Category: home/living

Family Matters: Five ways to celebrate Dad on Father’s Day!

[ 0 ] 6.14.2012 | Anisa Raoof

1. Quality time with the kids. A family outing or just dad and the kids may start with breakfast at home or at his favorite diner or coffee shop followed by an afternoon outing like a trip to the beach, park, or museum. My husband loves having bagels and lox at home as much as dining out at the Modern Diner in Pawtucket or Julian’s on the West Side.

2. An event. Give a gift-certificate (for two, if it includes you) to his favorite local restaurant or tickets to a sports game or music concert.

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Simple Summer Strategies for “Sensory” Kids

[ 5 ] 6.12.2012 | Carolyn Dalgliesh

I would like to welcome new contributing writer, Carolyn Dalgliesh, a professional organizer and “sensory” mom. She is the founder & owner of Systems for Sensory Kids, a leading-edge organizing model that teaches parents how to tap into systems, routines, and visual aids to organize and empower their rigid, anxious, and/or distracted children. Carolyn also does professional home and small business organizing through Simple Organizing Strategies. A native Rhode Islander, she lives in North Kingstown with her husband and two children. Although I long for a break from the school-year bustle, “sensoy” kids and others often benefit (and even thrive) on a bit of structure. I welcome Carolyn’s advice on how to “organize” our summer. – Anisa

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Batchbook Superhero Contest Winner: Kidoinfo

[ 0 ] 5.24.2012 | Anisa Raoof

Totally awed and humbled that I’ve been granted “Superhero” status thanks to the folks at Batchbook. In honor of National Small Business Week, they selected me as one of their customers they feel deserved this award because of “my unflinching work to make the small business universe a better place.” Although I’m not in the same league as The Avengers (as my sons pointed out, since I do not have a cool suit like Iron Man or Black Widow and I did not gross a bazillion dollars last weekend), I try my best to make my community a better place by connecting families with local happenings and fun things to do with their kids offline. I first learned about Batchbook shortly after I launched Kidoinfo and realized I needed a better way to manage the myriad of people I meet on the playground, around town, and online. Thanks to Batchbook, I have made many new friends and business connections and am able to manage these connections to better run my business.

As a thank you, Batchbook delivered these awesome cupcakes to my doorstep yesterday. Deliciously made by Sin.

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Family Matters: How Moms Find Balance

[ 0 ] 5.18.2012 | Anisa Raoof

Feeling out of balance? You’re not alone. See if other women’s tips and advice can help you out.

The phrase, “balancing motherhood” is tossed around a lot these days, but it can mean many things to many people. The word “balance” can refer to how we parent, how we organize our time, how we organize and schedule our kids time as well as how we juggle taking care of ourselves and our partners.

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What are you doing with the kidos this summer?

[ 0 ] 5.14.2012 | Anisa Raoof

Beyond summer camp, what are your plans? Family vacation, long lazy days at the beach, day-trips or are you not even thinking of summer yet? To get you in the mood here are some helpful links from Kidoinfo: 10 Ways to Vacation at Home: Call it a Staycation Helping Kids Help Others 100 things to [...]

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Highlander Institute Hosts Day Long Conerence on Integrating Online Learning in the Classroom

[ 0 ] 5.11.2012 | Anisa Raoof

I am passionate about this topic. Integrating digital media into the classroom requires thoughtful consideration and training to make it an effective, inspiring, and beneficial learning opportunity for our students. I applaud Highlander Institute for taking the lead in hosting this event – open to anyone interested in learning more about the concept including teachers, administrators, parents, etc. (7 credit hours are available for the day conference.)

Highlander Institute, a regional provider of high quality professional development in education, presents the Blended Learning & Technology Conference on Saturday, May 19, 2012 from 8:30 am – 4:00 pm.

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Buy with Heart: Mother’s Day Guide

[ 0 ] 5.9.2012 | Anisa Raoof

Mother’s Day is right around the corner. Show mom you care, and make a big difference in your community. When you Buy With Heart from a social enterprise for mother’s day, you get unique gifts she’ll love, and give back to a cause she cares about. Check out these gift suggestions!

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3 Ways to Celebrate Mother’s Day

[ 0 ] 5.6.2012 | Anisa Raoof

Give mom time.

One thing moms are short on is “time.” Time to do read, exercise, finish a cup of coffee (while it is still hot) and time to do nothing. I know I am looking forward to some quality family time this weekend without cooking or laundry but I also look forward to my family allowing a little time to myself. Give a mom in your life an hour or more to herself this weekend.

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Family Matters: 20 Ideas for Screen-Free Week

[ 0 ] 4.27.2012 | Anisa Raoof

It’s time for Screen-Free Week (April 30-May 6, 2012), the national celebration where children, families, schools, and communities spend seven days turning off entertainment screen media and turning on life. It’s a time, as the organizers say, “to unplug and play, read, daydream, create, explore, and spend more time with family and friends.”

Are you up for the challenge. Here’s how it works in our family…

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10 Ways to Celebrate Arbor Day with Kids!

[ 0 ] 4.25.2012 | Anisa Raoof

Tomorrow, April 29, 2011 is National Arbor Day. Share the The Lorax by Dr. Seuss, The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, or One Tree (Green Start series) by Innovative Kids with your children. These stories remind us at any age to be mindful of our trees.

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