Laurie O'Rourke

Keeping our teens properly hydrated is an important factor in their overall health and well-being.    I'd be willing to bet most of us underestimate how much proper hydration affects …

Does your teenager have trouble winding down at night? Are they constantly feeling stressed out? If so, they're not alone. A lot of kids feel this way these days. Luckily, …

*Original publication, February 2019, updated January 2022. Is your teenager getting enough sleep?  How about your tween? Are they being difficult?   Are they struggling in school? What about headaches? If that's …

Looking for great work from home ideas for moms? Call it a side hustle, an additional income stream, or just plain extra cash. Maybe you want to work from home …

Making smoothies for picky eaters is a great way to help them balance their diet, help them feel satisfyingly full, and maybe even gain weight (if they need to). Picky …

**Updated January 21, 2022 Incorporate these chores for tweens as a great way to teach them responsibility, important life skills, and take some of that housework off your plate. This …

Getting your kids to do chores can be a pain sometimes but unless you want to be the one doing everything all the time it's a great routine to get …

Okay, let's face it...your first time being single on Valentine's Day is probably going to suck, especially if it's a new thing. You're still sad, mad, lonely, or all three. …

I'm back with 5 more marriage separation tips. If you didn't see my first 5 tips when separating, jump back. It deals with the emotional side of separation. You can …

Know all about the importance of self-care? I have some handy tips sprinkled all throughout this whole post that I feel are really helpful. But if you want: jump straight …

If you’re reading this through tears or tension, you’re not alone. Separation feels like a tornado — but here are five things that will help steady you Being recently separated …

Do you ever feel like your period can never be predicted? The sudden leakages, cramping, and general feeling of discomfort can make you feel like you can never be ready. …

Making your daughter a cool birthday party with a trendy theme doesn't have to cost a fortune. You can find birthday party themes for tween girls that are reasonable. Dollar …

I've found some of the coolest subscription boxes for tween girls! I don't believe you can go wrong with one of these. Don't think they're only for tweens because any …

If you're looking to focus on healthy school lunches for picky eaters, then I'm sorry, this isn't the post for you.  It's also not about cute shapes and other sneaky …

It's a new school year, and time to get supplies ready. Middle school lockers are just one of the new and exciting changes that happen in junior high school. Not …

Ahh, tweens and puberty.  Fun times. Cue the eye rolls and sarcasm. So many changes for everyone involved.    It's confusing and exciting all at the same time. So why …

Finding ways to connect with your tween when puberty emotions are running high, and your fuse is running low, makes it easy to get off track with the relationship you …

**Originally published 2018, updated: July 2025** Help, tween attitude is a problem in my house! Tween years are no joke. We've all been there.  You're all having fun, out of …

This article will give you some of THE best resources on how to succeed in high school and prep for college. Use these high school success tips to skyrocket and …

Puberty is a confusing time for tweens and their parents. Everyone is filled with emotions of changing times...and hormones. Understanding what's happening to their bodies and their minds helps tweens …

Welcome to Day 10 of 30 Days of Printables.  Yesterday's new printable was a Teen Job Search Tracker.    It also goes along with the Job Interview Checklist from Day 8. Current …

Welcome to Day 8 of 30 Days of Printables.  Yesterday's new printable was to help keep you from forgetting when to pay a bill.   Current subscribers can also find it in …

With all types of moms out there, you're sure to find something on this list of gift ideas for mom that is sure to please even the most difficult mothers. …

It's the first tween middle school dance... are you ready? I remember when we found out we were having a girl. My husband who doesn't scare easily didn't speak for …

Has your tween been begging to babysit? Or maybe they’re just begging for a way to earn their own money. Babysitting is still a classic first job for tweens and …

Is your teen constantly bugging you for cash? Whether they're starting to look for a summer job or maybe they're ready to handle it during the school year they always …

Buying gifts for tween girls can be difficult, but it doesn't have to be. By this age, most kids are into some type of activity or have a strong interest …

Times have changed since I wrote this post 5 years ago. It used to be the "norm" that girls started shaving as soon as they hit middle school. Sometimes sooner …

Finding a good gift idea when you've been married for a while can be harder to come up with. When you've been married a really long time gets even harder. …

It's hard to believe teens will ever think they're too old for trick or treat, but some never do. But if you're looking for Halloween ideas for teens that go …

Buying presents for teen boys can be difficult, but it doesn't have to be. Past the point of toys and mundane stuff. Yet not quite adults. Cash is still king, …

A few years ago, I was up to my eyeballs in life. 3 kids, a grammie to take care of, running back and forth between two households. And money was …

Buying gifts for tween boys can be difficult, but it doesn't have to be. By this age, most kids are into some type of activity or have a strong interest …

Keeping things sexy and romantic after a billion years together takes work. Sending hot and flirty text messages to your husband is a fun way to keep things spicy. It's …

Back-to-school season is a whirlwind, isn’t it? Between the school supply lists, schedule changes, sports practices, and trying to keep track of all the things, it can feel like a …

If you grew up in the '70s or '80s I'd bet you read Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret? I can also guarantee upon hearing the name of the …

Many of you asked how to make a hot-cold pack used in the period survival kit. In the spirit of full disclosure, although I do own this sewing machine, I …

**Originally published in July 2017, this post was last updated on July 26, 2025 Puberty is weird — no way around it. But it doesn’t have to be a confusing …