Okay….that title is totally misleading. To be clear, I am NOT crafty. You would think I might be since I am a creative; however, when it comes to activities and sensory bins for my toddler, I strongly dislike this type of pursuit. However, desperate times call for desperate measures and I am guessing there are a lot of other parents like me…. you want to do the craft, but you can’t stand it. Well here is any easy one for YOU if you are like me. I’ve formally titled it…Hiding Animals with Rice in a Muffin Tin With a Scoop 🙂 You will need: Rice in a bin/storage container Scoop…
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Best Restaurants in Disney World (According to You!)
What’s one thing you think of when ‘Disney World’ comes to mind? Is it Mickey Mouse? That gorgeous castle? The rides? The crowds? The magic? Maybe all of those….but for me, it’s all FOOD! One of my favorite t-shirts I own is a list of #allthesnacks you can get at Disney…Mickey pretzels, Dole Whips, churros, Mickey waffles, candy apples. Because as much as I love the rides at Disney, I REALLY love me a solid Disney snack in between attractions. An area I didn’t know as much about with Disney World was the sit-down dining selections. We’ve had a few good quick service restaurants but had not explored the sit-down…
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A Walk Down ‘Frozen’ Memory Lane: The Reasons I Love This Franchise
Anna, Elsa, and Olaf hold a very special place in my heart. Why? Well when I was 25, I met two young children named Tyler & Emily. I had been around kids plenty and loved them….but there was added pressure at this meeting…they were the children of my boyfriend at the time. I so desperately wanted them to like me! One of the first dates we went on as a family was to see this amazing, winter-themed, animated block-buster smash from Disney…a little film called “Frozen.” As we walked out of the theater holding hands and singing ‘Let It Go’ – I breathed a sigh of gratitude (and some relief)…
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22 Fall Bucket List Ideas for Families
It’s officially the first day of fall – hooray! I can already taste the spiced cider, smell the cloves and orange mulling on the stove, hear the crunch of leaves as they fall on the grown, and feel the soft and cozy infinity scarf around my neck. Yep…I’m ready for you, fall. But what happens when the rest of your family doesn’t obsess over this new season like you do? How do you get them on board? Simple my friends. Simple. May I present to you….the 2019 Fall Bucket List. (hooray….cheers…applause…wahooooo) I thought of my favorite activities that help get me into the fall spirit (including the basics I listed…
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Giving It a Shot: VLOGGING!
Hello Moonbeams! In case you don’t follow on social media, I wanted to share some exciting news about a new venture for Holding Moonbeams…. WE ARE VLOGGING! Since turning my social media focus toward blogging and intentional sharing about our lives as a special needs and blended family, I have really enjoyed connecting with our readers. Reading everyone’s comments makes the internet seem like a smaller place…and I love getting to know people (who I may never have otherwise met) through Instagram, Facebook, and through this blog! But one of my most favorite parts was using Instagram stories to give everyone a taste of life behind the scenes…life behind the…
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41 Summer Activities For Toddlers in Chicago
It’s that time of year again…. The snow has finally melted. Target is pumped full of adorable aquatic accessories (hello donut shaped pool float) and bug spray. Art projects from the school year make their way home. And then the anxiety of what to do with your young children starts to creep under your skin as you panic….what am I going to do with them all day?! Yes my friends. Summer is here. But no need to worry…especially you local Chicagoland mamas…I see you ladies. And I have not one…not two…but 41 different activities for you to try with your kiddos this summer! Here’s how I went about this list….…
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Book Review: Gnat & Corky Series
If there is one activity I have enjoyed most with Hudson since his birth, I’d have to pick reading. From his first few days on this earth as a newborn listening to the words in those fresh, unopened books….to the tears, bite marks, and stains on our durable board books of late….I love reading with my little guy. Last month, Orange Hat Publishing reached out to me about some books they have…one story, in particular, they thought resonated with my posts and what our family is all about – love and light! After reading these books, I knew I had to share them with you all. I love supporting amazing…
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March/April Bucket List
It’s already March! What?! But I’m so grateful….January and February have always been challenging months for me. They are the darkest yet somehow feel longest days, the Christmas blues are upon me, and it’s so cold outside that we don’t want to leave the house. March is FUN. Daylight savings time occurs, spring break is around the corner, and Easter decorations are up in the stores. But in Chicago, it’s still not Spring…even in April…I know right! So I couldn’t call this a Spring bucket list….we still have snow on the ground with more to come. I give you…the March/April Bucket List. These two months that can be busy with…
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11 Christmas Books for Littles
After posting on Instagram stories yesterday about two of my new favorite books for Hudson, I wanted to share some additional books if you are wanting to buy your kiddos Christmas books to add to their collections. Click on any of the book covers to be taken directly to Amazon for purchase (affiliate links won’t cost you anything but can help us earn a little dough)! You Are Special by Max Lucado This story brought me to tears! It’s not necessarily a Christmas book but has a Christian message worth reading all year long. 2. The Tale of Three Trees retold by Angela Elwell Hunt Another book that isn’t necessarily…
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Sibling Love: Third & Final Video
Tomorrow is the last day of October, which means Down syndrome awareness month is coming to a close. Last year, I didn’t really do anything to celebrate the month. I remember seeing other people post about it but wasn’t sure where “my place” was in spreading awareness and encouraging acceptance. One year later, I have found my place and my voice advocating for our sweet little Huddy Buddy. I’ve had the chance to share so many wonderful accounts that celebrate Down syndrome through Instagram. I shared with other moms about the joy that siblings bring into a special needs family dynamic and created three videos. I designed and printed postcards…
