So today is the first day of summer break 2023.

The first couple of days are a delicate balance, right? I want to let the girls decompress a little so I try to keep things moving at a slower pace.

But on the same hand, I want to set the expectation for the summer to be something besides two blobs laying around double screening 24/7.

I’m also still acclimating to this SAHM version of summer. Up until 2 years ago, I was working outside the home full time and the girls went off to their summer after-school program. I didn’t have to provide all the structure in our day.

What I have figured out is to make the girls an active part of planning our summer plans. I think it’s a pretty understood parenting principle that involving kids in decisions helps with the buy-in and follow-through of those decisions.

So today I will give the girls each this Summer Bucket List printable {below}. They can brainstorm anything and everything they would like to make part of their summer break. The sky’s the limit!!

I know Leah has been itching to learn cross stitch. Brooke wants to find ways to make some money. We’ll have a couple of weeks in Michigan visiting family and Brooke can’t wait to camp while we’re there. Both girls have signed up for our Girl Scout Council’s Summer Reading club so I’m sure library visits will be a regular occurrence.

And I anticipate that some of the items on their list won’t be feasible – whether due time, distance, finances, etc. But we’ll talk those things out and see where compromises can be made.

If you’d like to get feedback from your kids about what they’d like to include in their summer break adventures, I’m offering my Summer Bucket List printable to you for free!

What is on YOUR summer bucket list???

The post ‘Twas the First Day of Summer Break…(FREE SUMMER BUCKET LIST PRINTABLE!) appeared first on Tired Mommy Tales.

I’m going to share with you the system I created that works like a charm!

My troop has used this cookie booth signup method for many years and it works great for us.

I’ve used other sign-up programs like the one in BAND (which I LOVE for troop communication) but I just really love this Google Sheet version. It is easily available to families and everyone can see changes in real time.

This template is also easily customized to work for your troop and how you run your booths. Some simple adjustments include:

• Adding rows & columns
• Deleting rows & columns
• Omitting the color coding
• Changing the color coding
• Tracking sales per booth
• NOT tracking sales per booth

If you need help with customizing the template for your situation or have trouble accessing it, drop a comment below and I’ll do my best to help you out!

Click here to get the Girl Scout Cookie Booth Signup template: Girl Scout Cookie Booth Signup Google Sheet Template

I hope this template works well for your troop and that you have a relatively stress-free but successful Girl Scout Cookie Sale!!

Remember – while the funds raised through the Cookie Sale are vital to running our troops the main purpose of the sale is to allow our Girl Scouts to learn and practice the 5 Selling Skills!! If they are learning and having fun, we are doing our jobs!!

The post Girl Scout Cookie Booth Signup – Google Sheet Template appeared first on Tired Mommy Tales.

Today is Melanoma Monday.

Melanoma Monday was founded by the American Academy of Dermatology in the early 1980s to encourage sun safety leading up to the summer months.

I’m thankful that there is not much to share when it comes to my experience with melanoma.

If you’re new to my melanoma story, here’s a quick recap:

Melano-not me

Post Procedure Update

All Clear

And an embarrassingly crappy, old YouTube video:

I am now 12 years post-diagnosis and I’ve very happy to report that I’ve had no reoccurrence. I’ve maintained 6-month checkups for most of that time and recently my dermatologist and I decided we could knock those back to every 8 months.

I’ve had a few biopsies here and there – some in more painful spots than others – but my philosophy is that I’d rather have an uncomfortable biopsy that comes back negative than miss something that becomes a bigger problem.

As always, I encourage you to do what you can to prevent skin cancer, learn to do self-exams, and see your dermatologist regularly.

Early detection made a HUGE difference in the outcome of my melanoma. So I will be a broken record the rest of my life shouting that message from the rooftops!!!!

When was your last visit to the dermatologist for a skin cancer screening?

The post Melanoma Monday is Here Again appeared first on Tired Mommy Tales.

Dollywood opens for its 36th season today for season passholders and tomorrow for non-passholders!  I couldn’t be more excited about the changes they’ve made in the offseason!  From everything from more seating for diners to smoother ride experiences, Dollywood took guest feedback and made improvements in all areas of the park!

Ride Updates

There were no additions to the ride & coaster lineup but improvements were made in the offseason to many of the rides and attractions we all know and love.

Likely the most anticipated changes are those to Lightning Rod. The first wooden launch coaster has struggled with frequent downtime since it was introduced in 2016.

Improvements to the track include wrapping it in a hybrid of wood “Topper Track” and steel “Ibox” track. This will lead to more reliability for the ride and much less downtime.

Mystery Mine also got the royal treatment in the offseason. Its track was rerouted in response to guest feedback. This should result in a smoother ride and less rider discomfort.

Due to delays in getting the steel needed for the job, Mystery Mine is not anticipated to be open in time for Opening Day.

Thunderhead and Blazing Fury also were partially re-tracked in the offseason to keep them running at optimal levels.

Additional Seating Areas for Dining

Have you ever grabbed your hot dog & fries from Dogs N’ Taters and not been able to find a table where you could sit and enjoy it?

Or grab some amazing barbecue from Hickory House BBQ and wish you could sit and observe the majestic Eagles at Eagle Mountain Sanctuary across the way?

Offseason improvements have made all of that a piece of cake!

Starting in Rivertown Junction, the Tin Shop between The Back Porch Theater and Dogs N’ Taters was removed. In its place, tables (with umbrellas for shade!) will be installed. This will provide the perfect spot to gobble down some curly fries and enjoy “A Brighter Day” performance on the stage next door.

Moving over to Craftsman’s Valley, Dollywood built a pavilion for those enjoying a meal from Hickory House BBQ. For those familiar with the area, you might realize that means the Blacksmith & Foundry is no longer there. No worries – we’ll get to that in the next section.

The covered structure offers great protection from the sun while dining and is also a great location to watch the magnificent Eagles in their Eagle Mountain Sanctuary.

Changes in Craftsman’s Valley

So I mentioned above that the Blacksmith & Foundry was removed from its place in Rivertown Junction to make room for the new dining pavilion at Hickory House BBQ.

Well don’t worry – it’s found a new home in Craftsman’s Valley.

The Blacksmith & Foundry is now located next to the Robert F. Thomas Chapel. It will offer a retail shop and shortly after the park opens for the season a Build Your Own Knife experience will be added.

Speaking of the Chapel, it got spruced up in the form of a new roof, some replaced siding, and other maintenance projects to keep the beautiful landmark in its best shape.

New Ways to Save Time & Money

I will admit this next one may have been introduced last season but I came across it while at Dollywood last month for a media event.

Drink Free All Season Long At Both Parks!!

The regular refillable mug allows for $.99 refills all season and free refills they day you buy the mug. The upgraded mug gives you free refills all summer long at both parks!!!

Next up are changes to the TimeSaver passes. New for 2021, you can use the standard TimeSaver on any rides you wish for up to 8 times. In the past you were limited on how many times you could ride the most popular rides.

TimeSavers have also gone digital. Rather than marking your pass, hosts can scan the barcode either on a ticket on a lanyard or even your phone.

For more details, check out the Dollywood Blog post on the subject here.

Last is something new that won’t be available until the Flower & Food Festival but I’m too excited to wait to share it until then.

Dining Day Passes!

During the Flower & Food Festival, the Dollywood Culinary Team will introduce the Dollywood Dining Day Pass. For $29.99 ($27.99 for passholders), guests can get 5 of the festival’s featured food items such as lobster roll, fish n’ chips or Cuban sandwiches.

Depending on the success of these Dining Day passes, its possible guests will see them being offered after the Flower & Food Festival and possibly for following festivals.

After last year’s season of uncertainty, I’m looking forward to the upcoming season at Dollywood. The coasters I love will be available more regularly and offer a smoother experience, there will be great new things to eat as well as new ways to stay on a budget and make the most the of the day!!

Will you be making plans to visit Dollywood this year? What’s your favorite thing to do while you’re there?

The post Dollywood 2021 Brings Many Exciting Updates appeared first on Tired Mommy Tales.

While I think trial and error and figuring out what works best for your family and the way your school(s) are facilitating distance or digital learning, I do have some tips for virtual learning that have been a game-changer for us. My hope is that they will be helpful to at least one parent or student.

Be Intentional About Workspaces

I’m not going to say you need a Pinterest-perfect Homeschool room with brand new furniture and wall hangings and decor. I do think that you’ll want to set up a space that will be conducive to learning. To do that, all you really need is a flat surface…desk, dining room table, kitchen counter, coffee table. As long as it’s reasonably away from distraction and can fit a device it will work. Add some type of seating and you’re golden!

For my girls, we have two school stations that are in separate areas of our first level. Brooke, the 7th grader, works from our breakfast nook on a small table that I inherited from my grandparents. We rolled one of our office chairs over there and she was all set.

Leah works in the office with me (#teamoffice) on an IKEA desk we already had. She does all of her Zoom calls there but will sometimes move around different areas of the house for her independent work. I’ll touch more on this later.

When it comes to workspaces, my advice is to make it comfortable but not too cozy. Being in your home, it’s easy to feel like you can just kick back and relax but that’s not the best mindset for learning. It’s still school and sitting up and being alert is important. Wrapping up in a blanket and laying down on the couch or floor while trying to pay attention in a video class is not going to be your best bet.

Get a Handle on the Schedule

Nest on my list of tips for virtual learning is to spend some time getting everyone’s schedules straight.

One of the most difficult parts of remote learning is knowing who is supposed to be on Zoom calls/Google Meets, at what time, what’s the meeting info, etc. Fortunately, the schedule for both of our girls is generally the same every week. I do most of my planning on Google calendar so I put all of their calls on each girl’s color-coded calendars.

It can be incredibly easy to lose track of time especially with Keith and I both working during the day and are focused on that as well. To combat that, we have two sets of reminders that go off during the day. For Brooke, we’ve created routines on our Echo Dots that announce reminders 5 minutes before each class. For Leah’s calls, we use the reminders on the Google calendar. It goes off on my computer, phone & watch so no matter where I am, I should see or hear it.

Another piece of advice I’d like to share is to make schedule information available for others to access. Don’t try to keep it all in your head. Jot it down on paper or a dry-erase board, print out a copy of your digital calendar – whatever works so if for some reason you’re not available someone else can jump in and figure out what’s going on. Give your kids as much ownership for their schedule as they are ready for. It doesn’t have to be all on one person’s shoulders!

Maintain Structure

Like I mentioned above with Workspaces, it can be easy to feel a little too at home when schooling at home. You don’t have to be outside at a certain time for the bus, no one will see your clothes from the belly up, etc. But for my girls, if we were to be too lax about certain things, it would be very difficult to maintain the focus & concentration to do schoolwork to the best of their ability.

For our family, that means we still do a morning routine like we would if they were to be leaving the house either by bus or car. They wake up at a regular time, get dressed, have breakfast, brush teeth & hair and it has to be done by the time Alexa makes her “5 minutes to school” announcement.

Our school day has a pretty thorough schedule so the structure of our day is pretty much predetermined and we follow that pretty closely. If your child’s school day is not scheduled out for them, you might consider establishing a loose routine for the day. For example, a specific time block for working on each subject, recess/breaks, lunch, etc.

Generally speaking, I think it is typically best for everyone if it’s known what happens when and what’s next. Try some different routine/scheduling/time blocking methods and see what works best for your child and their virtual learning format.

Allow for Flexibility

This may seem completely counterintuitive to the last tip for virtual learning but we try to allow for flexibility where we can. We recognize that the way the girls are doing school is not ideal and we try to let them enjoy the few benefits they can.

Leah likes to move around so we let her do her independent work pretty much wherever she wants. Sometimes she sits with Keith while he works in the dining room, sometimes she’ll put her worksheets on a clipboard and sit on the couch in the living room. Her new thing is creating a little hideaway on the stairs and working there.

We’ve tried since the beginning of the school year to get Brooke to move away from her desk periodically to get a break. Just recently she’s been bringing her laptop to the couch more often and working from there. We also allow her to listen to music on her headphones when she isn’t in Zoom class or taking a test.

Since she’s a little older and more independent, we let her manage her “free time” more especially when it comes to her Encore classes (Tech, PE & Library) and her Art Elective class. (Band class is on certain days so no choice there). As long as everything gets done, we let her figure out when it gets done.

Give Everyone Grace

This is not how school is supposed to happen.

Give grace to your child who is doing their best.

Give grace to the teachers and administrators who are doing their best.

Give grace to yourself for doing your best.

This is such unchartered territory for everyone and there is definitely no one right way to approach learning at home like this. I hope these tips for virtual learning help give you a place to start when navigating it in your home. We’ll get through this mamas!!

What recent virtual learning win you’ve had? What are you struggling with?

The post 5 Tips for Virtual Learning with Less Stress appeared first on Tired Mommy Tales.

So in a move that may be torturing myself, I’m dreaming of all the things I can do at Dollywood when it finally opens again.

Catch that first glimpse of the Dollywood Sign

Nothing beats the jolt of excitement that goes through me when I approach the entrance to Dollywood and the Dollywood sigh comes into sight. Are you even alive if you don’t get that same rush??

Get That First Loaf of Cinnamon Bread

This bread is so good and so addicting. I’ve stood in line for over an hour to get a couple loaves fresh out of the oven. And it was totally worth it!!! Chime in – what do you prefer with your cinnamon bread – icing or apple butter??

Soar Through the Air on Wild Eagle

Wild Eagle has been in my Top 2 rides for as long as I can remember. And on our last trip to Dollywood, Leah was tall enough to ride it too! So now all 4 of us can ride ALL the rides!!!! When I asked her Leah said this was what she was most looking forward to.

Sing Along at the Country Crossroads Show

Leah went through a stage where she didn’t want to ride anything and her favorite thing to do was watch shows. That started our love for the Country Crossroads show. We sing-along to all the classic country songs throughout the years and you can’t beat the pre-show with Miss Lillian the Chicken Lady!

Hop Aboard Dollywood Express

Whether it’s on Klondike Katie or CINDERella, a ride on the Dollywood Express is a staple. It’s a great way to get off your feet and take in the beautiful Smoky Mountain landscape. My favorite time to ride the Dollywood Express is during Harvest Festival and Smoky Mountain Christmas when everything is decorated for the season!!

Lunch at Front Porch Cafe

It’s hard to go wrong at any of the restaurants at Dollywood but one of my favorites is the Front Porch Cafe. The biscuits to start the meal are soo soo good and the items on the menu are all hearty, comfort foods that hit the spot. And the banana pudding for dessert is Dolly’s recipe and is a can’t miss.

While we are waiting for it to be safe enough to enjoy a day at Dollywood again, I will be dreaming of all the great things that will be waiting for us there.

Until then, stay home and stay safe!!!

The post 6 Things I Cannot Wait to do When Dollywood Opens Again appeared first on Tired Mommy Tales.

This post is not sponsored but may contain affiliate links. Any purchases made by clicking the links below may result in a commission to me but will not affect the price you pay.

I’ve had at least one child in some stage of car seats for over 10 years. Some I loved and some I did not. (Seats, not kids) At least one seemed like a great investment at the time and then turned out to not be all I’d envisioned.

Right now, Target is holding their Car Seat Trade-In Event so we’re taking the opportunity to get a good deal on a new seat for Leah.

(Don’t know what the Car Seat Trade-in Event is? You can take your old car seats to Target and they will give you a coupon for 20% off baby gear. For more info – click here.)

While researching what combination seat (a harnessed seat that will transition to a belt-positioning booster) we’ll transition Leah to next, I’ve been looking back at the seats we’ve had in the past 10 years.

Quick note on choosing car seats

Before I share what we’ve used in the past, I’m going to put my former Child Passenger Safety Technician hat on and say a few things about choosing car seats.

1. No car seat is proven to be safer than another. All car seats are crash-tested for the same standards and get a pass or fail.

2. Being more expensive does not make a car seat “better”. However, the higher price may be due to additional features that make it more comfortable, easier to install, etc.

3. The best seat is one that is a good fit for your child (height/weight/age/maturity), your car and your budget.

So what worked well for my tall girls who are a lot of leg in my Ford Escape might not be the best choice for a child with a larger torso in a compact car with a small backseat. The Facebook group Car Seats for the Littles is a great resource if you’re trying to find a good seat that will meet your particular needs.

Newborn/Infant Seats

With Brooke, we used a convertible seat from day one. It worked fine but when we were pregnant with Leah we decided an infant “bucket” seat would be a better choice.

We bought the Chicco Keyfit 30 and we were completely happy with it. Keith and I both had bases in our cars and the install was super easy. It also worked great in the Cortina stroller we found secondhand on Craigslist. Overall it was a great buy!

I’d probably chose something like the Chicco Fit2 or a Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 LX Infant Car Seat Featuring Safety Surround Technology if we were researching an infant seat for a new baby today.

Convertible Seats

As I mentioned before, Brooke came home from the hospital in a convertible seat and never had the infant seat. Car seats have evolved so much I don’t know if they even make the kind of seats we had for Brooke. My favorite in all the convertible seats we’ve used is the one Leah currently uses in my car – the Graco Extend2Fit Convertible Car Seat. One of the features I really loved about this seat was the pull-out leg room extension. My girls are tall and we keep them rear-facing as long as possible so this kept them comfy much longer!

I would totally choose the Extend2Fit again if we needed another convertible seat. Another option I like is the Chicco NextFit Zip Convertible Car Seat. The zip-off cover is a feature I would love!! Cleaning car seats can be such a pain!

Combination Seats

The combination seat we first used with Brooke is another that I don’t think is available anymore. That was a Graco Argos which is very similar to the Graco Nautilus which ended up being the one that we had in my car. It was a great seat and was a good fit at the harness stage, the high-back booster stage and the backless booster stage.

We liked it so much I didn’t think twice or feel the need to do too much research when it was time to get one for Leah. I found a new version that has some really cool features like the SnugLock for easy secure installation, two cupholders (that’s great so each girl gets one!) and a cool place to stow away the harness straps when you have the seat in booster mode. We will definitely be using our Trade-In Event discount on this one!

Another great option is the Graco Tranzitions. This seat would be great as a backup seat for grandparents or after being hit by an upset tummy in the car. It doesn’t have many of the “fancy features” but has good weight limits and the no-rethread harness which is a must for me!

The Evenflo Maestro is another that has good weight and height limits and I would definitely consider. One drawback is it only has the harness mode & high-back booster mode. It does not have the no-back booster option. No-back boosters are cheap and easy to get so that isn’t a huge deterrent it to me but is something to consider.

Booster Only Seats

These are seats that don’t have a harness and only have the belt-positioning feature. These are handy to have if you have a child who carpools or rides with other families. They are typically pretty light and easy to move from car to car. We used two that I liked for different reasons. The first was the Graco Turbobooster. We used this in Keith’s car because Brooke wasn’t in it much so we didn’t need extra features. After she didn’t need the high back function, we took the back off and used it as a no-back booster until Brooke was ready to be in the seat belt alone.

The Bubble Bums was a great seat to have on hand for when Brooke would ride in other cars. It’s inflatable and slim which made it a great portable option. It was also nice to have on hand if we were taking another child somewhere who needed a seat. The Bubble Bum fit in the middle seat really well.

If you have car seats that are expiring or your child will be transitioning to the next stage of seat soon, I would definitely take advantage of the Target Car Seat Trade-In. And I hope my recommendations are helpful – just rememeber that what works for each child and family will be different. Talk a Child Passenger Safety Technician to be sure you have the right fit!

Do you have any favorite car seats from your time as a parent? Can you remember the seats you used as a child?

The post My Favorite Car Seats at Every Stage appeared first on Tired Mommy Tales.

Y’all – I think Dolly Parton has made it her personal mission to be sure that if you come down to the Great Smoky Mountains, you’re going to find some fun!!

After years of success in Myrtle Beach, NC, Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show has staked its claim in Pigeon Forge as well!

I was honored to attend the VIP Grand Opening Event last month and experience all this entertaining show and dinner has to offer.

Pre-Show Entertainment

Upon entering the building I was pleasantly surprised to see the variety of activities they have available to keep you busy until it’s time to be seated. First, there is the full bar which offers both non-alcoholic drinks as well as beer, wine & cocktails.

Also in the lobby area were games to be played while passing the time. Among them were checkers, backgammon, ring toss, tic tac toe, and two sets of cornhole.

If your kids really want to get in on the action, they can even dress up like to look like a pirate!! For $19.99 your child can get a pirate or mermaid makeover complete with face makeup, costume accessories, and flags! This is an add-on experience and not included in your admission.

Soon, it was time to be seated in the arena. I was totally amazed at the size of the set. The detail in the decoration and the bright colors had me amped and eager to see the show!!

My host very quickly came by, helped me find my seat, and took my drink order. Coca-Cola products, tea or coffee are included and you can have unlimited refills. And they’re served in jars which is something I absolutely love!

After all the guests had been seated, we got to hear from Dolly Parton! She told us a little about her upcoming projects (more music & a Netflix series this fall!) and her heart behind purchasing a number of other attractions in the Pigeon Forge area.

Then it was time to eat and watch the show!!

The Show

Similar to Dolly Parton’s Stampede, the audience and performers are split amongst two teams. In the Pirates Voyage show, the teams are Sapphire & Crimson. (I was on Team Sapphire). The teams will complete throughout the show to win a prize and there is even audience participation from time to time!

I was very impressed with the variety of acts that were showcased during the performance. Acrobats, aerialists, divers, animals, dancing, singing… And just when you thought you’d seen everything, something new would be introduced!

The Food

Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show offers a four-course feast. It starts with the legendary creamy vegetable soup and a buttermilk biscuit.

Next up, the hosts serve up the main entrees – pan-fried chicken and a fried pork chop. Unlike Dolly Parton’s Stampede, you are provided utensils to eat your meal. I’ll be honest though – it was too dark to mess with a knife and fork and I used my hands to eat both the chicken and pork chop!

I did pick up my fork when the sides came through. First was creamy macaroni & cheese and next was sweet potato souffle that smelled so good!

Lastly came a flaky peach turnover. The perfect end to a tasty and satisfying meal!

The hosts did a great job of serving each item quickly and without distracting from the show. They are almost as well choreographed as the performers on stage!

Pirates Treasure Gift Shop

After the show, I took a couple of minutes to browse through the Pirates’ Treasure Gift Shop. There was a variety of items for sale. They even had soup mix so you can have the Creamy Vegetable Soup at home any time you’d like!

Pirates Voyage Dinner and Show is a great addition to the family entertainment landscape of Pigeon Forge!!

The post Ahoy Mateys! Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show Stakes Its Claim In Pigeon Forge! appeared first on Tired Mommy Tales.

The great news is NO ONE expects anyone to do all that. There are quite a few products in this bundle that have a value of more than $29.97. So that means you could take advantage of only that ONE THING and you’d have gotten your money’s worth and more.

Since I get the overwhelm, I went through and picked out my favorite 10 resources from the Bundle. And honestly, that was kinda tough – I started at 17 but whittled it down for you.

My 10 Favorite Resources from the 2019 Ultimate Homemaking Bundle

1. Get Organized HQ: 2018 Virtual Summit ($49 value)

I participated in this summit during the summer or fall of 2018. It was a free summit but you only had access to the live sessions or the replays for 24 hours. I enjoyed quite a few of the sessions but I missed quite a few due to work and other commitments during the day. I am so excited to be able to have lifetime access to all of the sessions.

2. Online Safety Handbook: How to Safely Navigate Social Media & the Internet ($9.99)

As the parent of a tween in this new generation, Keith and I are navigating unchartered waters when it comes to technology and our kids. We can’t keep her from it as its a cornerstone of her school experience (our school district issues laptops to all students grades 5-12). So learning how to protect her while simultaneously teaching her how to handle the Internet is vital to us right now.

3. Encourage My Tween’s Heart ($5.95)

As you can tell, I’m embracing my new role as a parent to a tween girl and realizing I’m going to need all the help I can get!! I look forward to using this workbook to work our way through this new stage and focus on deepening our connection and fostering strong character in our daughters.

4. HappyJournal for Kids ($8.98)

I really love the idea of teaching my girls a gratitude practice that can involve their creative side. It also makes it more accessible to Leah who is still an emerging reader/writer since she can draw pictures instead of write. And since you can just print a new one when your child’s HappyJournal gets full, you’ll definitely get value from this workbook!

5. Guilt-Free Guide to Summer: Your Fail-Proof Plan to a Summer with Kids You Can Feel Good About ($45)

Summer is quickly approaching and as a working mom, I’m filled with tons of guilt that my kids’ summers aren’t as relaxed and fun as they might be if I were home with them. I’m really looking forward to this eCourse to help me develop a plan that will keep us all enjoying our summer!!

6. 101 Screen-Free Ideas: Printable Activity Cards ($8)

I doubt I’m the only mom who finds her self practically begging her kids to find SOMETHING, ANYTHING else to do besides stare at screens all day. I also doubt my kids are the only ones who can never seem to come up with an alternative. These printable activity cards are going to be on my printer ASAP so there will be no more excuses for zoning out in front of the TV all.day.long!!!

7. Science in the Kitchen: Fearless Science at Home For All Ages ($4.95)

My girls love being in the kitchen and they love science (they even chose the Science breakout sessions at their church camp this summer!). What better way to encourage them to step away from the screens (see #6 above) than to do some fun experiments in the kitchen. I’m hoping this eBook will give me some fun ideas of activities to do with my Girl Scout troop too!!!

8. Brush Lettering 101 ($47)

Mama’s been itching for a hobby and I’ve been so interested in all the brush lettering I’ve seen in the planner world as of late. This eCourse is self-paced which is perfect for a working mom who needs to fit things in the margins. I can’t wait to get started!!

9. Anchored Women Meal Planner: A Simplified System ($17)

There are quite a few meal planning resources in the Ultimate Homemaking Bundle but I wanted to choose one favorite. Although I anticipate I’ll at least browse through them all and will probably take bits and pieces from each to make my own system. The reason I’m highlighting this one in this post is I liked the idea of an eCourse for learning a system to make meal planning quicker & easier!!

10. HerPaperRoute Guide To Pinterest Marketing ($65)

Similar to meal planning above, there were many Work-at-Home/Entrepreneurial resources to choose from. I’ll likely end up using more than just this. But Pinterest is an area I would like to focus on more soon so I chose it for my roundup today.

So there ya go!! My recommendations and what I will be using (first!) in the 2019 version of the Ultimate Homemaking Bundle!

Have you checked out the product list? What category or product interests you the most?

PS. Time is running out! This bundle will not be available after midnight 5/6!!!

The post My 10 Favorite Resources from the 2019 Ultimate Homemaking Bundle appeared first on Tired Mommy Tales.

Three Things Thursday is basically what it sounds like – I’m going share 3 things that could be things I like, things I saw or ate or read.

To start it off, I’m going to list 3 highlights of 2018. I got to go to some cool places and did some really cool stuff so in no particular order…

Dollywood Insiders Panel

Being a member of the Dollywood Insiders panel will be a hard experience to top. I’ve been in the same room with Dolly Parton on various occasions as she made announcements regarding the future of Dollywood.

I ate amazing food, saw the Dollywood Stampede Show, previewed Splash Country before it was open for the season, got a sneak peek of Wildwood Grove construction, and had a relaxing facial at the DreamMore Resort and Spa.

I’m sure I’m forgetting some things but I was honored to be chosen and share my perspective with other Dollywood lovers.

Tim McGraw Concert

My mom, sisters and I don’t get many opportunities to spend time just the 4 of us. When we’re all in town together it can be hard to break away from the kids to do grown-up stuff.

Well, my dad got tickets for us girls to see the Soul2Soul concert when it came to Grand Rapids. It was a gift to my mom for Mother’s Day.

So we went up to Michigan one weekend in June, dropped the kids with Grandpa and headed off to Grand Rapids.

We grabbed some lunch and did some shopping at Downtown Market. Then we walked back to the hotel to rest up a bit (Jacqie was pretty preggo already ?), play some games and snack & drink.

The concert was a blast – even if no one around us would stand up and dance. Eventually, Jess and I couldn’t take it anymore and got to our feet to show those around us how to enjoy a concert.

Ha! They probably hated us. But we had FUN!!!

And the main highlight of the evening – MY MOM TOUCHED TIM MCGRAW!!!

Then it was back downtown to Hop Cat for more drinks and crack fries. We got some sleep at the hotel and before we knew it, we were headed back to real life.

Brooke’s Birthday Trip to Gulf Shores

Brooke had a big birthday this year – 10 years old!!! In lieu of gifts, we decided to plan a trip instead.

We headed off on a road trip to Gulf Shores during Fall Break. We rented a condo through AirBNB that was right on the beach.

We fought the waves at the beach, played in the sand, played board games and Brooke found herself a huge fan of Last Man Standing from afternoons of escaping from the sun in the condo.

We had a great time, just the two of us and I think we’re going to plan on taking the whole family down there next time we take a trip.

2018 had lots of fun moments so narrowing it down to 3 was kinda tricky. I’m looking forward to what 2019 brings.

What were some of your 2018 highlights?

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