Planning for Parenthood

Planning on entering the parenthood? We've got some tips on what to plan for as you plan for parenthood.

How To Survive a Trip to Disneyland

Four tips for making the most out of your trip to Disneyland!

New Parents & Life Insurance: What You Need to Know

Sometimes the devastatingly unexpected happens, make things easier for your family by having plans in place.

Ideas for Teaching Your Children Financial Literacy

Tips for teaching your children financial literacy at every age and stage.

Bold & Beautiful Kids’ Rooms

If you ask a kid what their favorite color is, chances are the answer isn't eggshell. Why should your child's bedroom be limited to sparse neutrals? We've got some ways to liven up a kid's bedroom whi...

How to Throw the Ultimate Family Movie Night

Take things to the next level for your next Family Movie Night at home!

4 Ways to Keep Your Family Healthy Every Day, Even During the Pandemic

Being and staying healthy is certainly our number 1 priority during life in a pandemic, let's talk 4 ways you can help bolster your family's health every day.

Swimming & Pregnancy, What You Need to Know

Pregnant women are recommended to get at least 30 minutes of moderate aerobic activity per day to decrease discomfort and build stamina for labor and delivery. Swimming can be a wonderful way to keep...

8 Awesome Activities Your Whole Family Will Enjoy

Families that spend leisure time together develop memories that last a lifetime. Check out these 8 activities the whole family will enjoy!

10 Free STEM Resources Available to K-12 Students During COVID-19

Whether you're looking to avoid the summer slump, find a camp replacement, or have a STEM-interested kid, these 10 (free) STEM resources are an excellent place to start!

Tips for Your Young Adult and their 1st Apartment

These tips aim to help set your young adult up for success as they prepare to embark on the adventure of their first apartment.

Explaining COVID-19 to Kids: 'Kelly Stays Home'

'Kelly Stays Home: The Science of Coronavirus' aims to make some of the scientific principles clear and easy for parents and kids to understand in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

How to Get Your Kids to Happily Do Their Chores

Getting your children to do their chores doesn't have to be a daily struggle. With a bit of creativity and some bright ideas, you can turn tasks into a natural or even fun part of their daily routine....

Green Living: Turn Your Home into a Sustainable Sanctuary

Tips for turning your home into a sustainable sanctuary.

Wise Wonders Charts New Territory

New spaces and new ideas at Wise Wonders aims to engage kids of all ages (including the young at heart).

Left-Brained Kids Need the Arts

It was Albert Einstein, who said, "The greatest scientists are artists as well." and “Imagination is more important than knowledge.”

Date Your Mate

When it comes to dating your mate, it’s not about how much money you spend or how fancy it is. It’s about the time, attention, reconnection; the little things like holding the doors and holding hands....

Caring for Your Marriage

As time marches on, sometimes we need a little reminder to put caring for our relationships at the forefront.

National Dress Up Your Pet Day

January 14 is National Dress Up Your Pet Day, a perfect bright spot in the middle of the winter doldrums!

Behind the Social Media Smokescreen

Behind every #blessed there is a life being lived that goes far beyond what is shared on social media.
And that's okay.

Battling the Busy

The phrase "culture of busyness" turns up dozens of results on a Google search, with most articles explaining why none of us are really happy with our harried lifestyles. Like a hamster on a wheel, we...

Winter Craft: Coat Hanger Snowflakes

Winter temps giving the kids cabin fever? These coat hanger snowflakes are super cute, cheap to make, and a breeze to put together!

Your 2019 Billings Christmas Lights Bucket List

Don't miss a stop on your quest to take in the best and brightest Christmas lights!

20 Outside of the Box Gift Ideas for Your Family

Have a hard-to-shop for person (or two) on your list? Check out these 20 outside of the box gift ideas for the fam!

Christmas with Carrie: Styled Stockings

Get inspired to deck your halls with some creative cues from designer Carrie Klein.

Saving for College

It's always a good time to save for college, let's talk the 529 College Savings Plan.

Gifts Made Simple

3 DIY Christmas gifts that are not only quick and easy to make, but absolute delights!

Ask the Author: Q&A with Cathy Ringler

A Q&A with author Cathy Ringler, getting to know her and her must-read middle-grade book, 'Miya's Dream.'

Woman to Watch: Emily Hannaman

No matter where you find Emily – at home raising her boys, in the yard collecting eggs, on the job supporting new moms – her passion is the same, and it’s contagious. She radiates a love of others and...

The Gift of Health: CrossFit Billings

Allow yourself to become, as the CrossFit Billings motto says, “better than yesterday.” Why wait until January to get healthy? Give yourself the gift of health this holiday season.

Christmas: Non-Tradition Tradition

Sometimes taking the pressure off the holidays by embracing the non-tradition tradition, is just what the doctor ordered.

SFM's 2019 Holiday Gift Guide

Simply Family Magazine proudly presents our 8th Annual Holiday Gift Guide, supporting the local businesses that are the heart of the community in which we live.

Christmas Through the Years: Ages & Stages

The way we celebrate Christmas goes through many transformations, depending on what age, phase, and stage our family is currently in. The key is to...

Your Guide for Managing the Holidays

This holidays might be a magical time, but more often than not, they're also super stressful, so let's talk tips for managing the holidays.

Homework Habits: Motivating Kids

With the hustle and bustle, magic and fun of the holidays, motivation for completing homework can be lacking. Here are some tips for getting back in the homework habit.

10 Ways You Can Help Out A New Mom

Wondering how best to support a new mama in your life? Check out these 10 ways to help her feel seen, heard, and helped.

Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipe Roundup

Give these three not quite so-traditional side dishes a whirl this holiday season!

4 Powerful Benefits of Letting Your Child Make Mistakes

In parenting, it's essential that we take off the training wheels and allow our children to make mistakes.

Our Top 5 Trails in Billings, MT

The Backpacking Blotskes walk us through 5 of their favorite family-friendly hiking trails in Billings, MT.

4 Fun Activities to do this Fall as a Family

Fall is ripe with family fun opportunities. Check out these 4 fall activities that are perfect for the entire family!

Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice

You know fall is in the air with the arrival of all things pumpkin spice. If seasons have smells and flavors, that is certainly autumn’s claim to fame.

Staying Safe While Trick-Or-Treating

Halloween and trick-or-treating are oodles of fun, but don't forget to brush up on these safety tips with the kids before hitting the neighborhood.

A Creative, Colorful Charcuterie Board Dazzles in Any Season

Impress any crowd with these easy, yet creative and colorful Charcuterie Boards. Perfect for any gathering in any season.

Surviving the Homework Battles

When school nights are dominated by backpack explosions and big emotions, how can you survive the Battle of the Homework?

Smarter Push-Ups

3 push-up progressions that are better than push-ups from the knees.

Halloween

All things Halloween. From classroom treats and costume ideas to all kinds of trick-or-treating goodness.

Tickets for 7th Annual Polar Express on Sale in November

Get your tickets for the 2019 Polar Express at Billings Depot early! (They sell out fast!)

3 Halloween Class Party Treat Ideas

Turn classic snacks and treats into haunting Halloween eats for your kiddo's classroom party!

Harvest Spinach and Pecan Salad Recipe

This blue ribbon-winning is the perfect autumn salad, it can easily stand alone as a meat-free meal, but is also an excellent side dish.

DIY: T-shirt Rug

Create this DIY t-shirt rug with your teen!

Distracted Driving

Keeping our eyes on the road has never been more of a challenge for newly licensed drivers and seasoned veterans alike. Even a glance at our phones to check a text message or search for a song on Spot...

Dear Younger Me

With the benefit of hindsight, a high school student and college student share letters to their younger selves.

2019 Teens to Watch

Introducing 2019's Teens to Watch!

2019 Simply Amazing Teen: Kyra Brockhausen

Introducing 2019's Simply Amazing Teen: Kyra Brockhausen, senior at Billings Central Catholic High School.

Finding My Post High School Path

It might have been a winding road to discovering it's okay to NOT know what you want to be when you grow up, but discover it, he did.

A Letter to My Teenage Son

As the writer prepares to send her oldest out into the "real world," she's compiled her best advice for him (whether he reads it or not).

Instant Pot Chili Mac

This Instant Pot Chili Mac is the perfect fall recipe as the cooler weather sets in. Fast, easy, yummy!

Staying Strong While Dealing with Knee Pain

One out of every three Americans will suffer from knee pain at some point in their lives. Granite Health + Fitness offers these 4 tips on modifying your training while dealing with knee pain.

Sheet Pan Meal: Maple Glazed Salmon with Sweet Potato and Green Beans

This sheet pan meal is easy to put together, a breeze to clean up, and delicious AND healthy! What more can you ask for on a busy fall day?

DIY Customizable LEGO Monogram

Make this fun customizable LEGO monogram for the LEGO lover in your life!

25 Handmade Gifts of Christmas (Part 4)

25 Handmade Gifts of Christmas (Part 3)

25 Handmade Gifts of Christmas (Part 2)

2nd Annual SteamFest at Billings Depot

Back for its second year, SteamFest is a collaborative community event bringing fun, hands-on STEAM education activities to the kids and their families.

2019 Parade of Homes

Giving you a sneak peek at what's to come in this year's Parade of Homes!

Fun finds giveaway

Enter here for a chance to win this month's fun find giveaway

September 2019 Family Fun Freebies

Just because school is back in session, doesn't mean the family fun freebies stop!

Toddler Tantrums

Here’s an easy topic to tackle! The solution is simple, one-size-fits-all, and guaranteed to work every time…Except on every day that ends in “Y” and for every parent who has a toddler. Which begs the question: How do we tackle those tantrums?

A Healthy Delight: Strawberry Spinach Salad

A recipe made for beating the summer heat: Strawberry Spinach Salad.

Memory-Makers: Your Guide to a Night Under the Stars

Create lifelong memories with family stargazing this summer.

Unique Family Game Night Ideas

You won't regret bringing family game night into the mix.

Fun finds giveaway

Enter here for a chance to win this month's fun find giveaway

Back to School

All of SFM's back to school resources in one place! From 1st day and readiness to shopping and lunchbox-creating (with a splash of humor added for fun).

7 Benefits of Making Active Play and Organized Sports a Priority

Finding a way to channel the copious amounts of energy kids possess can be a challenge. A great solution is making active play a priority in your child's life, whether it's at home or via organized sports.

Hearty Smoked Mac and Cheese Recipe

Smoked macaroni and cheese is a hearty side dish you can throw in the smoker with your meat/main dish to fill it up. It’s a double win - you get optimal use of your wood/smoke by filling up the smoker and you get a delicious side dish.

The Voices Among Us

Voices Among Us: We believe a voice can carry with it wisdom, impact, strength, influence, persuasion, love, and passion, and we've selected several influential voices from within our community to be a part of this exclusive project.

Favorite 4th of July Recipes

From desserts to dips, these three recipes will make your 4th of July festivities pop this year!

How to Keep Your Home Safe for Your Kids

Your home is a safe haven for your family, or at least it should be. While you may think that your home is a perfectly safe place for your kids, there are many different things that you can do to make and keep your home safe through all of your kids' ages and stages.

Summer Reading Recommendations for ages 6-12

Discover what the book experts are recommending for your kids' summer reading list!

How to Monitor and Keep Your Kids Safe on Social Media

For today's parents, deciding how to best track their kids' online adventures and relationships is a crucial piece of the parenting puzzle. "Stalking" might feel tempting, when "monitoring" might just be the key.

Kid Tested, Mom Approved: Fruit Pizza Recipe

This delicious summer dessert is kid tested, mom approved! The kids love it so much they inhale fruit like you’ve never seen and you feel a little bit like you are #winning.

Father's Day Treat: Oreo Crust Cheesecake

Create a Father's Day delight with this easy Oreo Crust Cheesecake, topped with dad's favorite berries!

What to Consider When Buying Your Teen Their First Car

With equal parts pride and worry at play as your teen proudly grips their driver's license, check out these tips for buying your teen their first car.

Going Old School: Introducing the Kids to the Totally Radical ‘80s/’90s

Have you introduced your kids to your childhood favorites? The '80s and '90s were totally tubular - some things have gone the distance, even if the lingo hasn't.

Mom’s Summer Reading List

Let us help you fill out your summer reading list with these 5 (okay, technically 7) must-reads.

Summer Schedules and Chore Charts

Summertime might be more chillaxy-relaxy, but a revamped schedule and chore charts can go a long way to keeping mom's sanity intact.

Creative Ways to Avoid the Summer Slump

We're talking 7 creative solutions to avoiding the summer slump; don't let your kiddos lose everything they gained this school year!

A Smokin’ Summer Recipe: Brisket

Smoked to perfection, a summer recipe for brisket.

Thank You, Mom

Those moments in your own mothering journey that make you realize you never fully appreciated everything your mom did for your family growing up...

Marriage in the Midst of Motherhood

How can we keep our marriages alive amid motherhood? This question has many facets. I will attempt to share a few simple, but effective tools we’ve used to keep our foundation strong.

CK Tech Security

Whether you’re a small business owner or homeowner CK Tech provides a number of services.

From House to Home

“On this project, I truly feel that I took a house, and after working with my clients for many months, we created a home, ” says Tiffany Davidson Blades or Davidson Design.

Love, Adoption, Loss, and Hope

“How am I supposed to raise our kids by myself?” she asked. This May marks Jodi Blakeslee‘s second Mother’s Day as a single mom.

Trauma Nurse Talks Helmets

One of the biggest ways you can keep yourself and your family safe is to wear a helmet for activities that are prone to head injury.

DIY: Morse Code Bracelet

Mother’s Day is on its way, and this DIY is the best present a mom could ask for. Morse Code bracelets and necklaces are popping up everywhere, and it is so easy to make a secret message just for her.

Girl Scouts: Beyond the Cookie

Cookie sales support experiences that empower girls, on top of providing an entrepreneurial practice that builds confidence and communication skills.

Paying for College

As parents, we want to give our children the best start in life, beginning with stocking the nursery with top-notch toys and books, to starting them off right in early adulthood.

Faith, Family, Flowers

When you step into A&E Floral, it’s as if you’ve stepped through a portal. You are greeted with a friendly welcome, a beautiful trove of treasures, and an abundance of stunning, fragrant floral arrangements.

The Backpacking Blotskes

For Jamie Blotske, growing up in the small town of Columbus, Montana meant a childhood of hiking, camping, white water rafting, and plenty of fishing.

Support System

In celebration of National Nurses Week (May 6-12), we’re featuring five women at Yellowstone Surgery Center who are leading and caring for the nurses in their departments.

Potty Training 101

When it comes to potty training, our kids each have their own quirks, but one local mom has come up with a method worth trying.

Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Mother's Day gift ideas

The Dad Life in 2019

Exploring what the dad life looks like in 2019 with Billings dad, Jeremy Vogel.

2019 VBS Directory

Your guide to Vacation Bible Schools happening in and around our community!

June 2019 Family Fun Freebies

Your guide to family fun freebies happening around Billings this June.

7 Benefits of Making Play and Organized Sports a Priority

Finding a way to channel the copious amounts of energy kids possess can be a challenge.

5 Dog Breeds Perfect for Your Young Family

Bringing a pet into the home can be both exciting and stressful. It's important to pick a breed that is well known for doing well with children of all ages.

Last Day of School Celebrations

We’ve made it!

Bedroom Makeover: From Kid to Tween

In making the transition from the "kid" room to the "tween/teen" room, having your kid's input is key to this bedroom makeover.

Camping Hacks

Check out these camping hacks, from what to eat to how to stay organized, that will make your family's outdoor adventure easier.

Smokin' for the Summer

Summer's answer to winter's Instant Pot: the Smoker. We're talking tips for choosing the right smoker, wood, rubs, and seasonings.

DIY: Table Top Fire Pit

Everyone has room for this fun table top fire pit. More S'mores, please!

2019 4th of July Celebrations

Your guide to 4th of July festivities in and beyond Billings!

The Price of Beauty

The price of beauty...“What a waste,” she said. My friend revealed that at that moment, she was struck with what she was wasting by wanting to be a different size. It cost her living in the moment now.

Firefly Outdoor Movie Company

Enjoy some free family fun under the stars with Firefly Outdoor Movie Company and their summer Movies in the Parks series.

Playtime Paradise

Create summers to remember when you bring to life your own playtime paradise in the backyard.

United Nations of Billings

The "United Nations of Billings" was formed off of a growing group tied by a common thread,they were from different countries - creating a new life in Montana.

Dad Time

Time spent with dad is vital to our children, and dads knowing their kids is enriching and life-giving.

Diamonds: A Dad’s Best Friend

Diamonds, a dad's best friend? We think yes.