This past year, my oldest was in half-day preschool, which meant that we had to be out the door every day around 12:15. Yes. I had to get three kids ages 0, 2, and 4 out the door right at lunchtime and perilously close to nap time.
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When I traveled the world as a young adult, I didn't care where I slept. It could be a hostel, the floor of a friend's bedroom, or a couch. Now that I'm a 30-year-old with three little kids, I'm much more aware of our accommodations when we travel. We need somewhere quiet, with a spot for the baby to sleep peacefully where the 2- and 5-year-old won't wake him up. It also has to be kid-friendly and a great location. On our recent trip to Tampa Bay, the Hilton St. Petersburg Carillon Park was the perfect choice for serenity and calm after a crazy day of travel and exploration.
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The first time I took a really long road trip with a toddler I was 9 months pregnant with my second and moving across the country. I basically let her watch as many movies as she wanted because I didn't have the mental space to think of other activities nor the physical agility to turn and help her out in the back seat.
Now that I'm a mom of three, and I have taken countless road trips ranging from 1 hour to 20 hours with my little ones, I am determined not to get out of the car ready to pull my hair out or have my kids be movie zombies.
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My family lives on the east coast of Florida, so we are no stranger to beaches, palm trees, and warm weather. But driving across the state to visit Sarasota felt like the perfect tropical getaway with my two youngest. My boys are 2 and 13 months, so I'm always on the lookout for kid-friendly locations whenever I travel, and Sarasota was bursting at the seams!
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I'm done nursing my third baby, and I have successfully lost all the baby weight and then some. I'm also officially done with teaching so I can be home with my kids, which means I no longer need work clothes. I'm staring at a closet full of ill-fitting, too fancy, or out-of-style clothes that I never wear, and it needs to change.
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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.
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There 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.
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Well 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.
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Summer 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.
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Lewis 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.
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When 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.
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I 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.
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So 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!
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The 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
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By 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.
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Ah, 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.
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When 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.
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My 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.
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I 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.
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Every 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!
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