Erika Stevenson
Erika Stevenson grew up in San Antonio, Texas but has made her home in Des Moines for 15 years. She and her husband, Darin have been married for 14 years and live in a turn-of-the-century home in the heart of Des Moines where they raise Lucy (10), Collin (9) and Nora (4). Erika first became a mom to Lucy in an open domestic adoption and eventually gave birth to Collin and Nora. When she's not busy with home-school lessons, laundry and meal-planning, she loves to sew, knit, and read.
Lessons From My Favorite Fictional Moms
Have you noticed that some of the most beloved characters in kid's literature have been separated from their moms due to tragic circumstances? Harry Potter. The Penderwicks, The Pevensie Kids.
Do you ever get the sense...
Guide to Urbandale Public Library
Our family of five LOVES outings to the public libraries here in Central Iowa! As a homeschooling mom, my heart delights at my kids' joy when they discover a new fiction series or find...
How to Get Your Kids Started With Pen Pals
Having grown up in the eighties and nineties, I have lots of memories of life before the internet. Some of my most treasured memories are of writing and receiving snail mail with friends, family,...
Introducing Stella From Pella and Her Magic Shoe! Meet the Author + Giveaway!
If you have taken your kids to local events featuring photo-ops and high-fives with their favorite superheroes, it's likely you have indirectly crossed paths with my friend, Matt Morgan. Matt is the founder of...
How to Hygge and Why You Should!
About a year ago, I began noticing the word "hygge" popping up on displays at libraries and bookstores, as well as on social media. I'll be honest: initially, I didn't give it a second...
Cherishing the Holidays When Life is Hard
I was standing in my kitchen around 10 a.m. with my eyes glazed over, sipping my second cup of coffee. I stared at the heating instructions on the spiral sliced ham a friend had...
7 Thanksgiving Books for Kids
As a mom of three children who have been born into a life of privilege and relative ease, I desire to instill in them the virtue of gratitude. I see this as an everyday...
Play: A Lost Art. Not a Lost Cause!
Yesterday I was sitting with my four-year-old Nora on our front steps. Sunny with a cool breeze, it was an idyllic early fall afternoon. I sipped my coffee and watched her step onto our...
Teaching Kids the Art of Cooking for Company
I'm so thankful my mom taught me cooking basics when I was a kid. I'm not a stellar chef or a foodie by any means, but by the time I graduated high school, I...
15 Things I Love About Iowa and Des Moines
When I travel out of state, and someone asks me where I am from, I only recently started saying, "Des Moines, Iowa." Before, my response was, "Well I'm FROM San Antonio, but I LIVE...