Disclosure: A few of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I earn a small commission if you click through and place an order. It's an email I get at least once a week - people in search of the "just right" gift for the "just right" kid for a multitude of sacraments. Since we've celebrated six baptisms, five (almost!) first communions and one confirmation, we've seen and been recipients of some of the most meaningful and beautiful gifts. So I decided to dish - in one place - the best ideas I've got. And, please, if you're a business owner and you aren't mentioned here, leave your shop link in the comments! If you like winning free things, visit me … [Read more...]
The Summer Trio You Need
If you're thinking pool, beer and good BBQ, this is almost as good. Ha! A few weeks ago I discovered the sweetest little company, Farm Wife Naturals, via a friend. Julia, the owner, sent me some samples of so many things to try and I have la-loved them all. You know me, I only brag about things I think you'll love, too. We are wrapping up our family vacation today (serious sad panda face) and we used the heck out of these products, especially the warm weather collection: anti-itch spray, bug repelling spray and after sun spray. We also broke in the boo boo salve. Thanks Big Bend National Park. She has baby collections, facials, kids, hair, ladies and mens, too. Don't blame me when … [Read more...]
A Bag Worth Bragging About
When something is both beautiful AND functional, I am the happiest camper on the planet. I've had a DSLR camera for a long time, but I never really invested in a fashionable bag. Several years ago, during a Cyber Monday sale, I snagged a bag I had hoped would last me many years. But after too short of a time, it fell apart. Insert sad emjoi face here. Below, my hands are hiding the broken straps and my sweater is hiding all the faux leather that peeled off the front. Eeek. For the last year, I've basically hobbled around in a falling apart bag because I wanted to find the "forever one," you know? My list of qualifications was high: Functional, it needed to carry my three … [Read more...]
Dinner Just Got Way Easier
Two words: dinner hour. Two more words: shoot me. Between kids' activities, Scott's work schedule, my graphic design work and my inability to drink Dr Pepper intravaneously, preparing for dinner sometimes puts me in the crazy house. It also means that sometimes we eat nachos for dinner with a side of goldfish. Just keeping it real. I try, very hard, to prepare great meals for the family that fit within our $250/week grocery budget. And, as much as I love to cook, when you prepare food for an army around the clock, sometimes you just want the food to cook itself. Enter, my new kitchen BFF: Most of my previous slow cooker recipes entailed a big hunk of meat, some spice … [Read more...]
Easy Gift-Giving
I'm one of those "shop all year for gifts" kind of person. There have been too many Christmas seasons (more than I'd like to admit) where I bought a this will do kind of gift rather than a this they will love gift! But, more than that, I like to give gifts with meaning and purpose. I've written quite a bit on our three gift tradition with our kids and why gorging on gifts always leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth. I think there are three ways to curb holiday gift-giving hangover: Start early Give with purpose See if you can still remember one thing you got last year you loved In that spirit, let's do a little show and tell + an awesome Minted giveaway. {I am the daughter … [Read more...]
