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DIY Teacher Gifts with 1800Flowers

February 8, 2018

Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite holidays to celebrate. Not just with my husband and kids, but with teachers, friends, and people who are special to me. Spreading happiness is something I love teaching my children and what better way to do that than with a simple DIY for Valentine’s Day, but if you really want to surprise someone you should opt for flowers delivered to that special person.

Two years ago I made a Peppermint Sugar Scrub for Henry’s teachers and my girlfriends which they loved but this year I wanted to do something a bit more festive.

1800Flowers has the most beautiful roses this year and I couldn’t wait to get some to make gifts for Evelyn’s teachers at her school. These farm fresh flowers were so easy to arrange and fit perfectly into paper cones. After I made the heart and xoxo design I printed them out on thick cardstock on 8.5″ x 11″ paper. You make think that rolling a paper cone is easy, but I kid you not I had to google how to roll a paper cone and it took several sheets for me to practice. After you’ve done a few, they get really easy. I taped them together, added some greenery and three roses per cone. Make sure that the stems are completely dry so the cardstock doesn’t get wet. You also want plenty of fullness so the roses stay put and don’t slide out through the bottom. After I assembled all the flowers, I added them to a big basket and off to school we went. The teachers at Evelyn’s school are some of the sweetest women I’ve ever met and deserve so much appreciation (and wine). I’m so happy Evelyn is somewhere that she is loved when she’s not with me. I can still remember dropping her off on her first day and crying the entire time she was gone. Now I count down the minutes until drop off. KIDDING! 🙂

You can download the hearts and xoxo files and print to make your own paper cones at home. The entire project took less than an hour and I used two Enchanted Rose Medley bouquets from 1800Flowers. They have an entire Valentine’s Day collection which has classic to unique bouquets plus other gifts (not just flowers) and you can save 15% with code CHANEL15.

Are you giving Valentine’s Day gifts to teachers this year? If so, let me know what your go-to gift is!

*This post was sponsored by 1800Flowers*

5 Ingredient Salted Caramel Iced Coffee

February 2, 2018

Happy February 1! Who is ready to start their New Years Resolutions today since January was basically a wash? Oh just me? Cool. Like most mothers, teachers, and students, my body is made up of about 70% coffee, 20% Diet Coke and 10% water. As much as I like fancy coffee from Starbucks, my husband doesn’t like me spending close to $50 a month on something I can drink at home. So if the same happen to you, check out this link to a cold brew coffee buy online website!

I drink iced coffee all year long, even when it’s 20 degrees out. However, this recipe can be made using hot or iced coffee. It’s super easy and if you’re like me, you probably already have all the ingredients in your house. You’ve probably heard of Moose Munch and their delicious gourmet popcorn but you might not have known that they also sell delicious coffee. From whole beans to single pods, each cup has the rich and buttery Moose Munch flavor. For this recipe, I used my Vitamix to finely grind the coffee beans. [My house still smells amazing from the milk chocolate caramel coffee). Once the beans were smooth enough, I made a large pot of coffee in my Ninja on Rich Brew and then placed it in the fridge for a few hours. After the coffee was cooled, I poured one cup over ice and added 2 tablespoons Salted Caramel Syrup (I used Torani) and some non-fat milk to taste. Whipped cream is in our refrigerator at all times so I topped my glass with a heaping pile and drizzled with caramel sauce and a pinch of sea salt. I’ve been considering buying a new coffee machine and I’ve been reading some coffee equipment information to help me learn a bit more about them. I really love coffee so I feel like I should treat myself to a new machine!

Your taste buds won’t even know what to do with themselves after a few sips of this coffee. The Milk Chocolate Caramel coffee mixed with the salted caramel syrup is to die for. If you’re looking for a fun twist on your morning coffee, then this recipe is for you. The best part is that you can enjoy a cafe style coffee at home! Do you have a favorite spin on iced coffee? If so, let me know below! xo

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Navigating Through The Childcare Dilemma

January 30, 2018

This post is sponsored by KinderCare. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I’ve had a real job since I was 14 years old. I don’t mean babysitting or being a mothers helper; I worked for a company and received an actual paycheck. For the past 20 years, I have held a job, sometimes two, consistently and have never been unemployed (knock on wood). Before having kids, I knew I wanted to continue working and couldn’t even imagine not being in the workforce in some way. I held the same job for over 9 years in my adult life which saw me through an engagement, wedding, and the birth of two children. I was raised in a household where both my parents always worked. Not because they had to, but because my mother loved her job, being creative, and having a life that was more than just centered around her children. While my parents went to work each day, I went to preschool or stayed with family and loved every minute. I’ve always been outgoing so being around new people and making friends has always been easy for me. I thrive on daily interaction with friends and co-workers so it was really hard leaving them when I had my first baby. I remember crying to my mom on my first real day of maternity leave asking what I was going to do for an entire 12 weeks by myself with a baby that couldn’t interact with me.

Fast forward returning to work after my maternity leave was up and I dreaded having to leave my son all day long. I was lucky enough to work for a company that valued mothers and I was able to work 2 days from home so I could be with him. Even the thought of leaving him for half the week was unbearable. Was he crying for me? Did he miss me? Was he being comforted by the ladies in the nursery? Even though my internal mama struggle was there, I missed being around my coworkers and having conversations with adults. As much as I loved my son, being a mother was never enough for me. I always needed more to be fulfilled.

When my second baby was six months old, I left the corporate world to stay home full time. I wanted to enjoy my last babies early years and also explore a creative field. Even though I had been blogging for a while, it was more of a personal blog for friends and family. I decided to start putting more work into my photography and blog while I was home with my daughter, which was a perfect balance of filling my creative passion and also raising my kids. However, once I started to get busier I realized I needed help with Evelyn, and she needed to be interacting with children her age. Once again I was met with the childcare dilemma that I didn’t think I’d have to go through again. There’s a lot that goes into researching the perfect place for your child. It will essentially be their home away from home, and you want to be sure they are safe, loved, and have all their needs met. Luckily I found an amazing school with teachers who are warm, friendly, and loving. Even though I cried the entire first day she was gone, I knew she was in good hands (plus picture updates from her teachers made it easier). She talks about her school day, friends, and teachers non-stop so I know she is enjoying herself.

Fun Fact: My husband and I both went to KinderCare when we were younger. They’ve been around since 1969 and aim to help hard-working families in the workforce pursue their dreams and instill confidence in both children and parents alike. If you’re in the process of researching childcare centers, be sure to tour your local KinderCare. With more than 1,400 centers in 38 states, the chances of one being in your area are high. I have several friends who are working mothers that send their children to KinderCare. Their facilities are clean, warm, welcoming, and have an excellent reputation. With an award-winning curriculum, KinderCare offers fun and learning at an affordable price.

Are you a working parent who has to have childcare? If so, what are some of the things you look for? What is most important to you? I’d love to hear about your process when it came to choosing the right facility for your babies!

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Setting up for Game Day in under 20 Minutes

January 29, 2018

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com on behalf of popchips®

With only a week until the big game, my husband and kids have been talking football nonstop. Even though our home team isn’t going this year, we still love to celebrate and party. My son is at the perfect age to really enjoy football now and enjoys rooting for whoever my husband tells him too, haha!

I love hosting casual get-togethers because it doesn’t involve a ton of decorating or prepping. The Dollar Store and Dollar Spot at Target have plenty of game day decor, chip bowls, footballs and games for super cheap. I even grabbed some football bingo, foam fingers, and foam footballs for the kids to play with in case they get restless. I’ve done my fair share of party throwing and event hosting (thank you ever so patient husband) to have everything down to a science when it comes time for the big day. If you want to elevate your sports-watching experience, you can actually bet on sites like 카지노 사이트.

Easy to grab snacks/food – No one wants to spend hours in the kitchen cooking when there are friends and family over. Buying platters, snacks, and drinks will save a ton of time. I was able to pick up all food at my local grocery store and ordered online. Popcorn, pretzels, and chips are always a fan favorite, no-mess snack. If you’ve never heard of popchips, they’re a delicious line of popped potato chip that are never fried (yay)! My favorite is the buffalo ranch ridges (they taste just like wings!) and my kids love the cheddar and sour cream. With more than 10 varieties, there is a flavor everyone will love. They’re also gluten-free, kosher, have NO trans fats, cholesterol, or preservatives. And since they aren’t fried, it means no grease or fingerprints on your sofa. Remember to keep it simple. You aren’t hosting a sit-down dinner so bite-size finger foods are absolutely fine.

Dining Table or Counter Set up – Guests will be too excited to sit down anywhere other than the living room (or wherever the game is on). There isn’t a need to put out nice dishes or place settings. Arrange your platters, chips, and drinks in one central location as a one-stop shop for guests to go refill their plates and cups. We have a long, empty counter in the kitchen which looks out to our living room and TV which is the perfect spot for a buffet line.

Cute Doesn’t Always Have to be Fancy – Since popcorn tends to fall everywhere no matter who is eating it, I wanted to keep it enclosed in its own little pouch instead of sliding around on a plate. I used inexpensive brown paper lunch bags and rolled down the edges. I buy paper plates, napkins, silverware, and bottled beverages to keep my clean up as minimal as possible. Throw in a football helmet and stacking crates and you’re all set!

Do you have any plans for the big day? Who are you rooting for? Be sure to grab some popchips for your game day party and go team!

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Afterschool Snacks in under 15 Minutes

January 26, 2018

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Stonyfield® Organic Kids®

I don’t know what it is about children, or at least my kids, but they seem to be famished as soon as they get home from school. Like they haven’t already had two meals and a snack by 3 pm. To keep up with their growing bodies demands, hangry bellies, and disastrous meltdowns, I’ve had to adjust our after-school snack routine. Although I have some great ideas for snacks for toddlers, my kids are growing and what used to be a bag of pretzels or some raisins has basically become a fourth meal. I find it less stressful if I already have some prepared and chopped snacks on hand which I add to a tray right before my son gets off the bus (which is when my daughter wakes up from her nap). The presentation makes them forget they’re eating healthy and the assortment gives them options, so they don’t ask for junk.

Lately, my go-to snacks have been a whole wheat tortilla roll-up with nut butter, honey, and sliced bananas, cucumbers, hardboiled eggs, apple slices and of course yogurt. Did you know that Stonyfield® Organic Kids® is still the #1 organic kids yogurt brand? And now the trusted yogurt that moms and kids equally love has 25% – 40% less sugar than the leading kids’ yogurt.

Let’s be honest; I can’t always feed my kids homemade, organic, grow-in-my-own-backyard food. I’m a busy, working mother who is just trying to survive each day and raise good humans. I’m not ashamed to admit that I need help, a lot. Thankfully Stonyfield® Organic Kids® yogurts are certified organic, and each cup is always made without the use of pesticides, artificial hormones, antibiotics, and GMOs. Stonyfield® offers their yogurt in cups, smoothies, pouches, and tubes (which I put in the freezer for a special treat). The convenience is something I look for when purchasing snacks for the kids.

My 5.5-year-old loves the smoothies and tubes while my 3-year-old eats pouches daily and I also pack the cups in her lunch. I have always been a fan of healthy snacks, like the one which contains superfood powder, we can bring with us on-the-go because my kids always seem to be starving right when we get in the car.

Now I can actually enjoy the afternoons and not have to play referee for 5 hours before bedtime. Do your kids love Stonyfield® Organic Kids® yogurts as much as mine do? What are some of your go-to snacks for little ones?

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Stonyfield® Organic Kids®.

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How to Be Pacifier Free {Proven Tips & Tricks}

January 20, 2018

6 days before Evelyn’s third birthday, I made the decision to get rid of her pacifier for good. Her third birthday was my deadline, and I knew I should have taken it from her sooner. She was getting to the point where she was starting to become really dependant on it. She would cry and whine for it all the time and because I didn’t want to listen to her tantrums while I was working, I would give it to her. Excellent parenting huh? Let me tell you why I waited so long to take her pacifier away. For one she, like her brother, has always been a champion sleeper and napper. Since I work from home I really need those 3-hour naps to get work done and let’s be honest, sometimes take a nap myself. I am all for self-care and doing what needs to be done so that we as mothers can be our best. This usually includes an hour nap. Besides the sleeping aspect of letting Evelyn have her paci for so long, it would instantly calm her down if she was upset or throwing a tantrum. I’m sorry but I am not one of those parents that can just tune out screaming and crying kids.

When I get an idea or thought in my head, I have no patience. I want it done right away or I want to do it immediately. There is usually no way around it, so a few weeks ago, I took to my Instagram stories and asked for help, tips, and tricks for successful paci removal. I received so many amazing suggestions and realized a lot of mothers had/have the same fear I did: scared their child would never sleep again and also the worry that their teeth would forever be messed up (hello braces!). I also read these facts on how long should your baby use a pacifier. Encouraging your children to look after their teeth is so important. One of my friends who lives in Indiana just took her daughter for her first ever check-up at a Dentist Fort Wayne. She was a little nervous at first, but soon settled in as the dentists were so patient. As for our pacifier mission though, I ended up going cold turkey that night, the same way we did for Henry when he was 2. Since Evelyn has really started loving baby dolls, I asked her if she wanted to send her paci’s to the new babies at the hospital and she enthusiastically said yes! Even when I put her down to bed, she was excited and seemed on board with the idea … for about 20 minutes.

I’m not going to sugarcoat it. Night one totally sucked. She screamed and cried for over 80 minutes and chapped the skin around her lips really bad. It was heartbreaking to hear her call for paci and mommy over and over again. After finally passing out from exhaustion, she only woke up once. I went into her room and told her she was okay and reminded her she was a big girl now and paci’s were for babies only. She slept the same amount of time (12 hours) and I was so thankful for that. Day 2 without her paci she totally did not nap. She stayed in her crib for almost two hours, yelling for her paci, talking to her babies, etc but she never fell asleep. I literally thought my day-to-day routine was about to change and I was becoming really stressed. However, things turned around that night. She fell asleep with no paci in just 30 minutes. When she would ask for her paci’s I would reply with “Remember, we sent them to the new babies at the hospital!” and that was it. I didn’t extend the conversation or make it a big deal. I acknowledged her question but was firm in my answer and didn’t drag the topic out. It’s been just over 2 weeks since we took the paci away and she never asks for it now. The second day when nap time rolled around I was hoping for the worst, but to my surprise (and excitement) she ended up napping for nearly three hours. I’ve read before that it takes 3 days to make a habit and 3 days to break a habit, aka the 3 nights of hell. With almost 6 years of parenting a boy and a girl, this has proven to be true. By day 3 of no paci, Evelyn seemed to not even miss it and has been napping and sleeping just like she used to. Since different methods work for different children, I wanted to share some of the suggestions I received from my followers on Instagram, in hopes it could help you if you’re nearing the “Bye Bye Paci” stage.

I waited until after my daughter was 3. One day when she wanted something at the store I told her she could buy it with her paci. And she said OK! and I told her I took the paci to the bank. Three days later she had a little trouble sleeping and told me she missed it but never asked for it back. After a week without it, I threw her a no paci party and got donuts for a playdate. She’s never mentioned it since.
Cutting the nipple off worked for both of my kids before 2 years old. I told them they used it too much and it got yucky!
Freeze them all in a Tupperware of ice
You can poke a pin sized hole in the top so when she sucks it just collapses. We did that for my daughter and she was able to give it up on her own once she realized it had no use. I’ve also seen at Buy Buy Baby they make transitional pacis that you can try. Each week you give her a new one from the pack and the nipple gets smaller and smaller and it slowly weans them that way. *I have been unable to find them online anywhere, so maybe check your local store*
I saw another mama blogger cut the paci so her daughter couldn’t suck on it anymore. However, she still let her have it to hold and chew on. She just told her repeatedly all broken. No more. *If the pacifier is an attachment issue and your child doesn’t necessarily need to suck on it, this sounds like a good idea!*
I told my daughter the tooth fairy would bring her a gift if she gave her pacifier to her (the tooth fairy) … worked like a charm.
My daughter ditched hers right when she turned 3… it was rough. Then when my son was born we caved and let her have it for a few weeks. Then one day she lost it and that was that! She was sad but we were like go find it and you can use it… we didn’t actually find it for months.
My son decorated a box that he put all of his pacis in and I “sent” it to his new baby cousin. He had one bummer night of wanting it before he fell asleep and then he was fine. It helped to have a tangible reason for them being gone – “Remember, you gave them to baby Ben!” And he accepted that.
We literally just went cold turkey and kept her SUPER busy so she’d just pass out at night. It took her 3 days to stop asking for it and about a month for her to be able to put herself back to sleep during the night if she woke up. When she asked for it we’d just say no more, you’re a big girl now. You gotta wear her out so she just passes out: Go to the zoo, a jump house, whatever is going to make her freaking tired. Go drive around in the car and then transfer her.
There’s an episode of Sesame Street called Bye Bye Pacifier. There is a cute little song and everything about saying goodbye to your paci.
Just took my 3-year-olds away, during the day when she wasn’t paying attention. She asked where they were and I said I didn’t know where they went. She had 1 really rough day but then forgot about them. I’ve also heard to soak them in vinegar then they won’t want them because they taste yucky.
Gather them all up (don’t miss any) and “send to new tiny babies” or send to the “paci fairy” who will leave her a new lovey or stuffed animal instead. Then drink lots of wine for the next three days, lol! Don’t give in! It’ll be tough at first but she will make it.
The moment my sons cracked from him chewing on them, I showed him the cracks and had him throw them out and say “bye bye broken paci!”
My grandpa pretended to throw my cousins out the window in Yellowstone and said he gave it to the bears. He was too scared to ask for it!!
My mom bribed my sister and said we could go to Chuck E Cheese if she agreed to never have her pacifier again.
I used lemon salt on my kiddos pacifiers… they refused to take them after that.
We lost ours on a family trip and never gave it back. My son was so distracted that he didn’t notice.
Both of our daughters were addicted to their pacifiers. I for sure thought when we got rid of them they would have freaked out. Oddly they didn’t, and what we did was very simple. We grabbed their pacifier and made them watch us throw it in the trash and kept reiterating that the pacifier is bye-bye. As luck would have it, it worked like a charm for both girls. I would never believe that would work but it did. Simple is normally the best!
We told my daughter that we must have left it at the grocery store on accident and then just never gave it back. The first few days were hard but she was over it in probably 3 days total.
With my boys, we always saved it for nighttime and nap time. Once they turned 3 the pacifiers went into the trash. I let them pick out a new toy to replace the paci with.

Overall the majority of people who replied with advice said that nights 1-3 were rough but after that, it was easier and most times their kids forgot all about their paci! I hope these tips help you and remember, there is no right or wrong way. You know your child best! If you have any tips and tricks that worked for you, please leave them in the comments below! xoxo

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Swan Birthday Details

January 13, 2018

You all know that I have a tendency to go a bit overboard when it comes to birthday parties. I just can’t help myself and I actually enjoy throwing them. I love working with a neutral color pallet because it makes decorating much easier. For Evelyn’s 3rd Birthday the theme was Swans with black, white, and blush colors. This made finding decor and using pieces I already had super easy. I chose to decorate our empty sunroom which has become my go-to for parties and get-togethers. It’s a blank canvas and gets a ton of natural light.

Evelyn’s adorable swan dress is from Stella McCartney kids, her black ballet shoes are from Target and her headband is from H&M. That headband is what inspired me to throw a swan party for her. Last April a girlfriend and I went to NYC for 24 hours to eat our weight in decadent treats and I found the headband on clearance for less than 2 dollars at a local H&M.

In lieu of standard goody bags that are usually filled with little items that will eventually get thrown away, I opted to get all the little girls coming black leotards with tutus. I found a killer deal on these at Amazon at only $5.99 each. Seeing as how in the past I have spent way more than that on goody bags, these were a steal. My husband built the garment rack and donut wall. I woke up early Sunday morning to get 2 dozen donuts from Dunkin Donuts so they would all be fresh and make the room smell good. The cake pops were from Starbucks – I hit them up early and luckily they had all 25 cake pops at the store. If you are buying these in bulk for a party or event, get to the store early and ask if they have any frozen. They only need to be left out in room temp for about an hour and then they are good to go!

The majority of the items for the party were purchased on Amazon, my saving grace. I have linked everything below. A few times a year in the Target Dollar Spot, they have glass milk bottles for $5 a pair. Over the years I have stocked up and use them for almost every party and holiday. For the little girls, I served strawberry milk with white powder donuts on top. The napkins, silverware, and plates were also from Target. I added some oreo candy canes to the table settings to match the black and white table runner, which was sprinkled with white feathers. The table that the girls sat at was also built by my husband and I surrounded it with plush blankets and pillows.

The party was at 10 am so I served pastries, fruit, coffee, champagne, and desserts. I bought everything premade from Publix and set out on pretty platters. The thought of trying to cook food for a party I’m hosting stresses me out, so I always opt to have someone else do the food. It really saves my sanity and time. The dessert table is always the most fun to set up and probably my favorite part of parties. I love finding desserts and decor that match the theme and seeing it all come together. No pink swan party is complete without a pink letterboard and a custom hashtag for your little one’s party.