerous reasons. I’m not sure what we’re doing this year but we’re going to have quite a bit of fun. And with the activities, crafts, recipes, and printables on this list? We can make it an…

6 Tips for How to Succeed at Breastfeeding in the First Few Days

6 Tips for How to Succeed at Breastfeeding in the First Few Days

ByKori
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First, let me say this: this post is not meant to start a war about whether or not breast is best. That’s your own personal decision so I’m not trying to badger you into breastfeeding just because it worked for me. If formula works for you- go for it! I’ll have a few of these posts about breastfeeding tips so let’s start with tips on motherhood for breastfeeding success in the early days when you feel like quitting. Because believe me, those first few days can be rough. And with Squeaker, I was just about ready to quit after two days in. We ended up surpassing our initial 6 month and even 1 year goal. We made it through a bout of mastitis and well,…

World Culture for Kids: Learning About Poland and Polish Culture

ByKori
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Growing up, I was incredibly fortunate to have experienced a very diverse upbringing. Living in California was a cultural melting pot of Hispanic and Asian cultures while living in Washington D.C. was the mixing center for almost everything. Living in Albany, however, it’s a whole new ball game for me. Yes, we have diversity but not quite the same. There is a large Italian American presence, a growing Asian presence, and also a Polish presence. I appreciate the Polish aspect because that’s part of Squeaker’s heritage. So, as part of our informal summer Tot school, we took some time to learn about Poland. I can’t wait to repeat this unit with her when she’s older so we can explore more in depth. But, in the…