Woodwater Farmhouse

Why Love is Key to a Great Relationship Between Parents and Teens How often do you go out of the way to develop your relationship with your significant other? How about your teenager? All good relationships take a lot of time and energy to build a lasting bond. This can be especially difficult between parents and teens. At times it might feel that your relationship with your adolescent is teetering on a cliff and might collapse at any minute. A teen is developing their own identity- one that is apart from his family. It is normal for there to be ups and downs, but the key to bonding and strengthening your connection might be the secret power of love. Image Courtesy of Shutterstock.com Nature Versus Nurture There has long been a debate over which influences a child the most: the role of genetics or the environment.  The role a parent plays when a child is young is vital to their development. They provide more than the basic needs- they mold a c...

Hi everyone.  I am gearing up for a few months of celebrations in our home.  Between some birthdays, Valentine's Day, Chinese New Year and St. Patty's day, I am hoping we are not partied out before Easter! (which happens to be early this year and our daughter's birthday!)  As you might have seen before, we always celebrate Chinese New Year in our homeschool.  I am not sure why we ever started this tradition, but the kids love it and so do I.  This year Chinese New Year is February 19th (a few days after Valentine's Day - so save those red decorations!) and a few days before my birthday!   Image Source Isn't that so fun and festive!  I am so using the Chinese New Year/Lunar New Year Printable kit from Birds Party this year!  In the past I have pieced together some printables here and there. This year we are going all out with this great party on a tight budget!   This printable party kit includes the following templates (with...

Can you even believe that the first month of 2015 is coming to an end?  Does it seem like it was quick or what?  It seems like just last night our family was trying to all stay up to watch the ball come down in Times Square.   This week has had it's moments.  With school and with life.   The girls started a month long money unit. We spent the week exploring coins and researching them on line.  I never knew there were so many different penny options. The backs are different on many of them.  Zachary continues right along with Geometry and our #WhereAreWeWednesday brought us to Virginia.   If you follow me on Instgram, you probably saw all my prepping for the Blizzard 2015.  Of course there was the Blizzard of 2015.  For us  (an hour North of NYC) we prepped and prepared our home and our minds for 12-24 inches and probable power outage.  Well...the storm went East and we e...

Sharing a speedy quick idea with you today for a perfect Valentine Photo Booth Backdrop .   The Dollar Tree, craft stores (use coupons) (and I am sure drug stores and grocery stores) sell packages of 10 or more of these sparkly paper hearts.  Spend the $ 1, pick an empty wall and have the kids stick them around a small area (I used blue painters tape) . Cut up a few mustaches out of construction paper and maybe an empty frame hanging around.   There you have it!  The kids had a ball posing! Happy Valentine's Day! This post may contain affiliate or sponsor links. You can see our full disclosure policy at the bottom of this blog page.

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #YoursandMine #CollectiveBias Once upon a time.....   It was Father's Day weekend in the year 2000 and I was in the throes of a nasty divorce. A single mom of a 12 year old son and a career I had to give up in order to get my life back in order.  My sister and her boyfriend were driving hours upstate to visit me and hopefully put some cheer into my weekend. Insert doorbell ring I opened the door and my sister was standing there.  She said, "I come bearing gifts." I asked, "oh what did you bring me?" (expecting a bottle of wine) She leaned to the left and motioned behind her. She said, "him". (it was my now husband) I was shocked but gladly accepted "my gift" without hesitation.  Fast forward 3 years later...we were married and over the course of another 11 years have had three beautiful childr...