ppearls, Author at Piedmont Pearls

Motherhood

Bridging the Gap: From Gentle Parenting to Successful Schooling

October 2, 2023 by ppearls No Comments

Instead of focusing on punishment and reward, gentle parenting focuses on improving a child’s self-awareness and understanding of their own...

Things We Love

4 New Things to Do with the Inspire My Play “PlayTRAY Building Block Mat”

September 3, 2023 by ppearls No Comments

Places to buy the Inspire My Play ”PlayTRAY Building Block Mat”: on their website or Amazon. You’re already familiar with...

Things We Love

Homeschool Materials You Still Need if You Send Your Kids to Traditional Schools

August 24, 2023 by ppearls No Comments

We’ve been sending Vicky to a lovely school for the past year, but that doesn’t mean we’ve slowed down on...

Things We Love

September Seasonal Table

August 17, 2023 by ppearls No Comments

Despite us moving away from a homeschool setup towards a traditional school, we’ve kept up our nature table as a...

Here are some of my favorite stores that have just opened up pre-orders. I’ll update more as I find them.

Things We Love

Bluey’s Playroom: Things You Can Actually Buy!

August 2, 2023 by ppearls No Comments

It’s no secret that new seasons of Bluey are approaching Game of Thrones release fervor. At least anything before season...

Things We Love

Unleashing Creativity: The Magic of Open-Ended Toys for Young Children

June 26, 2023 by ppearls No Comments

Hey there, fellow parents and toy enthusiasts! Today, we’re diving into the wonderful world of open-ended toys and why they...

Things We Love

The Benefits of Magnetic Tiles

June 12, 2023 by ppearls No Comments

We liked to buy ours from several places, but namely:Connetix at Happy Monkey Miami, Why and Whale, Yes Bebe (UK)Picasso...

Motherhood

Mother’s Day 2023

May 14, 2023 by ppearls No Comments

Toy News

The Green Elephant in the Room

May 10, 2023 by ppearls 1 Comment

TLDR: I don’t own any GE products nor am I any version of a shareholder of the GE company itself....

Toy News

All the Ways to Influence: Brand Repping, Collab’ing, and Affiliate Marketing

August 4, 2022 by ppearls No Comments

This article has been stuck on the backburner for a year. It’s been on my mind since last fall, after...

Toy News

New Grimm’s Toys for 2022 / 2023

March 13, 2022 by ppearls No Comments

(all pictures and information are directly taken from Grimm’s own website – all credit is due to Grimm’s and I...

Things We Love

Spring has Sprung at The Mulberry Treehouse

February 23, 2022 by ppearls No Comments

Of all the internet friends I’ve “met”, Furkan has to be the nicest. But also, she has the best packaging...

Things We Love

An Epic Love Affair: the Artist’s Child Collection at Raduga Grez

February 9, 2022 by ppearls No Comments

When we are children, we have several sources to explain what love looks like: movies, books, our parents. As we...

Things We Love

January/Winter Waldorf Nature Table

January 6, 2022 by ppearls No Comments

This has been a labor of love. Creating something…anything… after the fervor of the holidays has always felt very draining....

Things We Love

Vesyolykh praznikaf! Happy Holidays with Skazki Dereva

December 22, 2021 by ppearls No Comments

TLDR: Skazki Dereva is a small toy shop, based in Russia.They specialize in Waldorf toys, especially as how they relate...

Things We Love

Winter Holiday Seasonal Table

December 5, 2021 by ppearls No Comments

Whatever you celebrate this season, here is a nature table/seasonal table that anyone can set up! Once traditionally the purview...

Toy News

Mouse-Gate – Part II: How Deep Does the Mouse Hole Go?

November 29, 2021 by ppearls 1 Comment

Necessary background information: Maileg is generally used to refer to the brand itself, but for our purposes we will distinguish...

Things We Love

Thanksgiving with The Natural Baby Co.

November 13, 2021 by ppearls No Comments

When I think about Thanksgiving, I think warmth and family. I think about loved ones around the dinner table. The...

Toy News

Don’t Buy the FORT this Holiday Season!

November 3, 2021 by ppearls 13 Comments

FORT and Conor B. Lewis declined repeated requests for comment. Did you expect something different? I know you’re used to...

Things We Love

Seasonal Table: Fall on the Farm

September 9, 2021 by ppearls No Comments

It’s PSL season again and I’m back with another low key fall seasonal table. As we get deeper and deeper...

Toy News

Why Are We Still Buying Maileg?

June 23, 2021 by ppearls 14 Comments

Sidenote: Please excuse misspellings and grammar issues. I wrote this as quickly as possible, so as to strike while the...

Things We Love

Raduga Grez and Cathedral: A Better Love Story than Doctor Zhivago

June 17, 2021 by ppearls 1 Comment

Cathedral is available at Happy Monkey Miami (Use FIRSTTEN for 10% off) “Sweepingly epic” was how Doctor Zhivago was described...

Things We Love

Seasonal Table: Summer at the Beach

June 4, 2021 by ppearls No Comments

I love the beach and I relish these early years where we can devote weeks on end to the subject...

Things We Love

The Beginner’s Introduction to Wooden Toys

May 20, 2021 by ppearls 2 Comments

I am not a big fan of “gift guides”. However, I was approached recently by an IG follower to create...

Toy News

Geo-Fencing: One Year On

May 11, 2021 by ppearls 5 Comments

This article is a follow-up to my previous article on the subject: “Grimm’s Wooden Toys & Geo-Fencing: Building a Wall...

Things We Love

Spring Seasonal Table

April 5, 2021 by ppearls No Comments

Supplied Used: Papoose “Spring” trees: Bella LunaMonarch Butterfly: Moth and MoonstoneCocoletes Weekly Calendar: Things They Love (check my in depth...

Things We Love

Don’t Sleep on Cocoletes

April 2, 2021 by ppearls No Comments

Cocoletes can be purchased at Things They Love. TTL is run by former Miami girl (extra points in my book),...

Things We Love

Saint Patrick’s Day Seasonal Table

March 1, 2021 by ppearls No Comments

Supplies Used: Grimm’s Natural 12 Piece Rainbow: The Natural Baby CompanyRainbow Topper, Rainbow Car/Rider: OliveyouandlouRainbow Road: Moth and MoonstoneAmbrosius Fairies:...

Things We Love

Balls: Deep Dive Into the Most Simple Wooden Toy

February 9, 2021 by ppearls No Comments

The Biggest in Balls Whether you’re building an epic marble run or setting up a bowling ball alley, one of...

Things We Love

Valentine’s Day Seasonal Table

February 3, 2021 by ppearls No Comments

Supplies Used: Enchanted Playsilk in “Blossom”: Sarah’s SilksWinter 2020 Playsilk in “Lambswool”: Sarah’s SilksScene of Children Playing: Included in part...

Things We Love

January’s “Old Man Winter” Seasonal Table

February 2, 2021 by ppearls No Comments

Here is a recap of our January seasonal table, which focused on Old Man Winter! Supplies Used: Grimm’s Spiel und...

Toy News

Spielwarenmesse Delayed until Summer 2021

January 16, 2021 by ppearls No Comments

Spielwarenmesse, also known as the Nuremburg Toy Fair, has been delayed until summer of this year. While previous fairs have...

Things We Love

The Top 10 Reasons to Buy the Sarah’s Silks Play Frame

December 21, 2020 by ppearls 4 Comments

Our home isn’t very Instagram friendly. Yellow walls that we haven’t painted yet, plus older crown moulding and a 1940’s...

Things We Love

Seasonal Table: Christmas

December 1, 2020 by ppearls 2 Comments

Of all the things COVID has taken from me thus far, I miss my parents and my in-laws the most....

Things We Love

Creating a Halloween Seasonal Table

October 25, 2020 by ppearls 26 Comments

Ah Waldorf seasonal tables…the reason I started exploring this pedagogy in the first place. What a lovely way to reflect...

Things We Love

How to BST Like a Boss: The Basics

October 12, 2020 by ppearls 3 Comments

So you’ve discovered the wild world of BST groups on Facebook. And to your surprise, there are actually several for...

Things We Love

Wooden Rainbow Stackers 101

September 6, 2020 by ppearls 2 Comments

So, you’ve converted to Woodtoyism and you’re ready for your christening? You’re ready to commit to your first wooden rainbow...

Things We Love

The Most Overlooked Grimm’s Treasure: Rainbow Frames

August 16, 2020 by ppearls 3 Comments

Links updated 8/2023 Usually the first $100 you spend on a Grimm’s product is for a 10 or 12 piece...

Things We Love

Why Is There So Much Hype Around Big Brands?

August 4, 2020 by ppearls 2 Comments

This is a guest post by Olga Luciani, founder of PoppyBabyCo. Read more about her here. When it comes down...

Things We Love

The 5 Etsy Makers You Need to Favorite Right Now for Christmas

July 18, 2020 by ppearls 2 Comments

If you’ve been in the wooden toy world for any length of time you know that preparation is half the...

Toy News

Grapat and the Evolving Market of Wooden Toys

June 22, 2020 by ppearls 4 Comments

Let’s get it out of the way – I love Grapat. Grapat makes up a huge portion of my daughter’s...

Toy News

Grimm’s Wooden Toys & Geo-Fencing: Building a Wall to Keep Americans Out

May 17, 2020 by ppearls 26 Comments

Geo fence: A geofence is a virtual perimeter for a real-world geographic area.“Geo-Fence”, Wikipedia.org, 2020 May 16 It started off...

Lesson Plans

Family: 4 Activities to Make Your Toddler Smile

March 1, 2020 by ppearls No Comments

I so enjoyed our Valentine’s Day activities and I didn’t want to let go of that love theme we’d been...

Lesson Plans

3 Easy Activities for Your Little Valentine

February 12, 2020 by ppearls No Comments

This is a tiny article! While most of our themes take place over several weeks, I decided to devote only...

Lesson Plans

Winter Fun: 7 Activities to Help with Cabin Fever

February 6, 2020 by ppearls No Comments

Sensory Bin: Alphabet Snow World Before I put away our Christmas village, I decided to make a winter wonderland sensory bin....

Toy News

The Silent Controversy at Spielwarenmesse

February 4, 2020 by ppearls 5 Comments

It was in early fall I started to read about Spielwarenmesse. All the parents “in the know” were counting down...

Things We Love

The Problem with Grimm’s Wooden Toys

January 27, 2020 by ppearls 2 Comments

The scope of the frenzied market of wooden toys is hard to ascertain while you’re in it. As a consumer,...

Things We Love

Chickadees Wooden Toys – The Only Etsy Store You Need This Christmas

November 26, 2019 by ppearls No Comments

Take advantage of the special deal for Piedmont Pearls’ readers. Use the code PIEDMONT10 on Chickadees Wooden Toys’ Etsy store...

Motherhood

Vacation Playtime Hacks

November 15, 2019 by ppearls No Comments

There are a kajillion articles on how to get your baby through a transcontinental flight or how to pack all...

Lesson Plans

Autumn Activities: A Comprehensive List

November 6, 2019 by ppearls 1 Comment

Aside from Saint Patrick’s Day, this is one of my most favorite times of year for celebrations. I decided to...

Things We Love

An Honest Review of PicassoTiles’ Magnetic Drawing Board (PTB01)

October 9, 2019 by ppearls No Comments

The Takeaway Picasso Tiles’ Magnetic Drawing Board is a mess-free, easy to use, STEM-oriented way to practice pre-writing skills and...

Lesson Plans

Fairy Tales/Fantasy: The Ultimate Activity Guide

October 8, 2019 by ppearls No Comments

Fine Motor: Build the Castle Fairy princesses and brave knights need strong castles to defend. Or destroy. With a toddler...

Lesson Plans

Let’s Go Camping!

September 18, 2019 by ppearls No Comments

Over a dozen camping activities to do with your toddler or little one!

Lesson Plans

All About Me: Activities for Children

August 28, 2019 by ppearls 2 Comments

This blog post has over a dozen quick and budget friendly activities that will help your preschooler learn more about...

Lesson Plans

Follow Us Into the Rainforest

August 9, 2019 by ppearls 1 Comment

When my lovely follower won my Facebook giveaway, she had suggested a tropical beach or rainforest sensory bin, in keeping...

Lesson Plans

Learning Colors Somewhere Over the Rainbow

July 25, 2019 by ppearls No Comments

This has been by far one of my favorite lessons with my daughter. We jumped head-first into all things rainbow...

Motherhood

Why I Stopped Returning My OB’s Phone Calls

July 5, 2019 by ppearls No Comments

I was eight weeks post-partum. My abdomen still ached where the c-section scar was slowly forming. My head was throbbing...

Lesson Plans

The Quick and Easy Guide to Sensory Bottles

July 2, 2019 by ppearls 1 Comment

Shake it!

Lesson Plans

Sensory Play Guide: Beach Babies

June 30, 2019 by ppearls No Comments

Bring the beach to your living room!

Lesson Plans

Toddler’s Guide to Transportation

June 8, 2019 by ppearls No Comments

Vroom! Vroom!

Motherhood

Choose Kindness

June 2, 2019 by ppearls No Comments

A plea to end mom-shaming

Motherhood

Beginner’s Guide to Loose Parts

May 29, 2019 by ppearls No Comments

This open-ended concept is sure to fire up your child's imagination!

Lesson Plans

Bugs!

May 21, 2019 by ppearls No Comments

Creepy theme. Fun activities!

Lesson Plans

An Exploration of Mexico

May 13, 2019 by ppearls No Comments

We examine maps, flags, and all things Frida Kahlo.

Lesson Plans

Earth Week

May 6, 2019 by ppearls No Comments

A week dedicated to the world around us!

Lesson Plans

Fun on the Farm!

April 30, 2019 by ppearls No Comments

A week of fun activities down on the farm.

Healthy Things

Crock Pot Honey Balsamic Pork Tenderloin

April 29, 2019 by ppearls No Comments

You're going to want to drink the sauce straight out of the Crock Pot!

Lesson Plans, Motherhood

Five Essential Tools to Begin Sensory Play

April 28, 2019 by ppearls No Comments

I made it easy for you!

Healthy Things

Baked Lemon Garlic Chicken

April 22, 2019 by ppearls No Comments

One of the staples in my clean-eating menu!

Lesson Plans

Easter Fun

April 20, 2019 by ppearls No Comments

Nothing like sharing a sugar coma with the whole family!

Lesson Plans

A Week of Music!

April 7, 2019 by ppearls No Comments

My attempt at teaching Vicky about her "inside voice".

Healthy Things

Low Carb Egg Roll in a Bowl

April 2, 2019 by ppearls No Comments

Never order Chinese food again!

Motherhood

The Epic List of “Play at Home” Moms!

April 1, 2019 by ppearls No Comments

Imitation is the highest form of flattery, right?!

Domestic Engineering, Healthy Things

Why Every Mother Needs a Sous Vide

March 29, 2019 by ppearls 1 Comment

Sous Vide means "under vacuum" in French. But don't worry, there's no cleaning needed!

Domestic Engineering

They Should’ve Called it Home Chemistry, Part 1: Ionic, Polar, and Nonpolar Cleaning Agents

March 26, 2019 by ppearls No Comments

Because water and oil just don't mix!

Lesson Plans

Spring has Sprung!

by ppearls No Comments

No one told me about the bugs in North Carolina.

Healthy Things

Instant Pot Bean-Less Chili

March 23, 2019 by ppearls No Comments

It's getting hot in here!

Lesson Plans

St. Patrick’s Day

March 20, 2019 by ppearls No Comments

I-rish I was a little bit taller...

Lesson Plans

Caterpillars and Butterflies

March 18, 2019 by ppearls No Comments

My autobiography as an insect.

Motherhood

Sippy Cups: Sip, Sip, Hooray?

January 18, 2019 by ppearls No Comments

Because switching to cow's milk wasn't hard enough!

Motherhood

Why are you here?

January 2, 2019 by ppearls No Comments

I'll answer this in a a concise five paragraph essay.

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