Bright Ideas for Moms

A Wild (But Gator-Free) Day at Myakka River State Park

2025-05-31T01:33:00.000-04:00

You know those adventures where you go in expecting one thing and you end up getting something totally different—but somehow, it’s still completely magical? Better than you could've expected, even...

That was our day at Myakka River State Park.

We packed our water bottles, binoculars, and brave faces, fully expecting to see at least one lazy alligator basking in the sun. I mean, it is Florida and we see them almost daily, even in our neighborhood ponds. The whole state is basically a reptile resort, right?

But here's a real plot twist: not a single gator graced us with its scaly presence. We walked the water's edge, looked over bridges and even peered of the end of a pier... and no gators were spotted!

They must have all been off together, plotting— I like to think they were attending a secret swamp meeting. They may have been sitting below the water's edge, lurking in mass quantities. Either way, zero gator sightings.

But before you feel too bad for us, don’t! Because what we did see was a whole cast of nature’s underrated all-stars.

The Wildlife Cameos We Weren’t Expecting:

🦌 Deer, casually strolling through the trees like they were on their afternoon coffee break. One even stopped and looked at us like, “You guys lost or something?” He ran off into the woods, the opposite direction of his mother, so we sat there waiting for mom to pass us as well. She took off running after a moment... and we were left with an amazing little moment, none of us will forget.

🦋 Butterflies, fluttering around like they were auditioning for a Disney movie montage. We saw a variety of butterflies, but loved getting to watch them flutter about with their dragonfly counterparts.

🐦 Birds, chirping, swooping, and generally acting mysterious up in the trees. We heard all kinds of calls and saw lots of pretty varieties...

The Trails, the Bridge, and the Tower (aka: Quad Day)

We took on the trails with energy and ambition—and maybe a few dramatic sighs in the heat—but the real highlights were high in the sky.

The canopy bridge gave us serious jungle explorer vibes, and it does bounce a little when you walk across it, which makes it just the right amount of thrilling. It’s like Florida’s version of an adventure ride, but with better scenery and no admission fee.

From there, we climbed to the top of the observation tower, where we were rewarded with a sweeping view of treetops and marshlands. Honestly, it felt like we were in a different world up there. One with fewer bugs and better breezes.

The One Letdown? The Bird Walk Was Closed. 😢

Yes, sadly, the bird walk was blocked off. We were a little bummed, but we still saw plenty of birds on our journey. Can’t blame them. We hope they enjoyed their acai bowls and worms.

Final Thoughts

Even without any gator drama, Myakka River State Park totally delivered. There’s something extra special about walking through nature with no agenda other than, “Let’s see what shows up.” And while it wasn’t the scaly safari we expected, we ended up with dragonfly zoom-bys, beetle fashion shows, and deer that could win “Most Chill Mammal of the Year.”

Would we go back? Absolutely. Next time, gators—don’t be shy.

Have you ever been to Myakka? Did you see any gators, or were they ghosting you too? Let me know in the comments! 🌿✨

It's My Birthday - Let's Celebrate the Chaos!

2025-03-08T01:14:00.000-05:00

Today’s the day, friends—it’s my birthday! Cue the confetti, the cake (gluten-free, so everyone can indulge including my other half), and the overly ambitious plans that will probably be derailed by a toddler meltdown. Ah, the sweet joys of motherhood!

A birthday as a mom is a little different than it used to be. Gone are the days of sleeping in and leisurely brunches, no longer do I stay out past midnight celebrating the night before. Instead, I’m kicking off the morning with an encore performance of 'A Million Dreams' from The Greatest Showman, wiping yogurt off the walls, and pretending that my espresso is still warm. But honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Birthdays feel different as we get older—not in a bad way, just in a “I’m going to bed at 10 PM and that sounds glorious” kind of way. I might not be blowing out a candle and downing a glass of wine at a fancy restaurant tonight, but I will be making a wish that my kids don’t notice me sneaking a piece of dark chocolate before dinner.

So, in honor of my special day, here are a few simple ways I’m celebrating:

Giving myself grace – No pressure to make the day perfect. If we end up eating frozen pizza or stopping by chick-fil-a, that’s still a win. I just wanna relax and enjoy the day.
Soaking up the little moments – Birthday snuggles from my little ones? Best gift ever. I really don't need anything so I look forward to embracing the moments.
Doing something just for me – Maybe I'll end the night indulging in a silent painting session or a warm bath with no interruptions (a true luxury!).

If you’ve ever had a “mom birthday,” you get it. The celebration might not be Pinterest-perfect, but it’s filled with love, laughter, and just a little bit of chaos—my favorite kind of party.

So, here’s to another trip around the sun! And if you feel like giving me a birthday gift, let’s make it easy—just send coffee. Lots and lots of coffee. ☕🎉

P.S. What’s your favorite way to celebrate your birthday? Let’s swap ideas in the comments!

The Hard Days of Motherhood (and Why You’re Still Doing an Amazing Job)

2025-02-04T01:07:00.006-05:00

Some days, being a mom feels like pure magic. You watch your kids laugh, hold their tiny hands, and feel like the luckiest person in the world. But other days? Other days feel impossible. The days where the laundry is overflowing, the toddler is melting down over the wrong color spoon, and you haven’t had a real meal or moment to yourself in what feels like for-ev-er.

Motherhood is beautiful, but it’s also exhausting, overwhelming, and downright hard sometimes.

The Weight of It All

No one truly prepares you for how much weight you are going to carry when you become a mother. We are the planners, the nurturers, the peacekeepers, the ones who remember which child likes their sandwich cut into triangles and which one needs the crusts cut off. We take on the invisible load—the late-night worry sessions, the constant scheduling, the responsibility of shaping tiny humans into kind, capable people.

And some days, it’s too much.

Some days, you feel like you’re failing. The house is a mess, the to-do list is a mile long, and patience runs out faster than coffee. The noise, the chaos, the never-ending demands—it’s enough to make anyone feel like they’re drowning.

But You Are Not Alone

But mama, hear me: You are not alone in this. Every mom has hard days. Every mom has moments where she wants to hide in the bathroom for five minutes of peace. Every mom wonders if she’s doing enough, being enough, loving enough. Every mom wonders if they are enough.

The truth? You are. Even on the messy, overwhelming, nothing-is-going-right days, you are exactly what your kids need. They don’t need perfection. They don’t need Pinterest-worthy crafts or gourmet meals. They need you—your love, your presence, your imperfect, tired, beautiful self.

Giving Yourself Grace

It’s okay to have hard days. It’s okay to cry in the shower or let the dishes sit in the sink. It’s okay to take a break, ask for help, or decide that today, survival is the goal.

Motherhood is not about doing everything perfectly. It’s about showing up, loving fiercely, and giving yourself the same grace you’d give a friend. Some days will be magical, and some days will be hard—but every single day, you are doing something incredible.

Finding the Joy

Even in the hardest moments, there are tiny pockets of joy. The unexpected hug, the sleepy “I love you,” the giggles over something completely silly. Look for those. Hold onto them. Let them remind you that while motherhood is hard, it is also full of love, wonder, and moments that make all the chaos worth it.

So to the mom who feels like she’s barely holding it together today—you are seen, you are loved, and you are doing an amazing job. Keep going, mama. You’ve got this. 💛

Here's to 2025: A Year for Moms to Celebrate (or Maybe Just Survive...in style!)

2025-02-02T01:01:00.001-05:00

Ah, 2025 — it’s here and whether you’ve been meticulously planning for it or simply Googling “What’s the future like?” between school pickups and sports drop offs, one thing’s for sure: this year is shaping up to be a pretty fabulous year.

From techy gadgets that make life easier (or at least look cool) to self-care trends that could actually add a bit of fun into your routine, 2025 has a little something for every one.

So grab yourself a glass of wine (or your kid’s leftover juice box), sit back, and let’s dive into the delightful rollercoaster ride that is going to be 2025 — because this year is shaping up to be your year, mama.

1. Tech That Actually Helps (No, Seriously)

We all know that tech can be a bit of a double-edged sword. On one hand, it’s obviously amazing. On the other hand, it can be unreliable and difficult, I mean sometimes I honestly wonder if my Wi-Fi is secretly plotting against me, I assume I'm not alone with this struggle. But fear not — 2025 promises to bring gadgets that can actually ease the chaos of mom life. Imagine a world where:

Robotic Vacuum Cleaners don’t just clean your floors; they can even mop for you and send you encouraging messages when their missions are complete! These new models are equipped with artificial intelligence that can recognize which areas of the house need the most attention — and they might even send you a “Good job, Mom” notification after their job is done.
Smart Kitchen Gadgets: Your oven will preheat itself (yes, really), your fridge will remind you when you’re out of milk, and your blender will even regulate the texture of your super healthy green smoothie! Let the machines do the work for you and make your days easier in 2025!
Smart Scheduling: No more calendar caused chaos! Keep those sports practices and drama rehearsal times straight with this supercharged version of Google Calendar will analyze your day, suggest time slots for important stuff (even the simple things you NEED - like a nap), and you can even set it to remind you to "take a deep breath" between picking up the kids, meal prep, and juggling a thousand tiny tasks!

In 2025, technology will finally catch up with your chaotic mom brain! Who else is excited to add some great gadgets to their daily routines?

2. Self-Care That Actually Feels Like Fun

Let’s face it: self-care is a buzzword and has been for a while, but finding time to truly indulge in things that benefit YOU can be difficult with all you have on your plate. But don’t worry, 2025’s self-care trends might just be the thing to save you.

Nap Pods: That’s right, in 2025, it’s not just a trend — it’s a lifestyle. Forget lying on the couch with your phone in hand, hoping for a 20-minute power nap. Now, you can literally schedule a nap in a cozy pod that will cocoon you in comfort while your phone reminds you of your existential to-do list. (Honestly, it’s just nice to have a place to shut down without hearing, “Moooom!”)
Mindful Moments for Busy Moms: 2025 will bring mindfulness practices that are actually short, sweet, and helpful. Forget 30-minute meditations. How about a three-minute “mom mantra” session before you pick up the kids? It’s like a mental reset button, and it’s all about helping you feel zen — even if it’s just while standing in the grocery line.

Wrapping Up the Future of Mom Life

2025 used to sound so futuristic, but now it's HERE and it’s bringing some seriously exciting opportunities for moms. Whether it’s tech that makes your life smoother, self-care that doesn’t require a passport, or simply finding more time for play and joy, this year has a little something for every mama. So here’s to the future — may it be filled with less laundry, more naps, and way more laughter.

In the words of every mom ever: You’ve got this.

The Best Amazon Products for 2 to 3-Year-Olds

2025-01-02T23:42:00.000-05:00

I think all mamas can agree, that sweet spot in toddlerhood from the ages 2 to 3 is such a magical stage! It’s when kids are curious, adventurous, and full of energy. I love that eagerness to learn and the playfulness to let loose that toddlers all seem to have. As a parent, finding the right items to nurture their creativity, independence, and growing skills can make all the difference. Amazon is packed with great finds that are perfect for this stage, but here are the top products that every parent of a 3-year-old should know about.

1. Melissa & Doug Wooden Building Blocks Set These classic wooden blocks are perfect for encouraging creativity and fine motor skills. With a variety of shapes and colors, your little one can build castles, towers, and anything their imagination dreams up.

Why Parents Love It: It’s a timeless toy that grows with your child and offers endless play possibilities.

2. Crayola Washable Finger Paint Set Let your 3-year-old explore their artistic side without the stress of permanent stains. This set includes vibrant, non-toxic paints that are easy to wash off hands and clothes.

Why Parents Love It: It fosters creativity while keeping cleanup easy.

3. Green Toys Dump Truck Made from 100% recycled materials, this sturdy dump truck is perfect for indoor and outdoor play. It’s durable, eco-friendly, and just the right size for little hands.

Why Parents Love It: It’s safe, sustainable, and encourages imaginative play.

4. LeapFrog My Own Leaptop This toddler-friendly laptop introduces letters, numbers, and basic computer skills through fun, interactive games. It’s lightweight and perfect for travel.

Why Parents Love It: It’s an educational toy that keeps kids engaged and learning.

5. Magna-Tiles 32-Piece Set These magnetic building tiles are a hit with 3-year-olds. They’re great for developing spatial awareness, problem-solving skills, and creativity.

Why Parents Love It: It’s an open-ended toy that provides hours of entertainment and grows with your child.

6. Strider 12 Sport Balance Bike Perfect for teaching your little one how to balance, this lightweight bike is a great introduction to riding without the need for training wheels.

Why Parents Love It: It builds confidence and motor skills while being fun and safe.

7. Melissa & Doug Scoop & Serve Ice Cream Counter This adorable pretend play set lets your child serve up colorful ice cream scoops and practice counting, sorting, and role-playing.

Why Parents Love It: It encourages imaginative play and social interaction.

8. Play-Doh Kitchen Creations Ultimate Cookie Making Playset This Play-Doh set comes with fun tools to help your 3-year-old create their own pretend treats.

Why Parents Love It: It’s a hands-on activity that improves fine motor skills and sparks creativity.

9. Little Tikes 3’ Trampoline Perfect for burning off some of that boundless energy, this mini trampoline is safe, sturdy, and great for indoor active play.

Why Parents Love It: It helps with coordination and lets kids get their wiggles out, rain or shine.

10. Water Wow! Reusable Coloring Books by Melissa & Doug These mess-free coloring books use water-filled pens to reveal vibrant colors. Once the page dries, your little one can start over again.

Why Parents Love It: It’s portable, reusable, and keeps kids entertained without any mess.

These Amazon finds are perfect for fostering your 3-year-old’s growth, creativity, and independence. Whether it’s learning through play, exploring their artistic side, or burning off energy, I think you'll agree these items will make the perfect gift for the 2-3 year old in your life.

What’s your favorite gift idea for a child in that 2 to 3-year-old range? Share it in the comments below! Let’s help each other navigate this exciting stage with the best tools and toys on the market!

P.S. If you found this list helpful, share it with other parents of toddlers! Let’s spread the love for these amazing finds!

Keep shining bright,
Lauren

Exciting News: Welcome to Bright Ideas for Moms!

2024-09-23T01:14:00.003-04:00

Hello again, wonderful readers!

I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve officially taken the plunge and the blog has a new look! I've rebranded from LaurenPaints.com to Bright Ideas for Moms.com! This change reflects my journey in life and my desire to create a space that truly resonates with all of you.

Why the Change?

As many of you know, my blog started as a creative outlet to share my love of painting and DIY projects. While I still adore those things, my experiences as a mom have profoundly shaped my perspective. I wanted to expand the focus of the blog to encompass not just my artistic endeavors, but also the everyday joys, challenges, and creative solutions that come with motherhood.

The name *Bright Ideas for Moms* embodies my mission: to provide inspiration and support for moms navigating this beautiful (and sometimes chaotic) journey. I believe we can all shine a little brighter together - sharing, supporting, caring as a community of moms.

What to Expect

With this rebranding comes a renewed commitment to delivering content that speaks to your needs. As a reader you can look forward to:

- **Creative Parenting Tips:** Practical advice and innovative ideas to make parenting easier and more enjoyable.

- **Fun DIY Projects:** Engaging crafts and activities that you can do with your kids, fostering creativity and bonding time.

- **Delicious Family Recipes:** Easy, healthy meals that even the pickiest eaters will love.

- **Community Support:** A welcoming space for sharing experiences, asking questions, and connecting with other moms.

I’m incredibly excited about this new chapter and all the possibilities this change will bring. Your support has meant the world to me, and I hope you’ll continue to follow along as Bright Ideas for Moms evolves. We can inspire each other and create a vibrant community that uplifts and empowers all mothers, making this world a brighter, better place together.

Thank you for being a part of this journey! I can’t wait to share more bright ideas with you.

With love,

Lauren

DIY Girly Haunted House Halloween Decor Craft for Kids to Make

2023-10-24T11:20:00.005-04:00

We've been getting crafty around here.

There's just something about Halloween and this time of the year that leaves me feeling inspired! I can't be the only one who loves this time of the year and absolutely can't wait to embrace all things fall! Right?

Are you also excited for spooky season? I know we certainly are stoked to celebrate and my oldest is legit counting down the minutes until it's time to go trick-or-treat! To help pass the time, her and I decided to get crafty this week and make a bunch of adorable new spook-tastic decor for our house! This little girly haunted house project is probably one of the easiest projects we've ever made and great for kids to craft up, almost completely alone (especially if you opt for Elmer's instead of hot glue).

If you're feeling the spirit of the season and you'd like to make your own cute, girly little haunted house, here's the details on how we made ours.

Supplies you'll need:

These Jumbo Popsicle Sticks from Walmart
Orange Paint
This printable I crafted up
Hot glue &/or Elmer's glue
Glitter Paper
Scissors
Beads & Pipe cleaner are optional for "added flair", you could always just use a marker instead!

We started by gluing this beauty together, then cut out all of our cuteness from the printable.

Next, we glued our glitter paper on to the back and painted our house orange.

Finally, we glued down all the little details like my printable pieces, beads, and pipe cleaner. If you decided not to include the optional flair, you could easily just draw on a door!

And just like that, you've got an adorable addition to your Halloween decor! We placed ours just above the front door and it's so perfect!

Are you more of a visual person? Check out this quick tiktok to see how we made the haunted house!

Don't forget to download the FREE printable I made for this project HERE!

My Favorite Mom Wins with Babbleboxx

2022-09-28T11:52:00.003-04:00

This post is sponsored by Babbleboxx.

Being a mom is the most rewarding thing I've ever experienced, from the grins and giggles to watching them learn something new - every second of taking care of my babies is genuinely a reward. Watching my older kiddo grow into a big girl, talking about boys and giggling with friends is such a special reward and on the other end of the journey of parenthood, watching my sweet baby learn to sit up, hearing that first giggle, and seeing the light in her eyes when she's accomplished something as simple as putting a toy in her mouth is absolutely so special. Being a mom is the most inspiring, rewarding, and awe-worthy thing I've ever done and it's better than I ever could've dreamed.

I'm not going to lie, it's also the most challenging time I've ever had in my life, but they definitely are worth the sleepless nights, changes in my body, and long days full of soothing emotions and fits. It's funny how that works, I feel equally blessed and stressed and I wouldn't have it any other way - being a mom is amazing.

While I'm discussing the amazing parts of motherhood, I thought I'd share some mom wins with you guys - this box from Babbleboxx came stocked full of "wins" I felt were worthy of sharing with y'all on the blog.

We'll start with a product we've been using since our little busy bee was born - CeraVe. This company's mission is to provide therapeutic skin care for everyone, including our sweet little babies! I love that their products offer an exclusive blend of three essential ceramides to mimic our skin's, as well as a revolutionary MVE technology to restore our skin's natural protective barriers, providing our kiddos with the best possible way to clean their bodies without all the bad stuff involved.

The Baby Wash and Shampoo has been sitting bath side since before Holly was born and it cleans her while helping to soothe and protect her skin.

After giving her a CeraVe bath, we love to lather her up with their lotion as well. The CeraVe moisturizing lotion is a lightweight soothing way to make sure her skin has all-day hydration! The best part is that pediatric dermatologist helped to develop the line so I know I'm putting what's recommended on her skin, without a doubt.

Another brand household name for us is Lamaze. We love their toys and have enjoyed raising Delainey to learn and grow through play with their science-backed brand. From cute little stacking rings to fun dollies, I thought I had already scored a majority of the wonderful toys they make- but it turns out I was wrong, Babbleboxx sent us over 3 new Lamaze toys to add to Holly's developmental toy collection and they are truly winners!

Starting with her absolute favorite from Lamaze: The Wacky Giraffe. This little guy makes the whole family giggle with silly sounds with every good whack she gives the table. Holls loves hitting this unique sensory toy into everything and I love that with both ends being nice and soft, it's painless and causes no damage to any surface she whacks. She cracks up with us as we all giggle at her swinging the little guy around - it's truly a hoot! When she sees this little fella, she knows it's time to play!

While we're talking about things that tickle her. The Puffaboo Elephant from Lamaze is truly the cutest way to get her to giggle! From playing peekaboo with his crinkly ears to squeezing it to hear it squeak, it's just adorable - but the best part is when it's squeezed this little elephant blows a tiny puff of air. This little puff is the perfect gentle distraction - making her Puffaboo the perfect toy for her fussy days.

Another toy we run to grab on her fussy days is made by Lamaze as well, it's the Soothing Heart Panda. This little bear friend is soothing and adorable, the perfect mixture for getting Holly to chill. With four different melodies, each with a soothing vibration synced to the rhythm of a resting heartbeat - or press the heart five times and you'll hear the heartbeat! It's such a calming, yet incredible toy and one we love to give her whenever we are winding down before bed time!

Speaking of bed time, we have a baby who loves to go to bed with a full belly. I usually nurse her to sleep and then we sometimes provide her with a little "top off" from a bottle, when she allows for it. We've tried a handful of different bottles and she isn't so sure about most of them but the Phillips Avent Anti-Colic bottles with Air-Free vents seem to work well for her! These special bottles were designed to reduce feeding issues, colic, gas, and reflux - all of which we've had to battle with Hollyn!

Not only are they great for her, they are easy to clean with less parts and somewhat adjustable since you can adjust the nipple size as baby matures and remove the Air Free vent, if you'd prefer. Honestly, I'm not sure why you would though - I love that the Air Free vent helps prevent her from "drinking air" because the nipple of the bottle stays full even when she is drinking it at an angle while sitting upright, bringing us both comfort whenever she gets a bottle.

Another way we've learned to comfort her lately is with her new Phillips Avent Soothie Snuggle , we were sent a sloth and it has to be the cutest little lovey I've ever seen! These lightweight plush toys attach to a removable Phillips Avent Pacifier, meaning they can be cleaned without a bunch of hassle.

They also make the cutest accessory while being a comforting little companion for Holls, so it's a win-win! It isn't just a cute little fluffy stuffy though, I love that I'm able to locate her paci much quicker with her little sloth friend attached and that it's made with safe and durable materials so I don't have to worry which part of the toy she decides to soothe herself with while we are in this stage of putting everything in her mouth!

Another item from the Babbleboxx that I know is going to be super durable is our Stonz!

These cool shoes and booties are kid-certified, made for developing little feet, vegan, non-toxic, and offered up with a 365 day warranty! Stonz makes everything from adorable casual shoes to snow booties and mittens, all in a range of sizes - designed to provide comfort to kiddos at any age, in any climate, at any time!

The Stonz toddler booties we were sent will be the perfect addition to Hollyn's winter outfits, especially when we travel home to finally introduce her to family (hopefully) this winter. Keeping her warm in coziness that stays on those kicking feet will be absolutely necessary. I love that these booties are all-weather wind resistant and they just slide on her little foot, easy peasy! All I have to do is tighten them up with the adjustable toggles and she's good to go!

The other shoe Stonz sent over was their Cruiser. These shoes made my day with how stinkin' adorable they are, I mean who knew baby and toddler footwear could be so cute? These Cruisers are 100% my favorite pair of kicks she owns, with a sweet peachy color and a earth-friendly, sturdy and wearable construction, what's not to love?

We've still got a ways to go until Holly B can walk but I love that these shoes are made with a reinforced heel and are safe for walking, when she's ready. They're also made with a breathable mesh upper and a hi-poly insole, so we won't have to worry about her little shoes stinkin' the place up - they'll be fresh and ready for another wear soon.

Speaking of fresh, I absolutely adore the next product that was sent in my Babbleboxx! T.N. Dickinsons Witch Hazel is game changer and always has been in our home! They make a wide variety of products but two that are amazing post-partum are the T.N. Dickinson’s Witch Hazel Hemorrhoidal Pads with Aloe and the T.N. Dickinson’s Witch Hazel 100% Natural Astringent!

The Witch Hazel Hemorrhoidal Pads with Aloe are a lifesaver those first few weeks after a vaginal delivery. Even if you don't suffer from the dreaded pregnancy hemorrhoids, these extra soft pads help soothe vaginal pain as well and can be used daily to help provide relief!

On the other end of their product line is the T.N. Dickinson’s Witch Hazel 100% Natural Astringent! This wildly powerful astringent is actually gentle enough for daily use on your face and body but it does it's job unbelivably well. I use it to help when my skin is especially greasy looking or when I'm trying to fight a blemish before it becomes too bad and love how well it works!

While we're on the topic of things that work well, I think it's time to discuss Oilogic. This company takes the stress out of stressful situations with their solutions-based wellness products. Their products arefree from petroleum, phthalates, parabens, sulfates, gluten, dea, dyes, mineral oil, artificial colors, and synthetic fragrance, but they still get the job done - isn't that impressive?!

The two Oilogic products I was sent were the Oilogic Slumber & Sleep Essential Oil Linen Mist and the Oilogic Stuffy Nose & Cough Essential Oil Vapor Bath - both are lifesavers and total "wins" with Holly!

The Slumber and Sleep Linen Mist is beyond soothing. The natural aromatherapy calms and relaxes us both, while getting Holly ready for bed. I try and spray the blend everyday before I lay her down so she knows to associate the smell with bed/nap time and so far, it seems like it could be working..

The Oilogic Stuffy Nose & Cough Essential Oil Vapor Bath uses the natural power of essential oils to help treat babies not old enough for traditional forms of medicine. It helps stuffy little ones clear their nasal passage and calms little coughs. Both of these Oilogic products are now available nationwide in the baby aisle at Walmart, CVS, buy buy Baby, Amazon and more!

So tell me, what do you consider a "mom win" in your home?

Hollyn's Favorite Baby Toys from VTech Baby!

2022-07-21T21:54:00.002-04:00

This post is sponsored by Babbleboxx, regardless all opinions listed below are completely my own.

I feel like Hollyn just came into the world, then I blinked and my baby is now a big, strong three month old. It goes by so quick...

I'll be real, I'm already kind of missing that sweet newborn stage, but it's so exciting to see her blossoming and learning. She's really coming into herself! I'm cherishing every minute of each stage, knowing she's only little once and watching her recently roll over for the first time was legitimately so exciting. She surprises us daily with new skills and her athletic ability and agility makes tummy time an adventure daily, that's why we are loving all of her VTech® toys lately.

The one toy we've been grabbing for the most lately is the VTech® Kick & Score Playgym. This cute little play mat is the coolest. She's a huge fan because it lights up and plays songs, I'm an even bigger fan because she's learning while she's playing.

The playgym has a little bit of everything to keep my sweet busy bee entertained. From kicking the ball, to playing sounds and familiar phrases, to batting at the fun play pieces nearby the giraffe, she's constantly moving & grooving while chillin' on the Kick & Score mat. I'm able to lay her down on her mat and get a few things done while keeping an eye on her nearby.

It's amazing to see her face light up with excitement when she manages to kick the ball and it's even more fun to see her smiling when she swats at the giraffe toys and hears the rattle of the ball moving. She's so proud of herself and, in turn, I'm so proud of her!

We don't just lay her on her play mat on her back though, we occasionally flip her over and let her use the mat for entertainment during tummy time. It's so amazing to see her face light up seeing a different angle of her favorite toy. She loves seeing the buttons light up and looking around at all the "animal friends" on the toy definitely sparks joy for her!

Even more amazingly, she's starting to wiggle herself around and army crawl a little while laying on the mat, I credit the adorableness of the gym as a source of encouragement for her.

The playgym is not just a toy for babies though, big sister can't wait til Holly is a bit older and they can use the gym as a soccer goal. Until then we look forward to lots of "play" at this stage, for now big sister has been pointing out the numbers on the top of the playgym, playing with the dangling toys while Holly watches. It's fun watching them play together and I love that it's helping Holly strengthen her language skills while they both are exploring the music and songs as a team!

Looking for a great gift for a new baby in your life? Maybe your little one needs a good toy added to their Christmas wishlist? Make sure the VTech® Kick & Score Playgym is on their list this year!

While we are discussing toys, I feel like I need to mention another toy on the top of our list - the VTech® Turn + Learn Ferris Wheel is most definitely a favorite in this house. The way it lights up and sings songs has Hollyn mesmerized and I love that we can use it pretty much anywhere since it's little and attaches to surfaces by a suction cup.

Her face literally lights up when she manages to hit one of her new animal friends and makes the ferris wheel start singing. I imagine we'll be using this toy for years to come at dinner outings, play dates, and beyond.

Speaking of going out on the town, the last toy I want to share with you today but certainly not our least favorite is the VTech® Turtle's Busy Day Soft Book. This adorable little book has a story easy enough for big sister to recite to Hollyn but also has elements to keep them both entertained, from hide-and-seek little puppets to buttons to push to hear songs and phrases, they both are huge fans!

I've been encouraging D to read this to Hollyn while I'm making dinner lately and I love looking over and seeing them both so engaged with a sweet little book.

So, tell me, do your kiddos have a favorite toy? I'd love to hear all about it in the comments!

Reduce Waste and Sip in Style with GoSili

2022-04-12T09:31:00.000-04:00

This post may be sponsored, regardless all opinions expressed below are completely my own.

We all know life is better when we learn to adjust and grow, one way we are working on growth in this season of our life (other than growing our family) is learning how to live with less, specifically how to produce less waste. It actually is a simpler task than I originally thought and I love that we are doing our part to hopefully help the planet.

While there's a handful of ways we're trying to cut back on waste, one of the best and most effective ways we've been able to produce less waste is changing some of our kitchenware to GoSili products!

From the Toddler drinking cups for my little pre-k nugget to the Baby bib and silicone teething spoons for our newest addition, I'm super excited to make a change that benefits us all.

The 16oz Silicone to-go cup is Delainey's new favorite, coming in a stunning array of colors - we were gifted the pink and D is obsessed! I'm equally as obsessed since it's non-toxic, eco-friendly, and toddler-squeeze friendly with the embedded stainless-steel ring. Whether she wants a random hot chocolate treat or a refreshing ice-water, I love that I can grab for this cup and it's safe and easy-on-the-environment to use!

Once baby is big enough, I can't wait to teach her how to use cups using GoSili too. With their line of drinking cups and straw tops, I know it'll be a breeze. We tried all kinds of sippies for D and I wish we had known about GoSili and their easily adaptable straw toppers and these amazing little cups!

As I mentioned, they also sent over a bib and teething spoons for baby. I'm not going to lie, I wasn't sure about the bib, since we've never had a silicone bib - but I'm already a huge fan. It's made with the same platinum grade silicone but is made to be so comfortable for baby! It's the perfect bib to fold up and go with us places, especially because it has a little pocket to catch all the little bites that don't make it into babies mouth.

On that note, the teething spoons are definitely going to be a life-saver once baby is starting to teeth! These utensils are made with little nubs for easy gripping, but we all know they are also going to be the perfect texture for babe to soothe her gums! I plan on sticking them in the freezer, thanks to advice from GoSili and can't wait to see what baby thinks of them.

I didn't just change the kiddo's tableware though, I decided to go ahead and upgrade my daily cup to a GoSili cup and I haven't been disappointed. Not only is it "eco-friendly", it's adorable and convenient while also being the best way to make sure I'm staying hydrated enough each and every day as this pregnancy comes to an end.

This women-founded company manufactures and designs silicone tableware products for the whole family and their Silikids products are most definitely a hit in our house. GoSili products make the basics better by bringing an alternative to plastic, allowing the gap to be closed between great design and affordability while improving our quality of life. It's really a win in my book.

Check out their entire collection at www.gosili.com.

Step into Style with Pediped Shoes

2022-04-11T21:42:00.002-04:00

This post may be sponsored - regardless all opinions expressed below are completely my own.

Pediped has been around for a while, so you likely already know about this adorable shoe brand but did you know Pediped footwear has been awarded the American Podiatric Medical Association Seal of Acceptance for the promotion of healthy foot development? I had no clue, although I've always heard Pediped shoes are great for little feet - I found it so comforting to know I'm choosing shoes that help my baby once I learned this.

Not only are Pediped shoes award-winning, they are perfect for every outfit and occasion, with all the various styles and looks, it's nearly impossible to resist a shopping spree each time I see their catalog of shoes. The Originals are soft-soled shoes made for babes ages newborn to 24 months, The Grip 'n' Go are thin rubber-soled shoes perfect for ages 9 months to 3 years, and the Flex are perfect rubber-sole shoes for children ages 3 years to 9+ years available in European sizes up to 36.

Whenever Pediped approached me to feature them in my Baby Shower gift guide, I was so excited to see that I could get baby and Delainey a matching pair of shoes. Browsing their website lead me to so many cute designs with over 100 different options to choose from but these silver shoes stole my heart and I can't wait to see their cute little footsies matching in them together.

For now, we'll settle with talking about how comfortable Delainey thinks her shoes are, perfect for a dressy occasion or a trip up to the playground, I love that she can easily put them on and take them off without a fuss and they are just so stylish - I'm obsessed!

Interested in trying a pair of Pediped shoes for your little one? Check out their entire collection here.

Baby Basics Kit from fridababy

2022-03-23T16:52:00.004-04:00

As you all know, our second baby is expected to arrive any day now. We are beyond excited to welcome her, but still prepping for her arrival.

When I first found out she was coming, one of my first thoughts was that we needed to get FridaBaby products stocked up before she comes.

From the "snotsucker" to the "snipperclipper" things are just easier when FridaBaby is involved.

While I highly recommend all of the items FridaBaby makes, a good starting point for any mom (new and seasoned alike), is the Baby Basics kit.

This kit comes with all the vital FridaBaby items and then you can obviously add to your collection as you see fit.

So what's in the Baby Basics Kit?

As I mentioned, The "Snotsucker" also known as the Nose Frida, is one of the many items included but honestly one of the most important items you'll ever have when it comes to baby and snot noses.

Next on the list of what's included and what you'll be super thankful for is the Windi "Gasspasser". It does exactly what it sounds like, helping your little one soothe their tummy while passing gas.

Another item I never knew I'd want but I'm super thankful to have is the "snipperclipper" Nail Frida. It does the job so carefully that you don't have to stress about hurting baby, something we all don't want to accidentally do when trimming their little nails.

Lastly, the "skinsoother" Derma Frida is a lifesaver when it comes to bathing baby and keeping their skin fresh.

Have you tried any of the fridababy products? Do you totally agree that they are lifesavers? Tell me all about your experience in the comments below!

Don't Miss Out! Catch Hotel Transylvania - Transformania on Prime Video!

2022-01-13T10:23:00.002-05:00

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Review Wire Media for Amazon Studios & Sony Pictures Animation.

Change can be kind of scary, as we all know, but Hotel Transylvania - Transformania shows us that change can be amazing and incredibly entertaining as well.

My family had the pleasure of viewing this new movie a few days early, and let me go ahead and tell you, that you are in for a good time when the movie hits Prime tomorrow! This movie has all the fun you would expect from a Hotel Transylvania film, but with a twist.

The group of monsters isn't as "frightening" this time around, once they all transformed due to the "monsterification ray", but they all have to team up and battle time to turn things around.

Honestly when Drac & his pack were all transformed into humans, I wasn't sure what to expect, but I loved the twists and turns and actually felt a little sentimental as Drac & Johnny were discussing finding the sweetness inside us all as they ate s'mores over the campfire.

My five year old daughter was hooked and loved every second of the movie and I did too! We viewed our movie with some "transformative" popcorn - a mixture of caramel and cheddar and we snacked on s'mores afterwards, leading us to have a conversation about the sweet, gooey inside we all have.

If you're ready for a whirlwind of an adventure with some touching moments thrown in, where Mavis kind of saves the day, be sure to tune into Prime Video and check out Hotel Transylvania 4: Transformania on January 14th! Take a minute and watch the trailer to see what you're in for...

The Update on Baby #2: 28 weeks Pregnant with ___________!

2022-01-10T18:40:00.006-05:00

Finally sharing another update related to my pregnancy!

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I feel like I shared more when I was pregnant with Delainey, but that's likely because I had more free time. With that said, I'm 28 weeks and a couple days pregnant and yes, I count those couple of days because I'm legitimately counting down the minutes until my due date.

Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful for this baby. I consider her a blessing and I'm beyond excited to meet her, but I'm gonna be the one to say it - Pregnancy isn't always fun, it's not always rainbows and butterflies. It's kicks to the ribs and long, restless nights of trips to bathroom and charlie horses, it's heavy, it's uncomfortable at times, and it's down-right tough at other times... But it's rewarding, the end result makes you forget all that other stuff. Once I meet this baby girl, I know I'll fall in love and I have a feeling I'll miss this stage of my life - that's just the way things work.

It's funny. I went from craving flaming hot cheetos my entire pregnancy thus far, to going weeks without eating even one this past month. I have yet to finish off a bag that's been in my pantry forever and I'm not gonna lie - I don't know if I ever will.

I've been craving sweets, like a mad woman, and I occasionally indulge - but on the other hand, I balance my diet by eating salads like they are going out of style. Lately any salad with fruit in it and a good savory dressing is my favorite.

One thing, out of many things, that is different with this pregnancy vs when I was expecting Delainey is the fact that I think my belly button may "poke out" soon. I've always had what I would describe as a completely "innie" but this pregnancy has it looking (and feeling) a little more like an outie!

This past month we painted baby's room a super girly shade - premium pink, we hung up a light that matches her theme, put together her furniture, and started to organize the clothing I've held on to since Delainey was little and the few items we've been given.

I finalized my registry, you can take a peek here if you were interested in looking. I don't expect anyone to buy us anything, I've just been adding things to our list and keeping track of what we still could use.

Beyond all of that, I've been debating with myself (and my husband) about what her name should be. Should she have one middle name or two? Should she have a name starting with the same letter as big sister or should we give her a name that isn't as trendy? Naming a kid is hard, naming your second kid is harder. For now, we'll just assume this kid will eventually have a name and hopefully soon I'll be able to announce it!

So tell me, how many kids do you have? Were your pregnancies completely different from one another? What about your kiddos - are they similar or complete opposites? If you don't have kids, tell me about the family you grew up with, what was the dynamic like with your siblings and you?

I wanna hear the scoop.

Repair Your Credit Yourself - How to go from Bad Credit to Excellent Credit!

2021-11-12T10:57:00.005-05:00

I definitely don't claim to be a financial expert, I'm not well-versed in finances, and my credit history could be viewed as spotty at times - but that's why I wanted to make this post.

I brought my credit score from a scary number (that literally caused multiple declined applications) to a "nearly perfect" score without help from any paid service or individual. If you're in the same boat, I want to help YOU do the same. I was able to finance a house this year, bought a car last year, and I have some high $$$ credit cards now and I'm proud of this - I "worked" on my credit to get here and I think everyone deserves to know how to fix their credit score.

You may think this is a sponsored post, encouraging you to sign up for x,y, or z... but it's not. I legit want to share how I changed my life and help you change yours.

We'll start with finding out your credit score (if you don't already know).

I personally use CreditKarma.com, you may have heard of this website and that's great! It's completely free and they help you keep tabs on your credit without dinging your credit or showing a "hard pull". I should mention, as we were going through our loan officer for our home loan I was told that your "actual" credit score and the one Credit Karma offers you vary slightly - in my case, my actual score was higher than what CK had on file, but he said it can and does happen the other way around. Either way, it's a good way to ball park where your credit stands and help you evaluate what your next steps should be.

Credit Karma pulls your Transunion and Equifax credit scores, which are two of three well-known credit reporting agencies. My scores on the two services they use often differ slightly, but are close enough that I'm comfortable relying on them.

I love that you can click on each credit score and see which accounts are listed, what they are reporting, etc. I check my credit weekly to make sure I don't miss a thing and I honestly recommend everyone else does the same.

Beyond how the service works, let's get to the point.

I repaired my credit with CreditKarma by:

1. Disputing - The first step I took in repairing my credit was disputing the untrue or outdated information on my credit report. Do you have "bad credit" or "bad debt" that's more than 7 years old? Dispute it! Are you fighting medical collections that you've already paid in full? Dispute it! Did someone steal your identity and those dings are still on your report? Dispute it! Luckily, CK makes this process super easy, with both major credit companies.

You'll simply click the accounts tab, then click on any item you wish dispute and follow the directions from there.

You may wonder if that bill you forgot about in 2007 is worth fighting to get off your credit...? Let me tell you, it 100% is worth fighting! It takes a few minutes to fill out the form to dispute an account and it could raise your credit score tremendously.

Obviously, you can only dispute the untrue or outdated items on your report - but disputing some of the accounts on my credit saved my score so it's definitely the first thing I advise anyone looking to repair their credit to do.

2. Opening - This may seem obvious but opening and utilizing credit is a huge way to build your credit. I'm not suggesting you go out and get a card and go buckwild... But open a Visa & use it for gas purchases, then pay off a majority of the balance each month. That rotating credit will do your score wonders. It may "ding" your credit at first to open a new account, but if you are paying it almost entirely off then you'll soon reap the rewards!

Be mindful when opening credit cards (or any line of credit). You'll want to watch for annual fees and the interest rate being offered - don't be fooled by a great introductory offer, shop around and find a card that fits your life!

3. Pay Off - Hard work pays off and so does paying off debts in the smartest way possible. I'm going a little Dave Ramsey on you here, even though I don't fully follow (or support) his ideology. I think his snowball method to paying off debt is genius, while some of his other advice isn't for me. With that said, his idea towards debt is to pay the minimum monthly payment on all debt, except for the lowest debt you have. So if you have a school loan totaling $30,000, a car loan totaling $15,000, and a couple of credit cards with balances ranging from $5,000 to $500. You'd quickly pay off that $500 credit card while paying the minimum for all other debts - then work your way up on the scale of debts from there, applying larger payments as you pay off your debts and don't have to pay so many debts.

It sounds complicated, but it's actually fairly simple. It's more rewarding psychologically to pay it off this way since you are ridding yourself of debt in a faster manner but there's other methodologies you may be interested in as well - debt avalanche methodology being one that is "less rewarding" in the short-term but extremely helpful in avoiding excessive amounts of interest.

Regardless of which methodology you choose to pay off your debts, make a plan and adhere to it and your credit score will begin rising!

4. Keep it up - This one is a given, but continuing all the above and monitoring your credit score is a must. Recognize what's helping your score and continue doing that, whether it's paying down your balances, opening up a few cards and starting to rotate balances, or removing untrue remarks - you'll need to keep on top of your score and keep on working at it.

So tell me, have you had trouble in the past with your credit? Are you ready to try and repair your mistakes? Let's hear about where you stand in the comments below!

A List of Must Haves for New Moms - Babbleboxx

2021-11-07T08:47:00.000-05:00

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx

Wooooo, we're half way there...

Well, almost half way, anyways... and for me that means I'm starting to prep for baby. Actually, who am I kidding? I've been buying cute things and a few necessities since I saw the positive test but now things are starting to "get real" so I'm feeling that urge to "nest" a little bit more. Instead of stocking up on pink clothes and bows this time, I'm trying to be more of a minimalist and stick to the things we need.

I recently sat down to make a list of my essentials and the items I know we need for baby #2, when Babbleboxx asked me to partner with them on this epic box for new moms... and I obviously said yes when I realized the box included a bunch of must-haves for moms (and new babies)!

With that said, let's dig in and start going through the box together. Trust me when I tell you, you're going to NEED it all!

First, let's chat about Bamboobies. The company name may make you giggle but the products are absolutely some of my favs! I remember when I first started my breastfeeding journey with Delainey, I had no clue what I would need and what was excessive but washable nursing pads and nipple balm were two staples that I highly recommend to any new mom.

The washable nursing pads from Bamboobies are more comfortable than any other brand and help protect from leaks. I love that they are sustainable, designed with renewable bamboo and still washable! The perfect little secret to tuck into your bra, since they are completely discreet and made of super-soft velour in the shape of an adorable little heart, which contours to you no matter your bra size!

If you're a first time mom, something you may not think to add to your hopsital bag, but absolutely is a necessity for breastfeeding mom's is nipple balm! The Bamboobies Organic Nipple Balm is so soothing and provides relief during those adjustment periods while nursing and dealing with sore nipples! Since it's an organic, plant-based formula there's no need to wipe it off before breastfeeding and I love that it doesn't contain any of questionable chemicals found in other creams/balms (like phthalates, parabens, synthetic frangrances, etc). The best part is, it helps your poor nipples recover and provides relief, which I promise you'll need during those first few weeks/months! These are the things most people don't mention about postpartum but I think you need to know...

Want to try out a Bamboobies product for yourself? Use the code Babbleboxx (valid through 12/31/21).

Speaking of things you need to try for yourself, The First Years makes a multitude of products that we loved with my 5 year old but two we knew we needed for this babe were the The First Years First Dreams 3D Portable Bassinet and The First Years Gentle Warmth Digital Bottle Warmer.

The First Dreams 3D Portable Bassinet is going to be a lifesaver, I already know! I'm a huge advocate for letting baby sleep whenever and wherever they fall asleep while also practicing safe sleep - this handy bassinet is going to be perfect for that! Safe, cozy, and portable, it's going to be perfect to keep baby in arms reach while letting her snooze away! I love that it includes a carry tote for outings and a set of machine washable sheets for mishaps and diaper malfunctions!

Not only is it portable, but it's easy to fold up - with an easy one hand 3D fold, you can keep your other hand free for baby! Whether you're traveling or napping in your own room, you'll be able to see baby snoozing away with the 360 degree view thanks to the full mesh sides! I can't wait to catch some ZzZ's while baby snoozes and find comfort in knowing she's perfectly safe in this perfect little Portable Bassinet!

One item I wasn't so sure we needed as a first time mom, that ended up being an absolute must was a bottle warmer and this fancy Gentle Warmth Digital Bottle Warmer from The First Years looks like it's a true upgrade from the one we had. Breastfed or formula-fed sometimes baby needs a bottle when mama isn't around and making sure it's the right temperature is vital! The warm water bath the bottle is submerged in helps evenly and effectively heat up the bottle and it stays warm longer than steaming.

Whether you're heating up breastmilk or formula, you'll be able to find comfort in consistency with the Gentle Warmth Digital Bottle Warmer and it doesn't require a specific type of bottle or bag so you can use it with whatever brand you prefer... even better, once you start purees you can even use this gadget to warm those as well. The easy to use digital touch screen makes this device fool-proof, so those middle of the night feedings will be a breeze for you or Dad!

Another favorite brand of ours from when D was a baby is Baby Magic! Trusted by us and many, many other parents (over the last 70 YEARS) the Baby Magic brand is a true legacy. From helping to clean up blow outs to soothing those midnight woes, Baby Magic is there for your family and the products they offer truly do their job!

The Baby Magic Moisturizing Lotion is one you and your baby will be praising for years to come. As we all know, nothing is sweeter than those newborn baby cuddles but maintaining that soft skin means replenishing moisture is a must - enter Baby Magic lotion, enriched with nourishing Calendula, hydrating coconut oil, and soothing aloe, it's the perfect way to seal in moisture and keep your sweet bundle of love feeling comfortable and soothed.

Speaking of comfort, baths were never D's favorite - that is, until we found the right soap! The Baby Magic Gentle Hair & Body Wash is one of our family favs and I can't wait to share it with the new babe. Baby Magic Gentle Hair & Body Wash is delicately formulated for daily use and since it's free of sulfates, parabens, dyes, and phthalates, it helps babe feel clean and soft all day long. Baby and parents can rest easy knowing it's tear-free, allergy and dermatologist tested, and completely hypoallergenic - what every new baby needs!

One thing I didn't have with D that I wish I would've had is more support - in every facet of the word. One way I plan on seeking out support with this baby is by using WishGarden Herbs! Their liquid herbal extracts (or tinctures) are remedies that have been around for ages and the AfterEase and Baby Blues formulas sound like they will be so soothing once this baby enters the world!

AfterEase is an-in-the-moment type of soother that has been lovingly formulated to soothe normal and temporary afterbirth contractions that occur when the uterus contracts and returns to it's normal pre-pregnancy size. If you've had another baby you may be aware that these pains last for 2-3 days after birth and aren't very comforting when you're adjusting to life with the new babe. With AfterEase you'll have something to help calm and support your body as it adjusts.

Baby Blues is another formula I wish I would've had after birthing D, as a mood support it helps mamas who are dealing with a bit of the postpartum blues. It's a powerful, yet gentle combination of herbs that helps your body support healthy hormone levels. Like a big ol' herbal hug, Baby Blues supports new mamas in the moments you need it most.

The last item on my essentials list from this Babbleboxx is the Triple Paste Diaper Rash Cream! If you've ever been around a baby with diaper rash, then you know how painful and saddening (for mama and baby) it can be, luckily Triple Paste is a life-saver and helps relieve that pain and ease the tears almost instantly.

Triple Paste includes just the right amount of medicine and ingredients to keep baby's bum soothed while not including unnecessary chemicals or ingredients. I love that it's not just me hyping Triple Paste up though, it comes pediatrician recommended and dermatologist tested! If you're wanting to provide protection, relief, treatment, and/or soothing comfort for you little one's bum - Triple Paste is what you need!

So tell me, if you're a first-time mom, what's one "must have" item on your list?

Silly and Cute Thanksgiving Turkey Guided Drawing

2021-11-03T22:56:00.001-04:00

My little gal is constantly making art and sharing her creative ideas with us, from checking out "how-to-draw" books from the library to making her own story books and secret notes for us. I'm always so impressed with her creative side and I do all I can to nurture that.

Lately she's been asking me how to spell new words and draw certain things so I figured we would do a guided drawing to celebrate the beginning of November.

These cute turkey friends made her giggle as we drew them and were super easy to create. Just a few minutes of drawing and a fun time coloring and we have some thanksgiving decorations to add to our fridge.

Want to draw with us? Here's our step by step:

Want more craft inspiration for the holidays? Be sure to subscribe to the blog!

Unlock The Perfect Summer with These Essentials - Babbleboxx Outdoor Adventure Summer Tool Kit

2021-06-28T08:34:00.002-04:00

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.

It's officially summer and we are feeling it.

We are spending our days pool side and our evenings are mostly spent running around with friends, making the most of each day. Our days have been beyond fun, we go hard and we enjoy every second - from giggling to crafting, we're doing it all and D is mostly in charge. We all are so happy in our new place and cherishing this last summer before the diva officially starts school.

It's already been a summer to remember and we have months to go... So far, D has mastered swimming, or as she says, she's a "real little manatee now", we watched the lifecycle of a butterfly happen right before our eyes, I've changed my hair up and I finally started practicing self care to the fullest extent. It's been a summer of learning and growth, for us all, and it's been so rejuvenating. We go to the pool daily so we all are darkening some and our hair is sunkissed. We've been playing board games, staying up a little later, indulging in our favorite treats to cool off, and just enjoying ourselves to the fullest - as a family.

As we all know, stuff happens - even on the days that are the most fun. That's why I always bring a little bag of goodies to keep troubles at bay. Here's my little toolkit to unlock the perfect summer:

Let's start with the obvious... since we've been spending more time at the pool, we've had a few injuries. Nothing major, that Liquid Bandages from New Skin couldn't handle though!

Unlike adhesive bandages, New Skin Liquid Bandages are all in one protection - they prevent infection, seal out water, dirt, and germs, and help heal cuts and literally works when a bandage can't. Not only do they prevent germs entering your wound, New Skin Liquid Bandages kill 99.99% of germs while remaining flexible and invisible on any skin tone. The best part is you can find them on Amazon or at Walmart, so stock up for your next pool day!

We've had to bust out our bottle of Liquid Bandage out a few times to help heal up a few woopsies! Between Tim scraping his knuckles while playing ball with some of our dad friends to me tripping and scraping my knee up while chasing after D, this stuff has already proven to be a valuable part of my "toolkit".

Speaking of accidents happening, we all know PMS can sneak up on us. Between bloating, cramping, and a cranky attitude, I know it's coming on and I try to fight the symptoms before they come on... luckily I've got the perfect way to combat it all in my little toolkit of summer essentials. Pamprin Maximum Strength Multi-Symptom is a lifesaver.

Pamprin helps me beat the bloat and get my body back to feeling normal again, while crushing the cramps with a little pain relieving action, and I've noticed it actually helps master my mood and get me ready for the day. I just pop a couple when I feel Aunt Flo is going to be visiting soon and Pamprin works as the ultimate period solution, I feel better and ready to take on all the summer festivities we have planned!

Speaking of things we have planned, self care is always on my agenda as of lately. Not just indulgent moments of eating cheesecake alone in the bathtub with a good audiobook, though. I have been trying to really take care of myself in all different ways and after recently going back to blonde, I knew adding Shampoo from Ultra Swim into my daily after-pool routine was likely a good idea. Ultra Swim is truly a shampoo for swimmers because it's the absolute best chlorine removal shampoo on the market.

As you likely know, if you've spent a lot of time in a pool, the chlorine build up happens quickly and creates dry, brittle, unmanagable hair. Ultra Swim is the best way to remove all that gunk and build up, while still moisturizing and of course, since D and I both have blonde hair now I'm super thankful that it prevents the dreaded "swimmers green" hair. Ultra Swim is a little beauty miracle in a bottle!

Speaking of miracles in bottles, the last item I'm going to share from tool kit today is the most important to get my energy up and ready to play while we are poolside! These Energy Stix from 4c have been a game changer, a little on-the-go energy helping me level up and join in on the fun with the kiddos. I love that I can still get a carbonated, energy fix from a tiny little packet poured into my water bottle - what's better than more energy, while spending less money?

Nothing, but I think you'll be stoked to hear these little packets of heaven are actually sugar free as well, meaning no sugar crash like those other energy drinks! Which flavor from the 4c Energy Stix line up do you want to try first - Berry, Orange, or Citrus? I can't even pick a favorite, so I just rotate through all the flavors!

Now that you know some of my summertime favorites, tell me yours?! I'd love to hear what your must-haves for summer are in the comments below!

Some BIG news!

2021-05-13T14:01:00.002-04:00

Things have been pretty quiet around here for a good reason...

We bought a house!

Yep, we did it - we OWN our home now!

It's been a long (and occasionally stressful) process, since we decided to go with a new build but so far I'm fairly pleased with our choice. We built our new house with KB Home and loved the process. From the day we signed, to our design center appointment, to the day we closed, it was interesting. If I'm being real, it got super dicey, there were delays, there are a couple small mistakes - but overall the house is beautiful and we are living in a gorgeous community with lots of friendly families. We are super excited for the change.

With that said, I wanted to share a few photos of our new place. It's still a work in progress,we still need to update a few items, unpack boxes, install more lighting and come up with some creative storage, etc.... but I couldn't help myself and had to share a little peek at our happy new abode.

Interested in seeing the updates along the way? Be sure you are following on instagram & facebook and subscribe to my blog!

Simple, Stylish Paint Chip Christmas Tree Toddler + Kid Craft

2020-12-18T11:11:00.000-05:00

The holidays are right around the corner and we are super excited about all the fun that involves... this year is going to be one of the best. I haven't share this yet, but we have family surprising Delainey with a long visit over the holidays so it's hard not to be stoked. Also, I'm pretty amped to see her face on Christmas morning, because I may have spoiled my sweet girl. Beyond that, the Christmas spirit is in full swing in our home - with our little Elf causing trouble and the sweet innocence of writing letters to Santa, I'm going to go ahead and call it, Christmas is truly the most wonderful time of the year!

With that said, we've been trying to keep busy lately as we countdown the days until Christmas and this super simple and FREE Paint Chip Christmas Tree Craft was the perfect way to keep our minds occupied while creating a masterpiece. It was also a great way to practice cutting and gluing skills and to encourage her to discuss colors and shapes.

I also loved that we were able to make our tree anything but green. She's been stuck on trees only being green and it was good to encourage her imagination and mix up colors!

Have a little crafter on your hands? Love the look of our simple paint chip trees? Want to make one of your own? Here ya go!

We grabbed our paint chips for an upcoming rainbow mural project in her room from our local hardware store and well, we decided to use them craft-ily as well once this idea came to mind.

You'll start by cutting off both ends with writing on them and start making staggered cuts with the remainder of the paint chip. Allowing for both big and small pieces, thick and thin,etc.

Now, once you have a ton of colors cut up and lots of variety in the shapes of your pieces, apply glue to your white paper in the shop of a tree, if you'd like you can top your tree with a star or a funky shaped cut.

It's that easy. Now just let it dry & hang it up! I plan on sticking these in shadow box frames and setting it out each year. I love looking back at our crafts year after year and admiring each piece, it's a little bit of nostalgia that I'll always be thankful for.

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The HONEST Truth about Sleep Number Beds - Sleep Number p5 Mattress Review

2020-12-04T13:39:00.001-05:00

Did you know we actually WON a Sleep Number bed?

We did... and I was legit so excited! I won the Sleep Number p5 Mattress on twitter, craziest thing - I tweeted once in favor of a blog network that I adore and next thing I knew we were the proud owners of a fancy new bed! We went to the store, we learned about our new bed, they came and installed it, the whole shebang! While I was SUPER thankful to have the opportunity to have such an expensive item, I learned from this lesson that the price of something absolutely does not make it a nicer product.

That's right, I'm dishing the dirt on our Sleep Number today and filling y'all in on the facts. We had a P5 delivered in 2016 and while it seemed cool to have such a fancy, adjustable bed at first - we soon discovered we aren't Sleep Number people. I like a bed to be soft yet firm, cozy yet sturdy. Our sleep number was best described as hard and uncomfortable when fully inflated or too soft and mushy when we lowered our sleep number. It's known as their most popular bed and it it supposed to offer body-contouring and sleep-enhancing benefits, but it simply does not feel good.

If you've ever been on a Sleep Number bed, you know there's a remote and you can adjust your settings. So I tried it all, numbers all over the place. There truly wasn't a comfortable number for me. I would wake up sore and still tired a lot, all from sleepless nights on our new mattress.

Not only was it uncomfortable, it was inconvenient. With the remotes, we were able to adjust our sleep number... but it really wasn't the easiest. You have to re-inflate regularly, then reset to your preferred setting when coming to bed. It wasn't anything to truly complain about but... when you can just get in bed and get cozy with almost any other mattress, why inconvenience yourself with another gadget to fiddle with before bed?

Like I said, I'm truly thankful to have won the bed... what a cool experience and a BIG win, but I thought I'd share our personal experience with Sleep Number and let you know that maybe it simply isn't worth the price for some. I tried for years to just deal with the bed, but finally decided to literally just toss it in the trash at the beginning of the pandemic.

With that said, we switched BACK to our Eve mattress that I was sent years ago for a blog campaign. They aren't sponsoring this post in any way now, but it is seriously a heavenly mattress - I highly recommend you looking into them if you are in the market for a mattress that'll blow your mind and offer that cozy, comfort we all want!

10 EPIC IKEA FINDS FOR $10 & UNDER

2020-12-01T10:44:00.001-05:00

Growing up means I'm obsessing over wall colors and collecting home decor more and more. I can often be caught daydreaming about owning a white couch or sometimes I'll be off in Amazon-land collecting things I'd like to add to my knick-knack shelf in my cart to "save for later".

If you're also like me and clean, cutely decorated pinterest-styled-homes obsessed, then this little list of amazing IKEA finds for under $10 is right up your alley - and get this, you can buy a few of these items for each person on your shopping list this holiday and it won't break the bank!

So let's get this party started!

10 EPIC IKEA FINDS FOR $10 & UNDER

1. MULA Abacus - One yellow, three greens and two blue ones. Help your kiddo develop critical thinking and logical skills with this nifty little old-fashioned bit of a rainbow. In-stores for just $9.99!

2. HYLLIS Shelf Unit - This industrial looking, practical storage space is just what every space needs. Open, yet accomodating to all belongings. Grab one of these for just $9.99!

3. TOFTLUND Rug - This adorable rug is just the right amount of "texture" for any room. Whether you use it as expected, on the floor... or you could mix things up and drape it at the end of your bed or it may possibly provide just enough of a boho vibe if you hang it on the wall? The ways to use this little piece of sheep-skin lookalike material are endless and all of them are adorable. This little taste of heaven can be added to your cart for just $9.99 and is a must have!

4. MÅLA Portable drawing case - This super adorable little craft storage is what I like to think of as a child's version of a briefcase! With a hard surface for them to craft upon, this is perfect for around the house or long travels in the car, ringing in at just $9.99 - this is a must have under the tree this year!

5. HEMLAGAD Crepe/pancake pan - Breakfast is served! This crepe/pancake pan is one your kitchen is calling for! Become the Top Chef in your kitchen for just $7.99!

6. VARDAGEN Glass in blue - There's just something so nostalgic about these glasses... and I'm gonna go ahead and indulge in some bevies in these beauties for the low price of just $4.99 for a pack of 4!

7. POLARVIDE Throw in gray - This warm, fleece throw is an unexpected gift from IKEA. It's such a brilliant neutral,with a sweet scalloped edge, and comes in at just $3.99! Everyone on your list needs a new blanket for that price.

8. SPARKÄR Door mat in green leaves - This precious little plant lady door mat is literally the bee's knees! I'm beyond obsessed and think it's the perfect mixture of inviting and adorable without being too much! Add a buffalo plaid mat underneath it and we'll go ahead and call it the perfect "modern farmhouse" look we all want...amIright? Add to cart for just $7.99!

9. TROMMA Wall clock in white - This adorable clock arrived to IKEA just in time... HA. See what I did there? But seriously, this is such a cute piece to add to a gallery wall and for just $1.99, you might as well grab a few as gifts!

10. SANNAHED Frame in white - This adorable little frame makes the perfect shadow box for your photos or artwork. Coming in both black and white, I know these will be decorating our walls. Want to add some to your home? Grab one for just $4.99!

That's a wrap for 10 of the best items from Ikea for under $10! Which one is on your list this year?

Simple Snowman Countdown to Christmas Chain

2020-11-30T00:14:00.000-05:00

This month I'm taking more time to embrace the little moments with my growing girl. After a year of running on overdrive for my small shop, I stepped back around Thanksgiving and realized I owe it to both of us to spend more quality time together, so we've been laughing more, cuddling tons, and doing non-stop craft projects. I thought I'd start to share our daily craft projects and hopefully inspire you to get your hands messy with your little one!

Today I'm sharing a super simple, yet adorable craft - our Snowman Countdown to Christmas Chain is something nearly everyone has the materials to make and it's such a fun way to visually show your kids how many days are left until Christmas. I highly recommend pinning this project and getting it completed early in December so that it's a fun, drawn out countdown! We started our countdown with 26 days left until Christmas and I'm so excited to watch D's face as the links go away and she realizes Christmas is almost here!

Ready to start making your Snowman Countdown to Christmas Chain? Let's do this!

Materials:
White Printer Paper
Glue
Scissors
Black Construction Paper
Markers

You'll start by cutting the white printer paper into the amount of days you are counting down... we started at 26 days so cut out 26 pieces of paper.

We then made one into a circle, gluing the ends together. Then continued that process, having Delainey help thread each piece through the next and place the glued ends together. Continue connecting until you have only one piece remaining.

Once we had all of our pieces of connected, sans one. We drew a cute snowman face on the last piece, threaded it through, and attached the ends.

We then cut out a little hat and attached with glue.

The final step was showing off our hard work and hanging it up so we could start counting down the days until Christmas!

Have you made a countdown or are you using a pre-purchased advent calendar? Tell me all about how you're counting down the days until Christmas in the comments below!

A little hello (again)...

2020-11-28T23:20:00.000-05:00

This year has been full of chaos, as we all know... and I'll be completely real with you all, I haven't handled it well.

I've had breakdowns, I've cried til I couldn't shed another tear, I've worried myself sick, and I've focused my energy differently than I ever have before and manifested all kinds of crazy events.. and I'm sure I'm not alone in any of this. 2020 has been a "helluva" year. I'd like to think December will be perfect, but as we all know - that's unlikely this year.

One thing I didn't do in 2020, that I was really aiming to do before the pandemic came ashore, was stay consistent and involved with my blog. I partially stopped updating as much because I felt paralyzed trying to write, I had the ultimate case of writer's block and well, I think it shows. It was hard to come up with anything to say with so much facing us. I shared my opinions and stance on major events on social media, but I honestly didn't feel I had a voice in anything happening in 2020. From the virus to race riots, that's not my expertise. I listened, I learned, and I occasionally reposted on social...but felt I had no right to share too much information here.

Beyond not knowing what to write, I also devoted ALL of my creative energy into my bow business - kind of by accident. Each week I've started having a ready-to-ship release and that's been a total time suck. Amazing, so much fun, and helpful financially, but writing is my passion - hence, why I started a blog and why I'm here writing for you now.

As I sat terrified over the last few months, not knowing what to write, it was easy for me to take a pair of scissors to my materials and create whatever felt right. It was therapeutic in some ways to step away from sharing so much here and just create "art", but then again, boxing everything in and not sharing was hard and obviously didn't do me much good. So, here I am, sharing the most honest post I've shared in 2020.

It's been a hard year. I've had my heart shattered, I've been let down, I've felt a complete lack of control - but I'm still here and I'm actually feeling more ready to share with you guys than ever. This year hasn't shut me up, it just taught me to choose the life I want, to create the life I want, and that's why I'm back - I want to encourage you to create your dream life while I create mine alongside you.

So, to summarize, I'm back and feeling better than ever about sharing here on the blog. Now is the time to create the life you want and I can't wait to help you do just that, by creating the life I want and sharing it here!

Let me just go ahead and say "hello" (again)!

How I'm Taking Care of Me with a Little Self Care #FallForSelfCareBBxx

2020-09-12T03:01:00.004-04:00

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.

Lately, I'm learning that taking care of myself is just as important as taking care of those around me. From making sure I feel beautiful, to renewing my soul, I'm really working on ME lately and reminding myself who I am, knowing that this makes me a better mom, wife, and friend to all. It's funny because I was so invested in my family for so long, I almost forgot what a good day of self-care looked like... then Babbleboxx sent over this box of goodies for me to test out and it changed the way I take care of myself for the better.

The first big change for me was subtle BUT so revitalizing, I changed my hair color for the better and I'm so thankful to eSalon for making the best color I've possibly ever had. It came in a kit, with instructions prepared just for me so it was easy as pie to use and I think the results were incredible.

Before using their dye, I was starting to notice grey hair (thanks to parenting during covid, I'm sure LOL)... Luckily, they know that no two people are the same, our hair is ALL different and eSalon matches your hair with a formula made specifically for you. I asked for a shade with red violet in it and they sent over a BEAUTIFUL mahogany shade that matches my complexion so well, it looks like my natural color.

As you can see, it was a small change but the greys being gone and a luxurious, natural looking color literally have changed the way I view myself and my appearance. I'm proud to wear my hair down, I've been styling it more and loving the way I look!

Another thing I've been loving while I have a minute of alone time, is the book they sent over... A Fool's Paradise by Author Robyn Williams is a great read and a good escape. Before I had my daughter I loved to read, but I've done less of it the older she gets - not using her as an excuse, but my brain is tired after being her playmate all day long. Ha. I'm sure other mamas can relate... but this book is perfect to pick up and read during nap time and good way to renew my mind with a little escape. If you're looking for something you don't want to put down, then I suggest grabbing a copy of A Fool's Paradise.

Another thing I'm highly recommending from the Babbleboxx was the Lip Plumping Gloss from Grande Cosmetics. GrandeLIP is a high gloss, volumizing plumper and it makes me feel BEAUTIFUL. My poor lips have always been super dry and this gloss changed that right up and made them look fuller and more hydrated. In just 3-5 minutes, I feel like a new woman with fuller, more beautiful and glossy lips! Want to give GrandeLIP a try? Use the code SELFCARE10 to save!

We all know hand sanitizer is a commodity these days, so when they sent over a couple of different bottles, I was so excited to be provided a little bit of peace of mind. The Born Basic sanitizer is straight shooting and to the point, no gimmicks in their branding - simple and to the point, they are a necessity and they don't fluff up their packaging which is nice. I love that I can stick a bottle in my purse and head out to run some errands without worrying about germs as much, knowing I have this non-sticky, soothing formula of sanitizer in my bag!

The last thing in my Babbleboxx was the Nail and Foot Repair products from Kerasal. It's like they knew I was dying for a pedicure and supplied me with some goodies to give myself an ultimate healing one, AT HOME!

The Kerasal Intensive foot repair was the perfect way to soothe my feet and deeply moisturize them. I noticed a change in my heels overnight... and couldn't even believe it! I just lather it on, stick on some socks and let it soak in. Interested in getting your feet in tip-top shape? Check out Kerasal Intensive Foot Repair for yourself.

The multi-purpose intensive nail repair was just what my toes were begging me for. After years of getting my toes done, I've noticed some serious signs of "aging" and was freaking out about the way they looked. It was something only I knew about, but something I was embarassed about nonetheless. Then I tried this stuff and realized it was just what I needed! Kerasal's patented formula helps improve nail appearance by reducing discoloration, smoothes the surface hydrates and normalizes your nails - making them look beyond healthy again!

Speaking of feeling healthy again, I bet you can see why I'm feeling all the good self-care vibes after receiving this Babbleboxx. So tell me, how do you practice self-care? What's your favorite way to "treat yourself" while you are still dealing with your day-to-day routine?