A huge thank you to Cragun's Resort for welcoming us and showing us around the resort grounds before treating us to lunch at Irma's Kitchen. This post is possible because of them! “Fresh to table”…that philosophy would make any appreciator of good, quality food smile and Irma’s Kitchen on Gull Lake delivers on their promise of locally sourced and masterfully prepared meals. As moms, we admit that all three of us have fallen into the same-ol-same-ol of food options like most on-the-go parents. Our taste buds want yummy, healthy, non-fried/frozen/mystery-meat/GMO-loaded foods…but the grab-and-go mentality is a hard habit to break

Thank you to the amazing team at Grand View Lodge who allowed us to come take a tour of the property, and eat at the new On The Rocks location. This post is possible because of them! Life isn't always smooth and rosy. We all know that one minute, things can be 'peachy-keen' and the next, life can feeling like a five alarm fire. BUT, it’s also a well-known fact that positive things can emerge out of tragedy. That belief is clearly visibly to anyone who roams the spectacular grounds of one of the Brainerd Lakes Area’s premier resorts and observes the many

Like most parents, I’m worried about the “summer slide” - when kids lose some of the progress they made at school. My kids are not avid readers, but this summer, I am trying to help them love reading like I do. This starts at the Public Library. For the past three months, we’ve gone to the library and they each get to pick several books. My older children, who are 8 (Avery) and 9 (Lauren), even have their own library cards! Tips for Preventing the Summer Slide: 1. Read out loud to your kids This is something you can do

There are a wide range of memorable moments in parenting ranging from the warm and emotional moments, to the ones when you want to throw an adult tantrum. You know, lay down of the floor and pitch a big, loud, messy FIT. If you have those types of 'moments'...no worries; you are NORMAL. All parents have those instances where, they love their kids madly, but they also want to send them to Mars for a few hours at the same time. To make matters more challenging, our own children are also the ones who have the inside scoop about our

This is not going to be our usual back-to-school season. Lauren will be going to 4th grade, Avery is in 3rd and Hannah will be starting preschool. Who else is going to school? Oh yeah. Me. A Little Background I started college in 2005, a year after I graduated high school. My major was Elementary Education, with a minor in Special Education. Fast forward to the end of 2007 and I gave it all up to stay home with my newborn daughter, who was diagnosed with Down syndrome shortly after birth. My husband and I decided I would stay home

A thrift shop (also known as a thrift store, charity shop, hospice shop or resale shop) is a retail establishment typically run by a charitable organization to raise money to be used in accord with the organization’s stated charitable purpose. And since saving money is in everyone's wheelhouse these days, more and more shoppers are discovering the delight and savings that can be found in these often non-profit run shops. Sometimes, it’s the “thrill of the hunt!” that can make for a fun day of adventure as well! Shopping for treasures is a popular pastime and lucky for us, there

A huge thank you to the team at Appeldoorn's who welcomed us with open arms and gave us the grand tour. They gave us the opportunity to have a delicious meal and try FlingGolf, on the house. This post is possible, thanks to them! There was a time when the idea of a grand resort and gathering place on Mille Lacs Lake was just a seed of an idea to Chuck and Marilyn Appeldoorn. As business owners and residents of the Twin Cities/Metro area, this ambitious couple dreamed of owning a resort where families could experience summer activities, excellent food

This post is made possible by Wildwedge Golf and RV Park, who provided us with a complimentary mini golf and maze adventure, in order to write about our experience. Thank you! In an area with world-renowned golf courses, you'd think chances would be good that the three of us Up North Parent moms might be golfers. The truth is that between the three of us, two haven't golfed a single hole, and the third has only golfed one round of 9 holes, ever. But mini golf? 'That's our JAM!'as Laura put it! We have many fun mini golf hotspots in

So, Laura and I (Becky) are on a new mission; a mission to declutter our homes, business, and lives. We are calling it The Simplicity Project (#UpNoPaSimplify). I predict it will be a freeing process. My inspiration to lose the excess baggage in my life and 'pare down' actually started a couple of years ago when I reconnected with a classmate and dear friend, BA Norrgard. BA is a hoot and an incredibly inspiring woman. She is also a Tiny Houser; someone who has chosen to live Tiny and trade possessions for experiences. I became progressively more intrigued by her chosen

Parenting is tough. Many moons ago I heard another mom liken parenthood to trying to peel an orange with a screwdriver. It's super messy and someone is bound to get hurt. But being a parent is filled with many heart-warming moments too. Raising children is an amazing experience, and one that will fill your heart with memories for years to come. However, there are many less than stellar moments that will leave you scratching your head, or even worse - wondering if you will survive until bedtime. The below info has a two-pronged purpose: Provide some 'heads up!'details that these

Earlier this week I found myself staring at my calendar, noting the date and feeling a mixture of relief and sadness. Relief because...well...this mama could use a break. Sadness because what I saw was that our summer is winding down and soon the kids will be back in school. Those who have been following our

With 16g of protein we are loving HORMEL® HAPPY LITTLE PLANTS™ Protein Puffs we picked up from Amazon recently.

As a parent of school-aged kids, I had been aware of the Forestview Planetarium at Forestview Middle School in Baxter for quite some time and I knew it was a super-cool resource and learning tool. But it wasn't until the winter of 2016 that I personally was able to really experience it for myself. It was also during that open-to-the-public, Christmas-themed show that I learned there would be a total eclipse of the sun in 2017! That's another story for another time. It obviously helped that Brian Wallace, Forestview School teacher and director of the Planetarium, is my neighbor and

Emotions are what make us human, but they can also unduly influence our decisions in life. When we are tired and overworked, they can get the better of us, and negative emotions can keep us from realizing our potential. But as with everything in life, there are a “work-around” or effective ways to stay negative self-talk and emotions at bay. Here are just a few Tips for Nurturing Ourselves Emotionally Count your blessings – Focusing on the positive aspects that are already present works to put your life into perspective when you need it most. Mentally count your blessings one

Up here in Minnesota, we suffer through a long, cold winter season that is usually a minimum of 6 months long. At least it feels that way. Sure, there are the people who truly love winter (I’m not one of them) but for the most part, the general consensus among Minnesotans is that we tolerate the winters in order to get to the glorious summers. After months of below-freezing temperatures, the first hint of a day above 40 degrees prompts people to open their windows and break out their flip flops. We yearn for summer, and when winter turns to

Guest post from Dr. Kristel Schamber of Lake Area Eyecare in Baxter, one of Up North Parent's Sponsors. Eyes or eyelids dry, red or irritated? Your makeup or other products you use around your eyes could be the culprit. I had issues with red irritated eyes and have changed my makeup products and cleansers and this has made a big difference. General Guidelines for Avoiding Unhappy, Itchy Eyes Never to go bed with makeup on and avoid eye makeup remover with alcohol in it. Makeup attracts more bacteria on the lids which can lead to infections and styes. I recommend

Quick Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce

Mall of America celebrated their 25th birthday and we were invited to help in the celebrations. We experienced the Mall in a whole new way.

A huge thank you to the team at Traveling Art Pub for allowing us to participate in one of their painting events free of charge, so we could share about our experience with you! Something Fun in the BLA: The Traveling Art Pub Something fun and unique has taken the Brainerd Lakes Area and beyond by storm, and it's called TAP. No, not “tap” as in “tap a keg” or “tap on a window.” T.A.P. is the acronym for Traveling Art Pub; a creative events company that brings together individuals or groups for a creative adventure where you can drink, create and

When a child is upset, it often feels like the world is falling down around them. Here are 7 steps to having difficult conversations with kids.

My familiy had a fun time visiting Minnesota's Largest Candy Store in Jordan, Minnesota. This is a very fun place to visit with a many foods.

I (Laura) graduated with a nursing bachelors degree in 2008, and then started my own photography business on a wish and a prayer in 2009. I built it from scratch; living and breathing photography and all things business-related until 2014. In 2014, I had some sudden and debilitating health issues which served as a wakeup call to other parts of my life that had been neglected in the 5+ years I was focused on building my business. After much prayer and discussion, my husband and I decided to start a family in 2015, after my health improved. Our firstborn, a

Any-Adulting Days the days when you just.can't.even on pretty much everything in life. So, when you don't feel like trying, here are 5 ways to get unstuck.

14. Send more photo texts to your parents. They like to see what you’re up to.

Guest post from Jean Larson licensed and registered dietitian at Essentia Health, one of Up North Parent's Sponsors Most Americans consume 20 teaspoons of sugar every day. In comparison, our paleolithic ancestors consumed an estimated 20 teaspoons in a year. But we’re not digging into the sugar bowl. Instead, most of the sugar we eat is hidden in foods that we might not even see as sweet treats. The health risks of excess sugar are vast, including obesity, heart disease, diabetes, cognitive impairment, dementia, and cancer. Less obvious issues include headaches, mood swings, depression, anxiety, lowered immune system, increased stress and nutrient

Before I became a parent, I swore that if I had kids, they would NEVER cause a ruckus in a restaurant. (Yeah… I know… I was one of THOSE people, and all of us parents are rolling their eyes at my naivety.) I figured that somehow, I would be able to control my kids and they’d behave perfectly when out in public, never causing a scene and never drawing negative attention to us. Yeah, right. I also wanted to be the kind of parent who continued to go out and do things, rather than let parenthood make them never want

Feeling uninspired or burnt out with your current career path? That's how now, Influencer, Blogger, and Freelance Writer, Becky Flansburg was feeling too. Read on to see how she ditched the cube and launched a home business from scratch.

Welcome to my recommendation page. I’ve compiled a list of my favorite tools, links and products that I’ve found extremely helpful to me, my home and my family.

This gift guide isn't just for Mother's day, but can be used for birthday, Christmas, anniversaries, or simply 'I love you mom' gifts!

I love Africa, that is obvious (I hope). I also love the Twin Cities & Minnesota in general. Now I get to celebrate both, at the same time. Siama Matuzungidi is a…

Earlier this week I wrote a guest post for Kasia over at www.thesavvydreamer.com. I met Kasia through the Facebook Blogging group I manage Blogger Connection

As a mom of 2 boys and a pediatrician, I often get questions about how parents can find a great doctor to care for their child.

With 16g of protein we are loving HORMEL® HAPPY LITTLE PLANTS™ Protein Puffs we picked up from Amazon recently.

Holiday Cranberry Cocktail