#LoveLearning: You are wonder-ful!

The children's book, We're All Wonders

We loved loved loved this week's Brightly Book: We're All Wonders. It explores the differences in all of us which came at a tremendous time as my girls have been incredibly inquisitive about hair color, skin color and beyond. This Land's End weekly book recommendation also seems custom tailored to our little family. Here are the cliff notes:

Auggie and his trusty sidekick Daisy eat ice cream, play ball, and go on adventures—just like any other kid. But he isn’t always seen that way. Auggie is different. Everyone is different, really. People just have to change the way they look at the world to see that is what makes us all wonders.

The children's book, We're All Wonders

Parent Tip: I recommend using the Brightly website to track summer reading initiatives for your kiddos.. The site helps make it a little easier, and a lot more fun, for parents to encourage daily reading. We love the site because there are book recommendations from all publishers for every age and stage, reading tips, author essays, seasonal suggestions, and more. 

Don't forget that each Thursday through August 31, 2017 Lands’ End will feature a Brightly Book of the Week along with thoughtful discussion questions for parents and kids to encourage reading comprehension. And have fun with it - you and your kids can show your love of reading with a photo or video using #LoveLearning and #LandsEndKids for a weekly chance to win a book from Brightly by posting on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Lola holding the book, We're All Wonders

But there's more! Here is this week's Lands' End graphic tee available until the end of today which just so happens to coincide with this week's science experiment...

A children's flower power graphic t-shirt

This summer, Lands’ End is excited to partner with America’s Favorite Science Teacher and frequent Ellen Show guest Steve Spangler through the #LoveLearning campaign to feature weekly DIY science experiments that families can do at home.

You'll definitely want to check out this week's experiment - it's the most colorful by far and so easy to complete: Color Changing Carnations! Check the video out here. My kids were totally wowed. Each Thursday through August 31, 2017, Lands’ End will feature a new do-it-yourself science experiment so be sure to check back next week, too!

Parents and kids have a chance to showcase a passion for science with a photo or video using #LoveLearning and #LandsEndKids for a weekly chance to win a Big Bag of Science Kit by posting on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

To view past Lands' End posts from this summer see post #1 and post #2 and post #3. Happy Reading Parents! xo

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Body positivity with my kids...an ongoing conversation.
Body positivity with my kids...an ongoing conversation.

I absolutely cannot take credit for the brand new Eve•ry•bod•y kiddo tees that launched this summer. It was a conversation that manifested into their words, their color palette choices and their designs…now in the t-shirt format. Perhaps even more meaningful because it captures their viewpoint of the world and what it means to be love yourself. If you missed the first launch, I talked about it here and here.

Lola and The Boys.
Lola and The Boys.

Twinning is the new black. I'm sure you knew this! Well, looks like I'm on-trend again because this past Easter my girls and I dressed from head to toe in Lola and the Boys. And it was awesome! We wore their leaf dresses which were more than comfortable to entertain in and play in.

Pipp Pipp Hooray!
Pipp Pipp Hooray!

When it comes to little lady dresses...I am rendered useless. Just absolute mush. I melt for my girls in dresses and it just so happens that Easter is around the corner, my friends! Meet Pippa & Julie: you're go-to source for the most darling dresses ever!

"Mom, I'm bored." There's a site for that! (+ a giveaway!)
"Mom, I'm bored." There's a site for that! (+ a giveaway!)

The hardest part of being a mom is leaving your kids. Of course, it makes the return that much sweeter. The other hardest part is when you've got 'em...what do you do with them? Yes, we are now at that age in which I often hear, "Mom, I'm bored." or "What are we gonna do today that's fun?"

Twinning.
Twinning.

Olivia is such a ray of sunshine. I think you can see it in these photos. This year has been such a big year for her growth. She's one of the funniest and brightest kindergartners I know. Naturally. Being her mom is one of the most rewarding jobs of all time. I wish I could take credit for her personality but I think Livie just has all sorts of goodness in her. She is caring and protective of her sister. She adores her father. She is thoughtful and makes little gifts for her grandparents. She works hard on her school work and she is a gifted little artist. I love seeing her creativity blossom.

A letter to my kindergartner.
A letter to my kindergartner.

...because I just need to put this out there. Some moms are excited for their kids to go back to school. I am not. :(

Dear Olivia,

We just measured you and you grew two more inches! No wonder all your clothes are too short. At this rate we may have to get second jobs to keep up with your closet conundrum. 

Back To School Shopping At Woodfield Mall!
Back To School Shopping At Woodfield Mall!

Better late than never! How did Wednesday turn into such a crazy day? Oh wait...I know! Back-to-back phone calls since 8am would have something to do with it I presume. Ahhhhhhh!

It’s hard to believe that we’re nearly halfway through the summer, but it's time to talk back-to-school. Olivia and I had a great mommy/daughter date at Woodfield Mall this past weekend to start prepping for KINDERGARTEN. I know...and I am very close to tears so do not mess with this momma.

Less adulting...more mermaid!
Less adulting...more mermaid!

Find me a girl who didn't want to be a mermaid at one point in her life. Impossible! It all started with "Splash" for me and for my girls.."The Little Mermaid." Luxurious hair, clam bikinis and that magical tail allowing you to gracefully glide through the water...sounds much better than my day job, right?

Swimtastic.
Swimtastic.

Sassy. Party of two? Yes...right here. Meet Lola and Olivia. Summer has, in a word, been amazing for these two. Between camp, frequent froyo runs, playdates, weekend brunches and pool dates...I would like to trade in my ticket to adulthood, pronto!

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Birthday Masters.

I'm sitting here in full mom-panic-mode. Olivia is turning 5 in May and I have done zilch in terms of planning this birthday. I mean zero. (don't tell her!) As a busy mom, I was pretty proud of myself for getting the evite out. Yeah, that's because for the last five years I've been handwriting and co-designing these gorgeous birthday invitations only for them to end up in someone's trash weeks later. So, we opted to put those dollars towards the party itself. Smart!

Family, Food + LifestyleJohanna Grangesponsored post, Lands' End, back to school, back to school style, reading with kdis, favorite children's bookComment