Hey there, I’m Katie!
Welcome to Mud Pies with Sprinkles, a little nook where I share wholesome kid-friendly recipes developed for little hands to help, simple nature crafts designed to get your family outside in God’s beautiful creation, and along the way provide play-based learning activities.
About Me
I’m just your average mom who loves her husband and her babies. My days are filled with homemaking, teaching, and playing alongside my two beautiful girls.
I love watching the sunrise. I can find any excuse to get outside. You can find me dragging my husband on hikes, fishing on our purple boat, swinging with my kids, crafting with nature, chasing my chickens, reading a good book, or often barefoot in the garden with a kid in tow. Oh, I also love coffee. A lot.
I am in the season of life where there are sprinkles on the kitchen counter, glitter on the dining room table and stickers on my hardwood floors. And sticks…leaves…pinecones all through the house. And I LOVE it.
Pediatric PT to Stay at Home Mom
Most of my life has been very focused on education and striving to help kids whether as a therapist, volunteer or friend. I have a Doctorate of Physical Therapy and have worked as a pediatric physical therapist in various settings such as early intervention, pediatric outpatient, and neonatal intensive care unit. The year of the pandemic revealed a new dream. A dream that completely fills my heart’s desires. I left the medical field to come home and be a stay at home mom.
After being a stay at home mom for a year, I wanted to get back into writing and using my knowledge to help moms and caregivers. I want to share kid-friendly recipes, crafts and activities that help families bond and grow stronger together. I am a mom first and then a therapist. So, my posts are soaked with love for my kids and steeped with knowledge of child development. My hope is to walk alongside you as you cook, craft, and play with your children, providing ways that are simple, budget-friendly and fun.
As I develop this blog, I ask for grace and patience. I’m working during tiny windows and hustling during naps to try to make this blog into something that is valuable for you. I have to start somewhere but I do hope this gives you a view of where Mud Pies with Sprinkles is headed.
Why I created my blog?
If I’m not intentional with my day, the teachable moments escape and chaos creeps in. I find that our home runs best when my kiddos are provided with opportunities to develop their cooking skills, to read adventure-filled books, and to create something beautiful in the sun.
Preventing the chaos takes planning. My desire is to help you foster these opportunities with your children by providing you simple recipes and crafts.
What can I Find on this Blog?
Simple Nature Crafts
Do not underestimate what you can find in your home, backyard or nearby park. The crafts here are simple and mostly focus on nature. I hope these crafts get you exploring outdoors and strengthening your creative muscles. Some things that are great to build your craft box include colorful tissue paper, toilet paper rolls, buttons, yarn, rags, fun glass containers, cardboard and other objects that get your crafty thoughts rolling. Clearance racks and thrift stores are a great place to build a crafty toolbox.
So grab some recycled goods and let’s just add nature.
Kid-Friendly Recipes
What better way to teach your child a life skill than to teach them to cook! The recipes on this blog are kid-friendly with a focus on using whole foods. Often from scratch. Do not let that scare you. It is so fun to learn something new and make a mess. I am here to make it easy. Take this as a challenge and get that fun flour pic.
Play-Based Learning Activities
Playing is learning. As a Pediatric Physical Therapist, my job is to help kids excel at their job. A kid’s job is playing. Play offers a child the opportunity to problem-solve, explore surroundings, use muscles, develop body and safety awareness, process sensory input and MORE.
This blog was created to come alongside you as we journey together to find beauty and creativity in all the little moments whether it is cooking a simple recipe, crafting a bird feeder, or sitting under the shade tree reading a good book. I hope you find my blog positively helpful.