Happy fifth birthday, Pippa! It's hard to believe that it's been five years since we first met you. You were my first baby, and I have such sweet memories of those first days after you came home from the hospital. We had nothing to do during those lazy summer days except nurse and watch Netflix and go for long walks. Pips, you and I share a bond that can never be broken.
Read MoreThere comes a point in almost every adult's life when they need some extra cash, and they need it quickly.
Maybe you're moving and have extra expenses like a security deposit, moving truck, and first and last month's rent.
Read MoreWell hi there.
It's been a bit. A lot of life changes are going down right now, and I feel like I've been on an emotional roller coaster. Writing is how I process what I'm feeling, so I think it's time to share it with my online community.
Read MoreSummer is coming up, which means your kids are going to be home all day long begging you for snacks. I get it. They're hopefully running around outside working up an appetite and need to refuel before they get back out there.
Read MoreLewis William.
You are one today! How has it been a year already?
Your birth was so easy, laid back, fun. We were all so excited to meet you...that is, once Pippa got over her disappointment that you were a boy. From the moment we brought you home, your big brother and sister smothered you with affection, hugs, and kisses.
Read MoreWhen I was in high school, I would see all the celebrities on the cover of teen magazines with their perfectly flat abs. I honestly thought if I exercised hard enough, I could achieve that. I would do hundreds of sit-ups and planks on my bedroom floor, thinking I could just target that one specific area.
There's so much wrong with that scenario - comparing myself to celebrities, not realizing that I needed to nourish my body with good food - not punish it with exercise, and never thinking my body was good enough.
Read MoreI am a three-time C-section mama and proud of it. Of course, it wasn't the type of birth I pictured when I got pregnant for the first time, but after going through the procedure 3 times, I've realized it's not so bad at all. In fact, I've even grown fond of my C-section memories, because it's how my babies made their way into the world safely. Now that I'm a Veteran C-section Mom, I've picked up a few tips and tricks for making recovery a little smoother.
Read MoreSo you're planning a family trip to Disney World, but you're overwhelmed by all the options for places to stay. I personally find it helpful to read first-hand experiences and reviews of what a hotel is like so I can make an informed decision. I had the opportunity to stay at the Walt Disney World Dolphin hotel to facilitate a recent article I wrote for TravelPulse. I thought it would be helpful to share my experience here!
Read MoreThe prospect of entertaining toddlers and preschoolers on a long road trip is enough to deter even the bravest parent from traveling. Kids can go stir crazy, whine incessantly, drop things a million times, and refuse to nap.
If you're traveling with a 2 year old by car, you'll need activities to keep them entertained. In my experience, a cross country road trip with a 2 year old isn't so bad if you're prepared. The best road trip activities for little kids are simple, mess-free, and something they can do without supervision. Here are the best road trip activities for 2 year olds, 3 year olds, and preschoolers that I've come up with!Schedule
Read MoreBy the time you have your third baby, you really don't need any new gear. We had already bought or received hand-me-downs for every swing, bouncer, and gadget a baby could want. We had a girl, then a boy, so regardless of gender our third baby would be clothed. The one thing I felt like I didn't have was a baby carrier that I absolutely loved and was comfortable enough to use for long periods of time. I had heard good things about the Lillebaby carriers and was curious about whether they would be a good fit for me.
Read MoreAh, parenthood. There's nothing more magical than watching your offspring grow into a kind, brave, and happy child. There's nothing less magical than getting on the floor and playing toys with them. As much as I love my children and acknowledge the importance of imaginative play for their development, I find it incredibly mind-numbing as an adult.
Read MoreWhen I finally decided to take my blog from hobby to business a year and a half ago, I had no idea how I was going to make it work. I knew nothing about how blogs make money. I was clueless about getting traffic to my blog. I was writing about my family's weekends and long philosophical essays that no one was reading.
But I was determined to figure it all out.
Read MoreMy goal for moms is to make health and wellness simple and accessible. You shouldn't need an advanced degree in nutrition to eat healthily, and you shouldn't need to be a certified personal trainer to get a good workout. In the same way, you shouldn't have to pay hundreds of dollars each month on fitness classes (even though those can be fun, effective, and a good strategy for those who need accountability).
If you have the discipline and desire to exercise at home on your own, let me make some suggestions for setting up an effective home gym for the lowest price possible.
Read MoreI am forever on the hunt for the perfect multi-use bag or backpack. You know why? Because I hate buying bags. Just hate it. I already have way too many purses, backpacks, tote bags, canvas bags, laptop bags, grocery bags, and overnight bags in my house and I seriously can't stand it. The last thing I need is another bag I can only use for one specific situation, then have no idea where to store it when it's not in use.
Read MoreEvery month I love to share my favorite food, products, and moments both to share with my readers and because it's fun to look back on every few months to see what we were doing. February truly flew by, but it was a really fun month! I'm sharing a few of the things that made it a great month. Feel free to share your favorites from February in the comments!
Read MoreI think sometimes we're looking for huge radical changes we can make in order to get healthy or lose weight. We think we can't succeed unless we completely overhaul everything we're doing because it's obviously not working.
After years of trial and error and plenty of experience, I am firmly in the camp that says small simple changes add up to the biggest results. They are more sustainable long-term and easier to implement in your already-established schedule.
Read MoreYou know what's amazing about being pregnant? Not the morning sickness, heartburn, swollen feet, or headaches. No, what's amazing about being pregnant is that you have this glorious round belly that you can stick out as far as you want and people gush over how cute it is.
Postpartum bellies are a different beast. No one is fawning over your saggy post-baby stomach. No one is telling you how cute your postpartum clothes are. It's an awkward stage where it's almost impossible to get dressed in the morning. You're trying to avoid "are you pregnant?" comments in public, so shirts have to be flowy. Your maternity clothes are too big, but your old clothes are too tight in all the wrong places. If you're nursing, you need to have boob access.
Read MoreWhen I first started the MuTu System to lose the baby weight and heal my diastasis recti, I thought doing 10-15 minutes of core work each day was enough. I completed the 12-week program, and even made great progress!
However, once the 12 weeks was complete, I only remembered to do the core work a few times a week and tried to jump right into high-intensity interval training right away. Suddenly my back was bothering me again, and my insides started to feel like they were falling out through my belly button. I was right back to where I started.
Read MoreBeing a mom is hard. I know this because I've hidden in my closet and cried hot tears of exhaustion and frustration. I know this because my body has sustained injuries, aches, and pains as a result of becoming a mother. I also know this because our culture reminds me at every turn how hard motherhood is, but how worth it!
It's all true. It's hard and also worth it.
But sometimes I fall into this trap of feeling at once self-satisfied AND indignant about everything I have suffered in the name of motherhood.
Read MoreIt's no secret that I love my protein shakes! I replace one or two of my meals with a high-protein meal replacement shake every single day. This is absolutely the best one on the market. Sometimes, however, I like to have a high-protein snack in between meals to eat along with a piece of fruit, or I want something warm to eat instead of a cold shake. In these situations, I like to make protein snacks with my shake powder for my kids, my husband, and me.
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