Ashley Bass
Ashley is a ‘small town’ girl who moved to the ‘big city’ of Cedar Rapids after high school. A graduate of Coe College, Ashley is currently a kindergarten teacher and a true lover of yoga pants, cozy sweatshirts, chai tea lattes and cookie dough. Ashley and her husband, Mitch, first met each other back in middle school, dated when they were freshmen in high school, then reconnected one final time via Facebook back in 2006 shortly after Mitch returned from his first deployment. They've stood by their vows of ‘for better or worse,’ and as they approach their 10 year wedding anniversary, they aren’t afraid to admit that marriage isn’t easy. They welcomed their first child, Stella Grace Bass, in May of 2013 and their second child, Archer Mitchell Bass, in December of 2017!
I’ll Do All I Can to Enjoy The Magic of Christmas While it Lasts
I remember when I found out the truth about Santa Claus.
I was in third grade. A group of classmates and I were sitting at a table in the back of the room when a...
Even With All We’ve Been Through, We Can Still Be Thankful
Oh 2020. The year that just keeps on giving, even when we wish it would stop.
2020 has, unfortunately, brought with it a lot of pain and sadness for many people, me included. And as...
Enjoy the Great Outdoors! Best Places to Camp with Kids Near Cedar Rapids
"A-camping we will go!"
Families love camping together for many different reasons. You might love how it allows you to connect with nature and disconnect from technology. Or you might feel as though it’s a...
Back to School: A New Outlook on In-Person Learning
On Monday, August 24th, my daughter headed back to school for in-person learning.
Like many others, it was her first day back in over five months. Thursday, March 12th was the last day she was...
Friendship Makes Life More Beautiful: A Tribute to My Girlfriends
“A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you just the way you are.” - Bernard Meltzer
In honor of ‘National Girlfriends Day’ which was on August 1st...this one’s...
Hiking With Kids: Trails to Explore in Cedar Rapids and Eastern Iowa
“Children still need a childhood with dirt, mud, puddles, trees, sticks, and tadpoles.” - Brooke Hampton
I couldn’t agree more. Being outdoors and exploring nature provides something for everyone in the family. There are countless...
The Last Time
Recently, I came across a poem while I was scrolling through my phone. The title was the first thing that caught my attention; it was called The Last Time. The caption said, If you’re...
Stop Stressing About School: Let Your Kids Be Kids
Why are we making the idea of “homeschooling” such a priority right now?
Lately, there has been so much time and focus put into the idea that our responsibility now is to “homeschool” our children....
Hectic Morning Hacks: How to Get Out the Door On Time
The flow of the morning can set the tone for your entire day. This is especially true on weekday mornings when getting where you need to be, whether it’s work, school or the bus...
Be My Valentine: Kid-Friendly Valentine’s Day Ideas
Hearts, flowers, chocolates, oh my! Valentine’s Day may be known as the ‘romantic’ holiday, but that doesn’t mean it only has to be about romance toward our significant others. In all honesty, my husband...