The Mabelhood

In Parenting

How to Organize a Blended Home

April 12, 2024 No Comments

Blended families face plenty of challenges. Differing parenting styles, new parent/child relationships, and intense logistics complicate everything about daily life. Blended families encounter lifestyle obstacles that other families simply do not. But you can overcome these challenges, it is possible to organize a blended home. Children and parents alike can work together to navigate the emerging family landscape. Every tool you can put on your belt is worth the time and investment. A well-organized, mindful home helps a family tackle those challenges by reducing stress, minimizing distractions, and literally improving their mental health. The science is clear on this: a clean, organized living space can enhance your relationships, while a cluttered and chaotic home makes everything harder. Tips to organize your blended household: Make a plan… together. Blended families often start from different places regarding organization. Do you keep your keys, wallet, and backpacks in the same place? Where do…

In Parenting

How to Be a Supportive Cheer Parent

April 9, 2024 No Comments

Being a cheer or dance parent can have its challenges; it can be exhausting and time-consuming. You need to keep very organized, supportive and involved! You’ll be wearing many hats, from chauffeur, hair stylist, nutritionist, chef, personal assistant, travel agent, psychologist, and probably even a few more! All of these jobs are equally important. But the most important of all, is the role of supportive parent. Managing all of these can be very hard. Here are some tips to ensuring you’re a supportive parent and managing the expectations of your cheerleader and the studio they represent. Tips to be a supportive cheer parent: Don’t lose perspective: Wins, losses, scholarship opportunities, status and endorsements can cloud judgment and cause a parent to lose perspective. This can ruin the experience for your child and negatively affect the coaches, other team members, parents and officials. Remember – we are working with kids here!…

In Summer Camp

Sleepaway Camp Shoppable Pack List

April 4, 2024 No Comments

Summer is approaching quickly (I can feel it in the air) and it’s never too early to start preparing and looking ahead. Most camps are already close to being fully booked up and are anxiously awaiting their campers. Although it might be pulling at your heartstrings a little bit thinking of sending your little ones off to their first sleepaway camp, or even if you’re a seasoned overnight camp sender, the list of things to pack can be daunting to come up with on your own. With all of the lists we have to make as parents (the grocery list, the to-do list, all of the wish lists), we need all the help we can get! We’ve broken it down into 4 easy categories to better aid you when it comes to planning your shopping trip in advance. When we think outdoor camp you may only have things like bug…

In Parenting

Spring Cleaning Tips for Parents; Plus, Kids Items You Can Put through the Dishwasher!

April 1, 2024 No Comments

Spring is a season of renewal, growth, and fresh starts! It’s also the perfect time to give your home a thorough cleaning and decluttering. If you’re a parent, you know that raising children means accumulating a lot of stuff over the years. From outgrown clothes to forgotten toys, it can be challenging to keep your child’s belongings organized and tidy. This spring cleaning checklist for parents is a chance to reset, refresh, and create a more comfortable and functional space for your family. Start by running some of these items through the dishwasher, the smaller stuff that gets handled daily and can become really filthy and germy. Here are a few items parents may want to consider running through the dishwasher this spring clean. Household & Kids Items you can put in the dishwasher: Did you know that there are a ton of household things that can go through the…

In Summer Camp

How to Label for Day Camp

March 21, 2024 No Comments

As the summer season approaches, many parents are preparing to send their kids off to day camp. Whether it’s a sports camp, music camp, or any other type of summer activity, one thing is for sure – you’ll need to label your kids’ belongings to make sure they don’t get lost or mixed up with others. With everything coming back and forth each day, labeling your kids’ stuff is crucial for keeping everything organized and ensuring that their belongings don’t get lost or misplaced. Here’s a quick guide to the easiest way to label your kids’ stuff for Day Camp. The Day Camp Label Pack This value pack of labels is the simplest way to make sure you have all your items clearly labelled for camp; it includes everything you’ll need to cover all the items that come back and forth each day. And when they’re labeled – you know…

In Summer Camp

How to Label for Sleepaway Camp

March 12, 2024 No Comments

Labeling your kid’s clothing for camp can sometimes be confusing for parents. With so many items of clothing and accessories to keep track of (with no parental guidance!), it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Fortunately, Mabel’s Labels has come to the rescue with various labeling options that make the process a breeze. Here are our top ways to label your kids’ clothing for summer camp, giving you peace of mind that they’re not wearing someone else’s dirty underwear. Summer camp can sometimes be the hardest to label for because items like swimsuits, towels, flip flops can be tricky items to label effectively. We have a solution for labelling all the little tricky clothing items and accessories that go to summer camp. Because markers and tape won’t cut it for sleepaway camp toughness! The Sleepaway Camp Label pack is a value pack of all the top-selling labels, 112 labels included, plus 2…

In Summer Camp

Day Camp Registration Tips

March 8, 2024 No Comments

Summer is the season for kids’ day camps, but the day camp registration season starts right now. We’ve got the tips you need to secure a spot in the coveted camps on your wish list. How to find day camp options in your area Start with an online search where you type in “[your city] kids day camps.” Begin researching as early as possible, as popular camps may sell out quickly. Instead of settling for the same old camp as last year, investigate camps that are hosted by: Your city or municipality A nearby university or college The local community center, public library, or YMCA Kids’ activity program providers such as dance, gymnastics, martial arts, theatre, art, or computer coding Birthday party businesses, such as indoor trampolining, pottery painting or LEGO building Common field trip destinations, such as children’s museums, zoos or nature centers Youth sports associations, including team sports,…

In Parenting

How to Take Care of Your Rubber Boots – Because Wet Feet Make Kids Miserable!

March 4, 2024 No Comments

With Spring around the corner, we’ll soon be seeing the April showers, and our kids will be eager to get outside and go puddle-jumping! It’s time to switch out the winter clothing for spring and make sure everything fits well and is in good shape. Especially their wellies! They’re the most important clothing items for spring and can be costly to replace. Here are tips on how to take care of your rubber boots. Wellington (Rubber) boots, also known as “wellies,” are the top choice of footwear for kids in spring for all the puddle jumping and muddy fields. They are durable, waterproof, and can last for years, making them the perfect item to hand down to younger siblings and friends. Here are some tips on how to take care of your rubber boots: Clean your rubber boots regularly After each use, especially if your kids have been in the…

In Seasonal

Unforgettable Spring Break Ideas for Kids: Fun Stay-at-Home Activities

February 29, 2024 No Comments

Spring break is just around the corner and parents everywhere are starting to panic… I mean, plan activities to keep their little ones entertained. While many families have the luxury of travelling during this time, not everyone is able to take a trip. But don’t worry, a staycation can be just as fun and exciting! We’ve compiled a list of 5 days’ worth of fun stay-at-home spring break activities for kids that are sure to keep your little ones entertained and engaged all week long. Day 1: Make a birdseed cake + go for an afternoon hike. Making a bird seed cake with kids can be a fun and educational activity. Start by melting some lard in a pot and mixing in birdseed, oats, and cornmeal. After the mixture cools a bit, pour it into a mold or container lined with parchment paper and let it harden in the…

In Parenting

Unique Kids’ Birthday Gifts That Aren’t Toys – Gift Ideas for Kids

February 21, 2024 No Comments

The idea of adding more toys to the never-ending pile sitting in your living room corner can seem daunting, and with your child’s upcoming birthday, you can’t imagine receiving even more. Who said all birthday gifts have to be toys, though? We’ve got the best ideas for birthday gifts that aren’t toys and we know you’ll want to share this with your friends and family before the next birthday hits your house. Take a look! Monthly subscription kits! There are so many options when it comes to a subscription kit. Many companies have specific kits geared to all different ages and there are many different kinds that you can choose from based on the interests of the child you’re purchasing for. Some that we love are: Lovevery, KiwiCo and Little Passports! Adventure experiences! What kid doesn’t love to get out for a day and do something fun? The options are…