Boho Outfits for Your Family's Fall Photoshoot
These Boho Style Outfits are Perfect for Your Family Photos!
Anyone who knows me knows I am picky about clothing, especially when I'm getting my picture taken. If you are anything like me, you'll love the look of these clothes! There are recommended options for every member of your family. I've weeded through thousands of articles of clothing online to pick highly rated pieces, and while I haven't tried any myself, I have a bunch of them bookmarked for my late summer and autumn family photos! Before getting into my recommendations, however, here are a few tips to get you started as you think about selecting the perfect photo session outfit.
Tips for selecting the right photoshoot outfit
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn on qualifying purchases. Commissions earned help support my small business. You can learn more about my participation in this program here.
Boho Outfits for Moms
Flowy and feminine, these boho dresses, shirts, and sweaters are perfect for your family photoshoot! Many of the options below come in multiple great colors, so if they don't work with your skin tone or match the outfits others in your family will be wearing, you can always opt for another color!
If you don't love long dresses, or are short like me, shorter dresses may be a better choice. Here are a few options to consider!
Not so much a dress person? These cover ups can be paired with a white shirt and denim bottoms to elevate a casual look. Or, select a boho top and pair it with jeans or white pants.
The top below would pair perfectly with black jeans and gold jewelry accents!
  Boho Outfits for Girls
Help your mini me look just like you, with these adorable dresses and outfits. Below you'll find highly rated outfits for babies, toddlers, and older girls.
 
If your daughter isn't a fan of dresses, here are a couple of options that might work when paired with denim bottoms. For the crocheted vest, I'd pair with a long sleeve but slightly fitted shirt. The sweater would work great with jeans and boots!
Women's and Girls Boho Accessories
Complete your looks with these boho style shoes, hats, and other accessories you'll love!
Shoes    Hats
Hats aren't always the best choice for photoshoots; they can cast shadows on your face, and make it more difficult for your photographer to capture your most important features. That said, hats can make amazing props, so if you love a good hat as an outfit finish, be sure to ask your photographer if one might make a good addition to your family photoshoot look!
  Other Accessories  Great Photoshoot Outfits for the Guys in Your Family
Help the men and boys in your family look just as good as you! These shirts and accessories receive high ratings, and will match the suggested outfits listed in the women's and girls section of this post!
Men's Outfits
    Boys Outfits - Baby, Toddler, and Boys Sizes
You can't forget the perfect outfit for your little guy! Below are baby, toddler, and boys outfits and shirts that would pair nicely with the other family outfits shown above.
I absolutely love khaki style pants, suspenders, and bow ties for little boys. My son regularly wears this combination to events and church. It makes for an adorable and elevated, yet not too formal look for toddlers and kids.
You can get the formal look for summery weather by pairing khaki style shorts with suspenders, a colored shirt, and a bow tie.
This romper is gender neutral, and looks like it would be great for a warmer day!
 
For cooler weather, I love a sweater paired with a collared shirt and either denim or khaki bottoms.
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Create A Schedule Board Perfect for Back to School!
It is that time of year again.... Back to school season is upon us, and with it, the necessity to transition our kids from summer fun to school schedules. If your family is anything like mine, transitions can be hard (especially when they require waking up early). As a former teacher, I know setting expectations early helps foster success, so we've started preparing for school early. Part of my plan to help my kids know what to expect is preparing schedules for them. No one in my family likes being locked into rigid schedules, but unfortunately, the world doesn't operate according to what we want. As a working and neurodivergent family, homeschooling hasn't been a good choice. My oldest does best when he is out of the home, with peers, and receiving instruction from people who aren't me. So that means that traditional school, and traditional schedules, are a necessity.
We started offering weekly and monthly schedules during our busy summer, and found a lot of success with the method. As a result, I am carrying it over into the school year. To make things more fun, our schedule board includes areas to display photos and artwork. Here is how I created our new back to school scheduling station!
STEP 1: Creating my Base - Basic Cork and White Board
To create this schedule board, I used adhesive cork and white board stickers, plus a variety of decorations. Applied to a clean wall near my back door and kitchen table, this scheduling station makes preparing for the week's activities easy!
I found adhesive cork panels and a white board sticker as a base, and then applied a faux wood adhesive border to create my cork board.
STEP 2: Decorating the Board
If you have followed me for any length of time, you know I never leave a space.... basic. Here are some of the products I used to decorate the space!
Because I have one toddler and one kindergartener, letter decals were the perfect addition to our schedule board. I selected these neutral animal decals , and while there are a number of animals I don't think are the best representation of the phonemes associated with the letters, they are incredible cute! I also included a boho tassel garland for a bit of flair.
I also added some seasonal decorations that I created (you can grab them free below!), and laminated them. I am also planning to laminate a copy of the "My Week" Schedule (you can also find this below), and have cards that we can use each week for the major activities each day, including school specials and home activities.
Free Printables for Your Bulletin Board
Grab your free printables to help decorate your board and create a family schedule! They are available for immediate download below.
What's Included in the Free Download?
1 Schedule template
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Just in time for Food Allergy Awareness Week!!!Grab your Food Allergy Awareness Coloring Book today!
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn on qualifying purchases. You can learn more about this program, and how it helps support my small business, here.
In honor of May being food allergy awareness month, I'm rolling out my latest printable pack- A food allergy awareness coloring book! Perfect for children from preschool age up to elementary school, this coloring book works great as a classroom activity for teachers, or for families to send in to teach classmates about food allergies.
Covering all 9 of the top food allergens, this printable is geared towards offering young children an introduction to common food allergens, and how to protect themselves (and friends). It comes with 3 introduction pages- just choose the one that is right for your age group!
Buy it Now!Food Allergy Awareness Coloring Book
$1.25
$0.99
Help educate your students or your child's classmates about food allergies with this allergy awareness coloring book. Choose one of 3 introduction pages based on the children's ages, print, and use with ease. Learn more about food allergies at www.foodallergy.org ON SALE IN HONOR OF FOOD ALLERGY AWARENESS MONTH! Downloads as a PDF Document.
Looking for an awesome book to pair with this printable?
Our recent favorite has been Daniel Tiger Has an Allergy </>.
 
Looking for even more great food allergy books for young kids? These titles have excellent ratings from families just like your!
Help Spread Awareness! Share this Resource!
More Food Allergy Content You May Love
Stay tuned for my latest launch- Everything first birthday bunny themed! But while you wait, let's take a look at how to do a DIY smash cake for baby!
DIY Some Bunny Is One Smash Cake for a First Birthday Photoshoot or Party
What Supplies You'll Need to Create a Smash Cake
How to cut your smash cake layers
You'll want to use a mousse cake mold like this one and cut circular layers out of your larger cake. Do so just like you would if using a cookie cutter. Then, place your layers in the freezer, and freeze solid.
Supplies to Decorate Your Smash Cake
Decorating your smash cake is an artistic process, so select colors and add ons that you love! If you are looking to replicate my cake, here are the specific supplies you will need:
Here are the products I ordered to create our smash cakeOther decorating supplies you might love
Building Your Smash Cake
It is easier than you think to build a smash cake.
Decorating Your Smash Cake
I decorated the cake on the cake stand to avoid ruining the frosting when I moved the cake. I used pink frosting that came in a tube with a star shaped piping tip, and placed a border around the top of the cake. I then added pastel sprinkles to the center. Using green frosting, I applied some 'grass' to the bottom edges, then used green frosting to secure two bunnies and the mushrooms along the bottom sides. I placed three small faux tulips along the side, and secured in the back with scotch tape. Finally, I added a 'one' sign and a final bunny to the top of the cake.
Looking for another smash cake example? See my Big One smash cake here.Other content you may love!
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn on qualifying purchases. My participation in this program comes at no added cost to you, and commissions earned support my family as a small business owner! You can learn more about my participation in this program here. Please also note, deals may not last until Black Friday! Grab them while you can. The Mindfully Scientific Mama makes no guarantees that these items will remain on sale long after publication date, but all were available at time of publishing. Expiration dates for sales are stated when possible.
Why wait until Black Friday to start shopping for the holidays? With early Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, now you don't have to! Get started with Part I of my Early Deals guide.... and stay tuned for even more great deals on gifts the entire family will love!
Early Deals for Babies and Toddlers
Through November 21st at 2:29AM - Save on Baby Einstein My First Library Board Books! (36% off)
 
It is never too early to start reading to your baby.... and since young children who are read to by caregivers have a leg up on learning to read fluently, it is absolutely worth getting started ASAP. Board books are a great way to let little hands work on preliteracy skills such as page turning, and this pack of 12 looks like a great way to get a head start on a library your little one can start using on their own.
 
This Itzy Ritzy teether is perfect as a baby stocking stuffer! My family loves the Itzy Ritzy brand; their products are adorable and high quality. I've been using an Itzy Ritzy diaper bag for baby 2, and regret I didn't buy one sooner. We also love the Itzy Ritzy line of teethers. As the mom of a baby, it can be hard to find cute stocking stuffers... but this one certainly fits the bill. You can find a ton of other varieties that aren't seasonal as well.
 
Skip Hop is one of my favorite brands of baby products. Their toys are well designed, educational, and if you ever need customer service, I've had amazing experiences with them. There are a few Skip Hop items on sale right now, so be sure to check them out if shopping for baby!
This #1 Best Seller from Skip Hop is currently on sale for 20% off! And, unlike walkers (which are NOT recommended by doctors due to risk of injury), activity centers are okay as long as your baby's hips are aligned correctly and they do not use them for an excessive amount of time. Thank goodness, because this Skip Hop center is CUTE as can be!
  Early Deals for Toddlers and PreschoolersEasy and Affordable: Print and create a busy book for your toddler or preschooler!
This busy book download is available on sale until December 7th, 2022! Grab it before the price increases. You can learn more about how to use this download to create your busy book here. Doing so is as easy as putting the pages in a folder, but I love using my laminator, page protectors, and velcro to create a durable, reusable product. Also be sure to check out my Instagram feed and stories for even more about this printable pack!
Christmas Themed Busy Book
$1.99
$1.50
Celebrate the Christmas season with my holiday themed busy book! Great for ages 2-6, this printable offers nearly 50 pages of fun and educational activities, including:
These pages are best when inserted in page protectors or laminated. You can learn more about building a busy book on my blog here or here.     Early Deals on Toys
My son is OBSESSED with Magna-Tiles, and for a limited time, this massive set is on sale for 15% off. Grab it while it lasts!
    Deals for Your Home
Deals on Hamilton Beach Small Appliances
With all the cooking and baking we do in my home, small appliances are always a welcome gift. If you've been waiting to purchase new ones for your home, now might be the perfect time! There are loads of Hamilton Beach appliances on sale, including the ones pictured below.
You may also love.....For the Evidence Based Mama: 'Science Doesn't Care What You Think' Tee"Science Doesn't Care What You Think" Ladies' short sleeve t-shirt
$18.00 - $20.50
Show your support for fact over opinion with this Mindfully Scientific Mama tee. It is super-soft, form-fitting, and breathable, with a slightly lower neckline than a classic t-shirt.
• 50% polyester, 25% cotton, 25% rayon • Pre-shrunk fabric • 40 singles • Slim fit • Ribbed crew neck with set-in sleeves Didn't see anything that strikes your fancy? Check back soon for Part II of my Early Black Friday Deals guide, and keep an eye out for even more gift guides for this holiday season. And don't forget to share the love by clicking save to Pinterest below!
Also check out my Christmas Guide for even more seasonal crafts, activities, gift guides, and lots of other great holiday content!
Including great holiday inspiration, such as:
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn on qualifying purchases. My participation in this program comes at no additional cost to you, and helps support my small business. You can learn more here.
We all want our children to be healthy and safe. But when it comes to safe sleep, we are inundated with unsafe options marketed as safe ways to help our babies sleep better and longer.... and it is easy to cave, because sleep is critical for them, and us. It is no surprise that infant sleep is associated with maternal mental health, among other health factors (for both children and parents).
Weeding through what is safe and unsafe can feel overwhelming. Guidance has changed periodically (meaning advice from older relatives is often not safe), product recalls occur with some regularity, and there are far too many non-evidence based sources providing unsafe guidance that appeals to our emotions as caregivers. As an evidence based parent, I've continued to find balancing safe sleep with getting sleep a learning process. But there are a few straight forward basic rules that I've found are easy to follow. Those apply to your crib's setup and products used within the crib itself! Your baby may start sleeping in their crib immediately, or they may move to it after a bassinet (which is what our kids did). Whenever they start using it, here are a few ways to ensure they sleep safely AND comfortably!
(The following has been adapted from the American Academy of Pediatric's Infant Sleep Guidelines)
What's In and Around My Baby's Crib?
Notice something about the staging in the bedding set image? If you say "no blankets in the crib", you would be right! Blankets should never be left in a crib with an infant. And that mobile that is in the image (and on my infant's crib) will need to be moved as soon as she starts to show signs she will begin to sit.
Stay tuned to my blog for even more evidence based tips on how to keep baby safe while sleeping!
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn on qualifying purchases. My participation in this program comes at no added cost to you, and commissions help support my small business. You can learn more here.
It is no secret that autumn is my favorite season! Living in the northeast, and coming from New England (not far from Salem, MA), I have been obsessed with all things fall since I was a child. It stands to reason, then, that I would have explored tons of great family friendly activities.
There are hundreds of great things to do during the autumn season... here are 50 of my favorites!!
Autumn crafts you'll love
Candle scents you'll love this season:
The Mindfully Scientific Mama now has a store!!!
Check out these fun seasonal products!
Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice Steel Tumbler [In Orange]
$26.00
Enjoy hot or cold drinks on the go with this stylish stainless steel tumbler! This reusable tumbler with a metal straw is a perfect combo for hot or cold drinks at any time of the day.
• High-grade stainless steel tumbler • 20 oz (600 ml) • Tumbler size: 3.11″ × 8.42″ (7.9 cm × 21.4 cm) • Straw and lid included with the tumbler • A cylindrical shape (top to bottom) featuring 360 printable area • Matte finish • Protective color layer (varnish) Framed Autumn Bucket List Post
$22.00 - $86.00
Make a statement in any room with this framed poster, printed on thick, durable, matte paper. The matte black frame that's made from wood from renewable forests adds an extra touch of class.
• Ayous wood .75″ (1.9 cm) thick frame from renewable forests • Paper thickness: 10.3 mil (0.26 mm) • Paper weight: 5.57 oz/y² (189 g/m²) • Lightweight • Acrylite front protector • Hanging hardware included • Blank product components in the US sourced from Japan and the US • Blank product components in the EU sourced from Japan and Latvia
Pumpkin spice products to check out
Find Hudson Valley hiking inspiration on Mama's Hiking the Hudson!
Learn more about the Teal Pumpkin Project
Find great non-candy treats for Trick or Treat or Halloween Parties
Happy Fall, the Best Season of All!
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. My participation in this program comes at no added cost to you, and commissions earned help support my small business. You can learn more here.
Creating the Best Indoor Obstacle Course for Your Toddler or Preschooler
My family has been stuck inside a lot recently. Between winter, getting sick, and school closures, getting out has been tough. It doesn't help that I am in my third trimester and on strict rest orders, so even on warmer days going outside to play in our yard isn't always an option. But kids need to keep their bodies moving, right?
Keeping my child active indoors is essential. He is super energetic, and if I don't find constructive ways to help him move, he will find his own. This has been the case since he was quite young, so fortunately I've accumulated a lot of practice! How have I kept my active child moving while stuck indoors? 
One of our favorite ways to get him moving inside is by building obstacle courses.
These are easy to do without purchasing new equipment of course! That's right; obstacle courses are easy to build with things you already have at home. Here are a few things you'll find around your house to help you build tunnels, climbing structures, balance beams, and more:
How to create an indoor obstacle course, plus some tips to keep your child engaged:
While you may wind up setting up obstacle courses for your child, you may also find over time that your child builds them on their own (mine certainly does). If you didn't register this reading that last sentence.... you doing obstacle courses with your child provides an outlet to develop independent play skills that rely on gross motor ability, and get your child moving in a constructive way indoors. I'd say that is a major perk of doing activities like this with your little one!
Obstacle Course Equipment Your Kids will Love
Just because you don't have to buy equipment for your obstacle course doesn't mean you won't want to. We have been collecting lots of great items we use regularly, and I know your child will love as much as mind does. Here are the best products for creating an indoor obstacle course!
We got this tunnel when my child was about 18 months, and he is still using it years later. It has held up very well (and that includes to my cats' claws, not that I recommend letting your kitties use the tunnel as a toy), and continues to be a staple for all kinds of indoor play.
 
We have the Climb and Crawl Activity Set, but ECR4Kids makes a ton of different options your child is sure to love. By the way, even though these are geared towards toddlers and preschoolers, we've had elementary school age friends' children enjoy them as well!
 
More ECR4Kids SoftZone block sets your kids will love!
These were a new addition to our collection, and were an instant favorite. From using them for obstacle courses to building cars and buses (using the blocks as seats) and using them to help build car tracks, my child finds new ways to play every day!
 
The Nugget Couch
Unless you have been living under a rock or are a new parent, you have heard of The Nugget. Is it worth the hype? Yes. But it is pricy. Thankfully there are plenty of great nugget alternatives available on the market if you don't want to buy the original! Here are some highly rated options:
Highly Rated Products that Look Promising
Share the Inspiration
Valentine's Day Guide for 2022
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. My participation in this program comes at no added cost to you, and commissions help support my small business. You can learn more here.
With the popularity of my Christmas Guide the last two years, it seemed like it was time to launch a Valentine's Day Guide, too! I've been hard at work on some great seasonal content, and will be rolling tons more out over the weeks leading up the February 14th.
For now, be sure to check out the following Valentine's Day Content: 
Free Valentine's Day Coloring Pages
Grab this free mini Valentine's Day Coloring book for free NOW! It is available for Instant Download below.
Valentine's Day Pinterest Board
You can find a ton of great Valentine's Day content curated from around the web on my Valentine's Day Pinterest Board!
Valentine's Day Fireplace Mantle Decorations
Full post coming soon!
Share the Love
DIY Valentine's Day Sign or Homemade Valentine's Day Cards Made Easy! This Valentine's Day craft is fun and easy, even for toddlers and preschoolers! Get creative using simple arts and crafts materials. Make a DIY sign, or use for homemade Valentine's Day cards. Here is how to make your own XOXO craft!  WHAT YOU'LL NEED
STENCILS
Download and print! These printable stencils are free and available for instant download.
WHAT TO DO
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