Where to Stay in the North Georgia Mountains: Big Canoe Airbnb
Where to Stay in the North Georgia Mountains: Big Canoe Airbnb

This summer my side of the family decided to rent an Airbnb in the mountains of North Georgia for a week-long getaway. It honestly was the perfect destination to relax, hike, swim, eat s'mores, stay up late playing games, and just spend some quality time with one another.

If your family is looking for a mountain getaway, and Georgia is within driving distance, I would encourage you to check out the community of Big Canoe. It's very secluded and situated in the most beautiful natural setting. 

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TravelEmily Krausehotel review, travel tipsComment
How to Budget and Save for Your Dream Vacation
How to Budget and Save for Your Dream Vacation

I think almost anyone you talk to these days would say they want to travel more. With social media, it's easier than ever to see what our friends, acquaintances, and random bloggers we follow are up to, and it seems many of them are constantly on an exotic vacation. If you're like most normal people, you want to jet set to that overwater bungalow or 7-country Europe tour, too!

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TravelEmily Krausetravel tips, budget, vacation planningComment
10 Tips for Recovering from Long Travel Days
10 Tips for Recovering from Long Travel Days

It would have been easy to feel very overwhelmed and let my kids watch unlimited TV and eat every snack they begged for while I regained my sanity. However, I knew that putting these 10 tips into action would make the transition much smoother in the end. 

Re-entry into your everyday atmosphere doesn't have to be miserable. If you remember to implement a few key strategies, you'll be back in the groove in no time. 

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MotherhoodEmily Krausemom style, travel tipsComment
Bento Box and School Lunch Ideas for Kids
Bento Box and School Lunch Ideas for Kids

If packing lunch is a struggle for you, too, let's go through a few ways to make life easier. I'll provide some lists of ideas for each category, then show you some inspiration from Bento Box Expert Mamas. Don't worry, you don't have to cut your kid's food into cute shapes to be a good mom. Sometimes it's just fun to get ideas or admire other moms in their element, though!

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MotherhoodEmily Krausesnacks, bento box, kids, health productsComment
What to Wear for Disney World in Summer
What to Wear for Disney World in Summer

I find deciding what to wear for a day at a theme park to be exceedingly difficult. On one hand, I want to be comfortable, as these are long days of walking in the hot sun. On the other hand, I want to make sure I look put together since I know we'll be taking a lot of pictures. Outfits need to be breathable and cute, and I need to be able to sit comfortably on all types of rides. 

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Travel, MotherhoodEmily KrauseDisney, theme parks, mom style, travel gear Comments
What to Do in Atlanta with Kids
What to Do in Atlanta with Kids

Before this summer, all I really knew about Atlanta was that it was the worst traffic to drive through on our way from Florida to Wisconsin (or vice versa). 

But all that changed when I had a chance to visit Georgia's capital with my kids. My extended family was vacationing in the mountains of northern Georgia for a week of togetherness and relaxation, and one of my 5 sisters was flying into Atlanta a few days into the trip. We decided to make a day of it when we went to pick her up.

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TravelEmily Krausetravel guide, Atlanta, destinations, GeorgiaComment
How to Start Traveling With Kids: Be a Tourist in Your Own City
How to Start Traveling With Kids: Be a Tourist in Your Own City

Some of the biggest obstacles to traveling with kids are time, money, and exhaustion. Travel can get pretty expensive, and I know it's tough to justify spending money on a trip when your kids might not even remember it. Many families don't get much vacation time, and when they do, they want to spend it with their extended family, catching up around the house, or relaxing.

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TravelEmily Krausetravel tips Comment
Hotel Review: The Emma in San Antonio
Hotel Review: The Emma in San Antonio

When you travel a lot, the hotels all begin to seem the same. But every once in a while you stay in a hotel that's so beautiful, so memorable that you can't stop thinking about it for months to come. 

That's how I felt after my stay at Hotel Emma in San Antonio. Every detail was attended to, the decor was stunning, the beds were a dream, and I felt like royalty throughout my entire stay.

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TravelEmily Krausehotel review, Texas, luxury hotel, luxury travelComment
where to stay in Tampa Bay: Hilton St. Petersburg Carillon Park Hotel review
where to stay in Tampa Bay: Hilton St. Petersburg Carillon Park Hotel review

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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TravelEmily Krausehotel review, Florida Comment
how to make road trip binders for your kids
how to make road trip binders for your kids

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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TravelEmily Krauseroad trip, travel tips, travel gearComment
pippa's 5th birthday
pippa's 5th birthday

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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FamilyEmily KrausePippa, BirthdayComment
lewis's first year
lewis's first year

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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MotherhoodEmily KrausefamilyComment
my favorite drink to fight belly fat
my favorite drink to fight belly fat

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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HealthEmily KrausenutritionComment
things I wish I had known before my first C-section (plus some recovery tips)
things I wish I had known before my first C-section (plus some recovery tips)

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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MotherhoodEmily Krausepregnancy, pregnancy and nursing, C-section Comment