I’ve always loved clams; fried, in chowder, steamed in butter – it’s all good! But when I was introduced to Washington clam digging, I discovered the freshest, best tasting razor clams on the planet. The Long Beach Peninsula on the southern Washington coast is just a short road trip from the neighboring metropolitan areas of […]
I thought We Were Past This…
Just seven years ago we were in the same situation. Family of five, unemployed, and wondering how we were going to make ends meet. Our kids were 1, 3, and 5 and all home during the day so I couldn’t work, either. After six months of job hunting, unemployement wages, food stamps, and government healthcare, […]
A Life Undaunted
I’ve been reading Beth Moore‘s Whispers of Hope devotional in my morning quiet time. On Day 18 we talked (I like to think of Beth as my close, personal Bible study buddy) about the certainty of our faith, and knowing, truly knowing that what we believe is grounded on eyewitness fact. We read through a […]
I Was FIRED from My First Job After 10 SAHM Years
In the fall of 2007 I went on maternity leave, and never returned to work. My salary would barely cover the cost of daycare, and I truly wanted to stay home and raise my kids. So I settled down for a long period of midnight feedings, diapers, potty-training, weekly moms groups, trips to the zoo, […]
The Picket Fence: More Than Just Baby Clothes {$50 Gift Card GIVEAWAY}
This giveaway is in partnership with Nakturnal, and includes a prize of a gift card for $50 to The Picket Fence online boutique. I have received compensation for this post, but all opinions are my own. The Picket Fence is a small boutique in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with all sorts of unique and beautiful gifts. From colorful […]
6 Road Trip Car Games to Play with Your Kids
Our family takes a lot of road trips throughout the year. Central Oregon, Oak Harbor Washington, and Salinas California are our big, annual ones, and since we most often put the miles on our minivan, the rear entertainment system (DVD player) usually keeps the kids busy. However, there are the occasional camping or boat trips we […]
A Hawaiian Family Holiday
With lots of family and friends out of state, most of our big, summer family trips are driving to see them. Once in a while we take off for a few days at the beach, or maybe Sunriver. This year, however, my husband and I decided to splurge. After taxes, we ran the numbers, cashed […]
Frugal Family Splurging with Groupon Coupons
This post has been sponsored by Groupon Coupons. I have received compensation to share this content. As a family living on a single income so I can stay home with our three children, we are always looking to save money in everyday costs while still being able to live a fun lifestyle. One of the […]
May is Motherhood Month and M2M is Celebrating with a Motherhood WEEK!
Last year, I decided to unofficially dedicate the month of May on Made to Mother™ as “Motherhood Month,” and this year I want to continue the tradition and set this week before Mother’s Day aside as “Motherhood Week!” For those of you new to our M2M community, I have been sharing real stories from REAL […]
The 10 Best Kids’ Birthday Party Themes
This post is in partnership with Nakturnal. I have received compensation for this post, but all content is my own. With eighteen years of birthday parties to plan, it can get tedious (for you AND the kids) hosting your child’s annual birthday at the same ole’ pizza play place. Here are ten ideas of different […]