To Bribe Or Not To Bribe: Encouraging My Kids Best Behavior

Katherine Heigl with daughters Naleigh and Adalaide
Before I had children I would have sworn I would never bribe them to behave, to pitch in or to be respectful. Almost ten years into momming that inexperienced opinion has gone up in flames. To all the mothers and fathers out there I was secretly judging when witnessing the “I’ll buy you a lollipop if you get off the ground and stop screaming” technique…I deeply apologize. For years I tried the stern mom voice and the “look” you all know the one. Eyes squinted, lips pressed, chin titled to the side. It occasionally worked but it never really brought the best out of my kids and wasn’t really the incentive they needed to encourage positive behavior. Sure no one wants to piss off mom, or few sane people do, but is that really what I wanted my kids to be thinking when good versus bad choices arise? “Don’t piss off mom, don’t piss off mom, don’t piss off mom.” Continue Reading

Toronto Adventures: Ripley’s Aquarium Of Canada

Naleigh and Adalaide at Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada
The first weekend the kids got to Toronto Josh and I saddled everyone up and headed out to the much touted Ripley’s Aquarium. It is truly a spectacular and magical experience. The girls spent the entire time with the most beautiful looks of awe on their faces and I am so grateful I was able to experience the wonder and glory of the deep sea with them! If you’re in or around Toronto do not miss this extraordinary experience! My only suggestion is that you try to go on a weekday if possible. It seemed that Saturday every parent in Toronto had the same idea we did which made it a pretty slow going experience, but amazing nonetheless!Continue Reading

Toronto Adventures: Evergreen Brick Works

Toronto Adventures: Evergreen Brick Works
The Kelley clan has been really living it up exploring our adopted city of Toronto. We relish our quiet existence in Utah but have been loving the change of scenery and the opportunity to experience city living. Before kids I rarely ever got out and explored the locations my work took me to. I am so grateful my little ones have forced me off the couch and out to adventure. The first stop on our Toronto tour was Evergreen Brick Works. We hit it up kinda late on a Friday so most everything was closed for the evening but we loved the beauty, serenity and all the awesome, even though we couldn’t use them, features of the park. We plan to hit it back up for the Saturday Farmers Market soon and Josh and I are dying for an adults only date night at the beautiful farm to table Cafe Belong.Continue Reading

Mason Jar Buttermilk Biscuits

Mason Jar Buttermilk Biscuits
It all started one lazy Saturday morning when the kids were craving McDonald’s breakfast biscuits but no one wanted to drive the thirty minutes to the closest McDonald’s to get them. The unstoppable Josh Kelley decided in that moment to try his hand at making his own and the results were pretty damn spectacular! Continue Reading