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About me

I PARENT. I TEACH. I MAKE.
I’m Mommy to three adorable boys, Wife to King Phekus, and Professor to many a college student studying reading education. Since earning my doctoral degree, my research has focused on elementary students’ informational reading and tablet/mobile reading comprehension. I have been featured in Real Simple magazine, Men’s Fitness, NPR, The New York Times Motherlode column, Education Week, USA Today, and others.
I have a strong creative spirit, and choose direct my energy into DIY projects for the home, kids, and garden. Look around the blog and you will find lots of ways to make a house a home with materials you may already have around the house!

Bud is an eleven-year old obsessed with sports (especially soccer), math, and brain-bending puzzles.

Little Guy is a very active and smily 9-year-old. Nicknamed “Little Guy” as Bud frequently greeted him as a baby, “Hey, Little Guy. How you (sic) today?” He loves acting class, toys, video games, arts and crafts, and most of all, SLOTHS.

Chookie is our 6 year old. He spends his life trying to keep up with his bothers. He loves soccer, animals, Star Wars, cars, and robots!

My husband, coined King Phekus by our local Ace Hardware employee for his lack of the ‘Midas Touch’, is a college English professor. Some might say they fell in love with their spouse for their sense of humor or sparkling eyes, but I knew King Phekus was the one for me upon seeing his dictionary stand for the first time.