All the Bright Ideas

My kids got lucky this year-- I snagged a last-minute gummy candy advent calendar for half off at Target last weekend. A true win. Because the completion rate for gummy candy in this house is 100%. I would bet my firstborn on it. (Also: I’ll have to stash each day’s gummy in a secret cabinet because my two-year-old has developed ninja-level stealth. Pray for me.) Then the genius woman that I am thought, “ ” And just like that… a plan was hatched. What challenges, you ask? Oh,

Kids think appreciation means saying “thank you”—but during the holidays, when parents and teachers are overloaded, that’s not enough. I teach kids how to actually notice the invisible work happening around them. This post breaks down four simple ways kids can show real appreciation and includes a free 12-day activity to make the season easier for families and classrooms.

And if there’s anything I want them to take with them into the world, it’s that they are capable of handling hard things — with a plan, not panic.

I’m Tired. I’m Energized. I’m Doing the Thing Anyway. Today almost took me out. I spent over two hours trying to add a pop-up to my website, and at one point I honestly thought, “Okay, cool, this is how it ends, death by Wix.” It’s noon. I haven’t eaten breakfast. I’m standing in my kitchen taking a bite of my two year old's mac n’ cheese that I served in a plastic container because the sink is full of dishes and I refuse to wash even one. Meanwhile, I’m clicking and dragging

You never really know when your “someday” idea will become your today. For years, I’d talked about creating a growth mindset workbook for kids. I had the ideas, the outlines, the plans — but they never quite came together. Then, this fall, something shifted. I finally sat down, got started, and even reached out to a local self-publishing company to help me bring it to life. I was doing it — after years of talking about it, I was actually in motion. But as I worked on the cont

Join Karla on the journey of creating Lightbulb Journals—a cozy corner for parents, teachers, and coaches to explore growth mindset, confidence, and the real process of helping kids find their light.