Erin

$500 Christmas Savings Plan

September 24, 2017 by Erin Leave a Comment

The holidays sneak up on me every single year. And as it’s already September, the countdown to Thanksgiving and Christmas is on. I’d like to say that we try to not spend too much during the holidays, because we actually do try to be mindful about spending and not just go crazy with gifts, but the fact of the matter is, the holiday season is spendy no matter what. There are big meals to prepare, there are travel expenses, gifts, holiday outfits, work gift exchanges, the list goes on. So even if you’re trying to reduce your gift spending or you’ve been saving all year, unanticipated expenses will certainly pop up. …

Perfect Gift Ideas for a New Mom

September 22, 2017 by Erin Leave a Comment

I know, I know. It’s fun to buy all of the adorable, tiny little baby clothes as gifts. Of course, it’s fun to receive those tiny clothes, too! If you have a friend that’s expecting a baby, you may have already given her baby clothes, a bouncy seat, bibs, or some other kind of baby item. Those are all fine and great, but when you go to meet the new baby, there are all kinds of things you could bring the new mom that would absolutely make her life easier, brighten her day, and make her feel more like a human again….

5 Quick Fixes to Make Your Home Feel Like Fall (Today!)

September 20, 2017 by Erin Leave a Comment

I happen to be the offspring of a super-DIY’er / decorator extraordinaire. However, the gene skipped me somehow. I can manage to keep the house (somewhat) clean and frame some pictures from time to time, but that’s about it. It’s bad enough that my mom actually comes over to decorate for various holidays. (I wish I was kidding, but I really need the help.)

As stunted as I am in the decorating department, I still really enjoy having my home feel cozy and festive for whatever time of year it happens to be. Fresh flowers in the spring, fun throw pillows, wreaths….I love it all….

Warnings from Experienced Parents (that you just didn’t listen to..)

September 18, 2017 by Erin Leave a Comment

When I was pregnant with our first child, there were days that I felt like my head would explode if someone tried to give me one more piece of unsolicited parenting advice. “You’ll be tired..sleep when baby sleeps!” “Don’t drink coffee while you’re breastfeeding!” (HA!) “Don’t let them watch TV until they’re 15!”

While people meant well, they started to sound like the same annoying song stuck on repeat. Their so-called words of wisdom were truly going in one ear and out the other. Now that I have a 3 year old and a baby, I TOTALLY understand what these do-gooders were ACTUALLY trying to say. For anyone that’s curious, allow me to put some weight behind some of those coined phrases that you hear so often while awaiting your first little nugget…..

Stove-Top Potpourri Recipe

September 15, 2017 by Erin Leave a Comment

(This post may contain affiliate links. You can find my full disclosure here.)

There is nothing more effective at making your house feel like fall than making it smell like fall. In a pinch I’ll use my wax melts or candles, but this is by far my favorite way to make our home smell AMAZING.

The sense of smell is so powerful. We’ve all come across smells as adults that bring us back to our childhood, and this is one of them for me. It just makes me feel like I’m at home!…

Vaginal Delivery vs. C-Section (From a Mom that’s done both..)

September 13, 2017 by Erin Leave a Comment

A little over three years ago, I gave birth to our first child. I was so sure that I was going to have an incredible, unmedicated birth experience. I drug my husband to an all day birthing class and was borderline obsessed with asking other moms about their birth stories, imagining how it would go for me. …

Home Cleaning Schedule & Checklist

September 11, 2017 by Erin Leave a Comment

More than a “cleaning schedule” this a “keep the household running relatively smoothly” list. I made this for myself about 2 years ago and kept it in the notes section of my phone for a long time. Some days I have lots of energy and cleaning sounds fun (??) and I go crazy and do a bunch of these things. Other days, I stare at a pile of dishes and laundry all day, and it’s still there when I wake up the next morning….

10 Awesome Baby Proofing Products

September 8, 2017 by Erin Leave a Comment

You want to know the best way to figure out what needs to be childproofed in your home? Invite friends over that have a child a few months older than yours. Let them loose, then watch as they find every. single. thing. in your house that isn’t nailed down, every item that’s choking size, every breakable thing that you thought was out of reach, every place they could pinch their fingers or poke an eye out or eat something they shouldn’t. They move fast, so you might want a pen and paper to take notes….

How to Stop Meal Prepping and Start Saving

September 6, 2017 by Erin Leave a Comment

Before you tell me about all of the ways extreme meal-prepping has saved you time and money, let me say that I totally get it. It absolutely works for some people. Of course you can save money by purchasing things in bulk, having things prepared to eat all of the time to reduce the temptation to eat out, etc. I think it’s really awesome when people can get this to work for them, because I’m all for anything that makes life easier and saves money….

Peanut Butter & Jelly Bars

September 4, 2017 by Erin Leave a Comment

These peanut butter & jelly bars are the perfect back to school treat! This is a recipe you seriously need to try, it’s really versatile and beyond delicious. Use any kind of fruit preserves you like.

The recipe was adapted from Giada’s Apricot Oat Bars, which are definitely one of my favorite treats to make. I just tweaked it a bit to make it more appealing to our 3 year old, and everyone loves them! The crushed pretzels on top are a must……

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