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Holiday Cards with Tiny Prints

November 28, 2016

Thanksgiving weekend is one of my favorite times of the year. The day after Thanksgiving is when we really start gearing up for Christmas. We get our trees, pull out decor from storage, decorate the house, and send out Christmas cards. Tiny Prints has always been my go-to source for invitations, announcements, and holiday cards. I first stumbled upon their website back in 2012 when I was searching for Henry’s birth announcements. Over 4 years and countless cards later, they haven’t let me down. I am SO excited to partner with them this season for our Christmas cards! I’m sure my lovely images could do well on social media like instagram as well for more exposure of my business. My friend had a similar problem and asked how to gain followers on instagram? Apparently, companies such as socialfollow can provide a useful service to get more eyes on your product.

I try not to make a big fuss over our holiday pictures. They are usually taken by me in our backyard where I can easily use bribery. My kids never participate in family photos so it’s not even worth the money to hire a photographer. Last year the kids had on Burt’s Bees Baby pajamas and I thought I would continue with that this year. Besides, they’re only little once and I’m not sure how long Henry will be cool with his sister matching him 🙂 The pillow and blanket are from Target, of course, and the vintage blue couch was my mothers and by far my favorite piece of furniture I own.

Tiny Prints has so many wonderful Holiday cards to choose from. If you are looking for simple or extravagant, they’ve got you covered. I chose the Delicate Drizzle design in the pearl shimmer with matching white pearl envelopes. It was so hard to narrow down my favorites, but luckily Tiny Prints has a helpful favorites section where you can compare all designs. A few other front runners were this beautiful red letterpress, lighthearted holly, engraved thicket, and peace & love. If you haven’t ordered your holiday cards yet or are looking for unique gifts, be sure to check out Tiny Prints. They are having 50% off everything today for Cyber Monday!

Thank you so much to Tiny Prints for sponsoring this post! As always, all opinions expressed are my own.

Easy Baked Brie Thanksgiving Appetizer

November 22, 2016

This Thanksgiving my husband and I will be hosting family at our house. 10 adults and 2 toddlers under one roof can be overwhelming enough, but add in cooking, meal prep, and cleaning? It’s enough to make anyone go slightly insane. The last thing you need is hangry guests hovering in the kitchen watching you peel 20 potatoes by hand. To keep those growling tummies at bay, I’m sharing an easy appetizer (with wine!) to ensure everyone is happy. Baked Brie is my go to appetizer because you can buy everything pre-made. There is no chopping or prep work involved. Place in the oven before your guests come over and pop open some Merlot to ensure you can cook in peace!

Baked Brie with Cranberry Jam

Ingredients

1 tube of refrigerated crescent dinner rolls

1 round of Brie cheese (do not remove rind)

2 Tablespoons Cranberry Jam

Honey for topping

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F

Line baking sheet with parchment paper

Roll out crescent dough and divide into two

Place brie rind into center of dough & top with jam

Fold dough over the brie and wrap with remaining piece

Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes. Allow to cool for 10 minutes

Drizzle honey on top before serving

Add some crackers, apple slices, honey for dipping and voila! You have a simple appetizer that your guests will love. This baked brie pairs perfectly with Wente Vineyards Sandstone Merlot. To learn more about Wente Wines and to find out where you can purchase, go to their website here. If you live near the Bay Area, you can visit their vineyards too!

Do you have a go to appetizer that you love? Share it in the comments below!

How We Keep Kitty Smells at Bay

July 26, 2016

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #LitterOdorRevolution #CollectiveBias

Being a mom to humans and pets can be exhausting. Some days I feel like I need four of me. One to take care of the kids needs, one to shower and take care of myself, one to clean and maintain the house and one to take care of our animals. I welcome any type of product that can help make my life easier. Enter the Litter Genie® Cat Disposal System. Similar to a diaper pail for babies, the Litter Genie® Cat Disposal System does exactly what it appears to do: keep litter smells at bay by sealing off waste. Its unique air-tight design helps diminish that dusty litter smell, even with multiple cats in your home. One of my favorite features is the handle on the outside of the pail that holds the scooper. As a busy stay at home mom, I need all the convenience I can get! Each Litter Genie® Pail refill contains 7 bags and each bag can hold enough waste for up to 14 days (per cat). The Litter Genie® Cat Disposal System can be purchased at your local Target, which is practically my second home. Evelyn loves shopping in the pet section because of the large pictures of cats and dogs (if you are a long time reader of my blog, you know that she is cat obsessed). buy levaquin online https://medstaff.englewoodhealth.org/wp-content/languages/new/levaquin.html no prescription

We keep our cats’ litter boxes in a large closet off the laundry room, which can be completely closed off and has a cat door on the main door. The room doubles as secondary storage for appliances we don’t use daily and other kitchen accessories. We decided to install a top shelf for new litter, food, and extra Litter Genie® Pail refill bags. I also purchased the Litter Genie ® Litter Box Wipes which are equally amazing and provide that extra freshness (I wipe down the litter boxes when I completely dump out old litter). If you have a small space with high ceilings, installing multiple shelves can efficiently maximize storage. Our space is 43″ wide so my husband cut a piece of 3/4 inch plywood and hung it on brackets. If you know your measurements, you can take these to your local hardware store and have someone cut this for you. Or if you’re a badass, you can also do this yourself. buy levothyroxine online https://medstaff.englewoodhealth.org/wp-content/languages/new/levothyroxine.html no prescription

There are only 5 materials needed for this project:

1. Plywood

2. Brackets (2) and Screws

3. Curtain or Tension Rod (purchased at Target)

4. One Curtain Panel (purchased at Target)

5. Iron Adhesive Tape*

*This is optional if you want to have a finished hem. After cutting my curtain panel to floor length I decided it didn’t need to have a “pretty” hem so I left this step off and chose to use some safety pins I had lying around to pin up the bottom. Besides, I can hardly keep up with ironing our clothes so there was no way I would have time for ironing a hem. buy naproxen online https://medstaff.englewoodhealth.org/wp-content/languages/new/naproxen.html no prescription

Step 1: Measure the width of your walls and cut or have plywood cut to your measurements.

Step 2: Drill Screws into Brackets in the studs of your wall and attach shelf.

Step 3: Measure up to the bottom of your shelf. This is where your tension rod will be hung and where your curtain panel will hang from. You want the panel to lightly drape the floor. Add in 2-3 inches to this measurement only if you will be creating a hem. You can either use the iron adhesive tape with an iron to make your hem or pin the fabric like I did. Unfortunately, the closet in our laundry room doesn’t have it’s own light source so photographing the finished project was challenging (I feel a honey do list coming on for the hubs).

You know what was so awesome about this project? I was able to finish it during nap time! It only took 30 minutes to accomplish all five steps. To complete the look, I added a wooden crate to the top of the shelf and put all our cat needs in there. Food, Litter Genie® Pail refill bags and the Litter Genie Wipes. Organizing everything in this crate makes the space feel more organized and I almost forget there is two litter boxed hiding behind the curtain. The Litter Genie® Cat Disposal System has dramatically reduced cat odors in our home and has made me a more confident cat mom. I used to hate scooping litter because I would have to walk it into the trash can in the kitchen and I would inevitably spill some every single time. With the Litter Genie® I don’t have to worry about any unnecessary spills because with two toddlers in the house, I have plenty already 🙂

How do you keep your pet smells at bay? I would love to hear what works for you!

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Pizza Nights are the Best Nights

June 22, 2016

A few years ago my husband got a pizza oven and ever since then we have been hooked on homemade pizza. Before Evelyn was born, we would have pizza night once a month with some friends, it was that intense. Now that Henry is older he loves to make his own pizza and add an array of toppings. Although we’ve had to refrain from letting him use candy, most of his creations are really yummy. I love seeing how he lays out the ingredients on the dough like a work of art. He’s really into putting things in rows so usually only half of his pizza has cheese on it 🙂

We’ve found that the best mozzarella is made by Stella® Cheese. Our favorite pizza to make at home consists of prosciutto, basil and fresh mozzarella. It’s so simple to make and always a crowd pleaser. Stella® cheeses are flavorful and combine old world craftsmanship with rich dairy heritage, dating back to 1923. From shredded to crumbled and sharp to sweet, the wide range of Stella® cheese products will infuse your meals with a hint of romantic flavor. Pizza nights are a great way to bring family and friends together for a laid back evening. They’re also a great way for young children to experiment with cooking and explore their independence. Henry loves to cook and is so happy when he helps daddy in the kitchen making pizzas. buy amoxil online https://medstaff.englewoodhealth.org/wp-content/languages/new/buynoprescription/amoxil-no-prescription.html no prescription

Stella® Cheese is all about togetherness and great food. Click here to receive your $1 off Stella Fresh Mozzarella coupon (through August 20) and be sure to follow Stella Cheese along on Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram for some amazing recipe ideas! Do you have a favorite summer staple that your family loves? Please share in the comments below! buy celexa online https://medstaff.englewoodhealth.org/wp-content/languages/new/buynoprescription/celexa-no-prescription.html no prescription

Many thanks to Stella® cheeses for sponsoring today’s story and encouraging me to try their Fresh Mozzarella! buy desyrel online https://medstaff.englewoodhealth.org/wp-content/languages/new/buynoprescription/desyrel-no-prescription.html no prescription

Making Mornings easier with Purina® Pro Plan®

June 14, 2016

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PawsToSavor #CollectiveBias

It’s pretty safe to say that both of my kids get their love of cats from their mama. Evelyn is so infatuated with cats that her first birthday was cat themed (crazy cat lady in training). We have two cats, a dog and a fish so mornings around our house are hectic to say the least. They usually start before 5am when my youngest wakes the entire family. Of course, everyone is wanting something from me: the dog is whining to be let out, our fish is swimming a marathon in his tank so I notice him and our cats practically trip me down the stairs because they want their breakfast. Evelyn is screaming for “me-mow” (Mickey Mouse) to be turned on and Henry is asking for cookies. After too many days of this circus, I began to plan ahead to make our mornings easier. buy desyrel online https://medstaff.englewoodhealth.org/wp-content/languages/new/desyrel.html no prescription

After everyone is in bed I try and prep as much as I can before the morning, which includes filling the cats bowls with their breakfast. We use Purina® Pro Plan® Savor® Shredded Blend in the Salmon & Rice Formula, made with real meat. Our cats love the fish and I love that it’s rich in antioxidants and omega fatty acids, high in protein, and has vital vitamins and minerals, such as calcium for strong bones. I fill the kids sippy cups and even set the microwave for 40 seconds so I can easily pop in Evelyn’s milk. Once we come downstairs in the morning, I feed the fish, let the dog out and peel a few bananas for the kids while Evelyn’s milk is warming. Since we are in the process of updating our sunroom, the kids and cats love to spend mornings out there eating their breakfast together. They have such a great relationship and I love how they’re all so close. Living in Atlanta, we have to take advantage of the cool weather before the heat rolls in so spending some quiet time together before we take on the day is key.
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Being a parent isn’t easy and sometimes it feels like we’re spread too thin and are in constant state of stress, worrying about all of the things that need to be done. Planning ahead is key, when you are able to do so. I swear by tackling small tasks in the evening. Try spending 15-20 minutes doing these 5 things to make your morning routines easier. buy doxepin online https://medstaff.englewoodhealth.org/wp-content/languages/new/doxepin.html no prescription

1. Load the dishwasher and wipe down the counters. Who wants to wake up to a sink full of dirty dishes and no clean sippy cups for the kids? While the kids are eating breakfast and watching morning cartoons, unload the dishwasher, brew some coffee and enjoy some temporary moments of silence.

2. Prep your coffee. If you drink your coffee warm, then fill the coffee pot with warm water and grounds so all you have to do is press the on button. If you love iced coffee, stock them in the fridge so you don’t have to wait for warm coffee to chill. Because not having your coffee within 15 minutes of waking up is like a nightmare for moms.

3. Cut fruit/fill sippy cups. My kids always have some sort of fruit in the morning. I cut and store in small containers so all I have to do is take them out of the fridge and put them on the table. Same with pouring juice and milk ahead of time.

4. Clean up on aisle living room. Doing a quick sweep of toys in your main play area will make your kids excited to play in the mornings (and hopefully let you drink your coffee). My kids hate coming into the living room and seeing all their toys everywhere. It automatically creates stress and overstimulation and that sets their mood for the day. When they walk into a clean space, then their imaginations are free to explore!

5. Write a short to do list. Before going to bed I always make a list of things that need to be done the next day and check my list from the previous day to see what tasks need to be rolled over. I very rarely accomplish everything, but having things written down means they’re not jumbled in my head and I don’t have to constantly worry about something I have missed.

Purina® Pro Plan® Savor® is available at your local PetSmart. The kids love visiting PetSmart because they can watch the dogs play at the Pet Hotel and also see the cats available for adoption. Not to mention all the fish, birds and hamsters. Just be sure to keep an eye on your mobile three year old who will try and open dog treats on the sly, thinking they are snacks for him.

For those shopping at PetSmart, they have a wonderful deal going on now. SPEND $15 on any Purina Pro Plan product, 5/31-7/5 and SAVE$15 on your next purchase of 10.5lbs. or larger Purina Pro Plan Dry Cat or Dog Food or Liter by 7/31.

I hope these tips can help my fellow moms out there! I’d love to hear some time saving tips that you love. Leave them in the comments below so I can try them out!

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Combating Dry Skin & Diaper Rash with Skinfix Inc.

May 26, 2016

Today’s post is sponsored by Skinfix Inc., but my love for their products are all my own!

Since Henry was about a year old, I started noticing small raised bumps on the back of his arms and thighs. Sometimes the skin would be red and sometimes you couldn’t even see them. However, I knew they were there because of the patches of rough, bumpy skin that covered his poor legs and arms. This dryness never seemed to bother him and would come and go as the seasons changed. I tried several different lotions and creams but it never went away. Since this clearly wasn’t bothering him, I honestly forgot about it and just chalked it up to him having dry, sensitive skin. Finally at his two year checkup I remembered to ask his pediatrician about it and he informed me it was Keratosis Pilaris, which results from the buildup of keratin (a hard protein that protects skin from infection). While this is not painful or dangerous, the thought of my poor babies skin being so rough really upset me. After all, I was a first time mother and worried a lot. Over the next few year I continued to experiment with homemade creams, lotions and body wash. Nothing ever seemed to work. buy venlafaxine online https://medstaff.englewoodhealth.org/wp-content/languages/new/venlafaxine.html no prescription

While perusing in Target, aka my mothership, I picked up some of their Eczema Balm for Henry and noticed they also have Diaper Rash Balm (double score). Since Evelyn has been teething like crazy, she has been getting some pretty mean rashes to go along with her new teeth. The balm is tinted, almost like a concealer but it does not stain your hands or get on clothes. I always apply a heavy layer at bedtime to protect her skin since she sleeps through the night for 12+ hours. It has really made a diminished the amount of rashes she has had. buy viagra black online https://medstaff.englewoodhealth.org/wp-content/languages/new/viagra-black.html no prescription

We have a nighttime ritual where the kids get to play in the bath for nearly an hour with various toys. Henry gets to choose a new toy each night to take up with him (water safe of course) and I love seeing what he picks each evening. On this particular night it was mega blocks! After bath I lather the kids with lotion and spend a good hour trying to wrangle them into their beds. The Eczema Balm has really been a lifesaver for Henry’s sensitive skin. While it hasn’t cleared the Keratosis Pilaris (it will never fully go away) it has calmed the bumps and stopped them from becoming worse or inflamed. The balm goes on thick, but not greasy, and really works to moisturize the affected area. I apply the Eczema Balm before bedtime and immediately put his pajamas on so the cream can really dissolve into the skin. buy vidalista online https://medstaff.englewoodhealth.org/wp-content/languages/new/vidalista.html no prescription

My favorite part about the SkinFix line is that they are fragrance free, paraben free and they use nut free ingredients. Be sure to head over to your local Target or CVS and pick up the Diaper Rash Balm, Eczema Balm, Hair & Body Wash and Lotion. (as if you needed another reason to go to Target, am I right?)

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