How to Know When You Need a Bigger Home

Together with

"The mind is everything. What you think, you become."

Rise and Shine, Mommy! Welcome to Monday, also known as "My house was clean last week, sorry you missed it." Today we're talking about leveling up your nest.

Today’s Mommy scoop:

• Toddler Activities: Boredom busters

• Wipe lids go all Pinterest on us

• Yummy Zucchini Banana Bake 🍌

• DIY Ferris Wheel: No height restrictions!

Forget sticky notes—start managing your family with ease.

Budget Diapers & College Dreams

How to Know When You Need a Bigger Home

Do you feel like your home is bursting at the seams?

Between juggling work calls and the kids’ playtime, things can get a little hectic.

Let's explore when it's time to upsize and what you can do right now if moving isn't in the cards.

Time to Upsize?

• Signs You Need a Bigger Place: If work-from-home is here to stay, every room is pulling double duty, you can't find a quiet corner, or the yard's too small, you might seriously need to consider a bigger home.

Quick Fixes for Space Crunch

• Divide and Conquer: Use room dividers or bookshelves to split bigger rooms into smaller areas. This can create a temporary office or play area.

• Go Vertical: Use your wall space. Shelves up high can store things you don't use every day.

Keeping Your Peace

• Noise Solutions: Can’t move but need quiet? Try noise-cancelling headphones or soft rugs and curtains to soak up sound.

• Small Quiet Zones: Even a cozy corner with a comfy chair away from the hustle and bustle can be your mini getaway.

Money Smarts

• Storage vs. Moving: If you’re renting storage, tally up those costs. Sometimes it's cheaper in the long run to get a bigger place.

• DIY Fixes: Before you think about moving, maybe a simple remodel like adding shelves, cabinets, or a pantry can solve your problems.

Making Room for Hobbies

• Under-Bed Storage: Got a hobby that needs space? Store supplies in roll-out bins under beds.

• Multi-use Furniture: Ottomans that open up for storage can hold craft supplies or board games.

We have a few of these Fleximounts hung up in the garage. They’ve helped move storage off the floor so our garage is still usable.

When You Can’t Move Yet

• Rotate Toys: Keep only some toys out and store the rest. Swap them every few weeks to keep things fresh for the kids.

• Temporary Outdoor Space: No big yard? What about inflatable pools or foldable playsets that you can set up and pack away?

Conclusion

If your home is starting to feel like a tight squeeze, remember, you've got options.

Whether you decide to move to a bigger house or get creative with the space you have, the key is to make your home work for you.

Because at the end of the day, the best place in the world should be your own home. 🏡

Keep reading here.

Together with Be Family

Don't let managing your family feel like a chore.

Don't let managing your family feel like a chore.

Be Family was created by parents who were tired of the endless back-and-forth about who’s driving the kids and all the admin work of running a family.

It helps organize everything in your family, provides you with tools to get more done faster, and applies intelligence to make it easier for you to stay on top of the million different things happening in your family.

Be Family has everything you need to run a calmer, more collaborative family.

Mom's Mic: This Week’s Poll

Poll Results From 9/8

How frequently do you have date nights?

 🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ Once or more per week (18%)

🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️ Once a month (28%)

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Rarely (31%)

🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️ What's a date night? (23%)

Featured Response😄 

“My husband and I sometimes take the baby with us, but we go out to eat every Friday night. It’s a tradition we’ve had since my husband and I started dating.”
- Community Mom

Mom Hack

Repurpose wipe container tops for a sensory board

Mom Hack

Keep those flip tops from wipe packs to create a peek-a-boo sensory board.

A cute, interactive plaything for your little one.

Mom’s Menu

Zucchini Banana Oatmeal Bake 🍌🍴

Imagine a breakfast that checks off all the boxes—kid-friendly, healthy, AND uses up those forever-ripe bananas and overachieving zucchinis from your garden.

Well, let's turn that dream into reality, shall we?

Ingredients 📝

• 2¼ cups rolled oats

• 2 cups sliced very ripe bananas (from about 2 medium bananas)

• 1 cup grated zucchini, super-duper squeezed dry

• ½ cup shredded unsweetened coconut (or more oats if you're anti-coconut)

• 2 teaspoons baking powder

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• ¼ teaspoon salt

• 3 eggs

• ¼ cup melted and cooled unsalted butter (or plain yogurt, if you're feeling it)

• ¼ cup maple syrup (real deal, not the fake stuff)

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• ⅓ cup dark chocolate chips (because life's too short)

Instructions 👩‍🍳

1. Prep: Preheat the oven to 350 F and give an 8×8-inch baking dish a quick non-stick spray.

2. Oat-ify: Toss the oats in a food processor for 30 seconds. Yep, until they look like coarse flour.

3. Mix It Up: Add every ingredient except chocolate chips into the food processor. Whirl away until smooth.

4. Pan Time: Pour this lovely goo into your prepped pan, and then artfully sprinkle chocolate chips on top.

5. Bake: Stick it in the oven for 28-30 minutes. It's done when the edges are all golden and a toothpick comes out clean.

6. Cool It: Let it chill in the pan before you dive in.

Notes 📌

• Make sure to thoroughly dry the grated zucchini to remove excess moisture.

• Use very ripe bananas for the best flavor.

• This dish can be served plain, with cream cheese, or with nut butter on top.

• Store in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

• For allergies, you can substitute with coconut oil, peanut butter, or egg replacers.

Wrap-Up

Moms, this Zucchini Banana Oatmeal Bake is like the Swiss Army knife of breakfasts.

It's versatile, it's packed with nutrients, and—most importantly—it's something your kids will actually eat.

So go ahead, bake your day! 🍌💖

Keep reading here.

Daily DIY

Craft Stick Ferris Wheel

Bring the joy of a fairground ride into your home by helping your kids build a miniature Ferris wheel from craft sticks and wooden blocks.

The tutorial is here.

Mom’s Choice

This little gadget is a lifesaver during cold season.

It's like having a mini vacuum cleaner for those tiny, stuffy noses.

It's a must-have for every mom, and I can't imagine surviving a cold without it! 🤧 

Frida Baby Baby Nasal Aspirator

Game

Parenting Quiz

At what age should a child be able to understand the concept of "yesterday" and "tomorrow"? (Answer below)

A) By 2 years

B) By 3 years

C) By 4 years

D) By 5 years

E) When they start asking for tomorrow's dessert today

Mom’s Meme 🤣

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Answer

C) By 4 years