Category Archives: Reflective Mama

Emerald City: Our Newest Haunt

Parent-Tot Open Gym at Emerald City: The perfect Kansas City toddler activity.

It is always hard to find places where a young toddler can play. This was even more true on Halloween. Every event was either all about candy, during Baby’s naps, or after bedtime. Halloween was my favorite holiday, so missing out on all the fun was beginning to bum me out. A few days before Halloween, however, a friend shared an event on Facebook that looked like it was created specifically with Baby and me in mind: Emerald City’s Parent-Tot Halloween Party.

Emerald City Gym is a gymnastics center with an incredible set up for kids of all ages. They have a huge play area with in-ground trampolines, slides, balance beams, a rope swing, a rock wall, and more fun things to do and climb on. Outside of open play, they also have traditional gymnastics equipment for recreational and competitive training. Continue reading

SITS Day Celebration + Giveaway!

The-SITS-Girls

Hello Friends! Today I am very excited to be the featured blogger on The SITS Girls, an incredible website and network that has meant so much to me since I first began blogging.

For those unfamiliar, SITS stands for the secret is in the sauce, and it is all about helping bloggers find their tribe and grow their audience. The SITS Girls blog, weekly SITS Sharefest linky, and #SITSBlogging chats on Twitter have been wonderful ways for me to share posts, connect with other bloggers, learn new skills, and collaborate on fun new projects.

If you’re new to Reflective Mama, this blog is all about the everyday adventures of being a new mom, friendships, a touch of fitness, and books I read along the way. Fifteen-month-old “Baby” is often the star of the show. My posts are honest, sometimes humorous, and always written from the heart. Here are some of my favorites: Continue reading

Original Pumpkin Bread Recipe

Original Fall Pumpkin Bread RecipeOnce upon a time, a long long time ago, there lived a delicious treat called pumpkin bread. Every Thanksgiving, pumpkin bread would made its annual appearance. It’s arrival would fill our house with delicious smells of cinnamon and nutmeg to alert us of its presence. The craftiest of us may have snuck some before Thursday’s feast (especially if the middle was gooey).

This pumpkin bread recipe has been a central part of my family’s Thanksgiving meal for as long as I can remember. It is the most delicious pumpkin dish I’ve ever eaten, and I look forward to it every year (thank you, Mom!). Continue reading

12 Month Old Developmental Check Up

Parents as Teachers 12 Month Old Developmental Check Up

For our second Parents as Teachers Home Visit, any anxiety from before our first visit was replaced by excitement. Don’t get me wrong, we still straightened up to welcome our Parent Educator, but this time around I knew what to expect: informal playtime with developmental tasks and questions mixed in.

However, there were a few differences this visit. First, my husband was there. It was really fun to have him participate. He helped ask and answer questions about Baby’s development and was happy to see what these home visits were all about. He loved that the visit was totally informal yet still really informative. Continue reading

Blog Staycation Recap & Link Up

Blog Staycation 2014

Surprise! Today I’m publishing an extra special Blog Staycation Recap and Link Up post. The past four days had been filled with all sorts of awesome blogging shenanigans and fun.

Highlights of the staycation included learning lots of new blogging tips, chugging away through my endless to-do list, hanging out with my favorite blogging friends, and connecting with some new bloggers, too. It was a busy four days!

Completed Blog Staycation Goals:

    • Created two group Pinterest Boards and joined a third: For Mom & Kiddos, Favorite Reads, and 2014 Blog Staycation Tips.
    • Updated my About page to include social media links and a gallery of my favorite Reflective Mama posts.
    • Reached (and surpassed!) 200 likes on the Reflective Mama Facebook Page. {Thank you!}
    • Updated my 11 Diaper Bag Essentials for the New Mom post.
    • Drafted a nursery design post. {Coming soon!}
    • Made some wonderful new blogging connections & friends!

Of course, there is still lots more to do! These priorities are at the top of my list:

  • Write and submit my first pitch letter.
  • Create a PR page and Media Kit.
  • Reache 1000 Twitter followers and 500 Instagram followers. {Follow me please!}
  • Continue to build my new For Bloggers page add new links to The Ultimate Blogging Resource List. {Check back for more updates soon!}
  • Keep in touch with all of the incredible Blog Staycation bloggers!

Your Turn!

Link up and share all of your accomplishments, too! Link to a new post, a new or updated page, an Instagram picture of your completed to-do list, or your new or updated social media account. This is your opportunity to broadcast all of your awesome achievements!

Still have more to do? Leave a comment with the priorities still on the top of your list!

Before you go, be sure to visit my Co-Hosts to read their Blog Staycation reviews:

Jenerally Informed | Girl on the Move | The Trish List

An InLinkz Link-up

Congratulations on all of your blogging accomplishments!

What priorities are still on the top of your blogging to-do list?