Hello again!
Sorry I've been MIA for quite some time now. As the kids get older, I get busier it seems. Especially right here at the holidays! As you can tell by the title, I am going to be blogging today about my personal toddler must haves. The boys turned 2 in September (pictures to come) and these items have been life savers for me. They have saved me time and headaches! I hope they're helpful for you as well!

1. Disposable Diaper Sacks

It isn't the best experience when your baby makes a big stink (literally) while you're out and about with little to no bathroom accessibility. I remember when we were having family pictures made, and one of the boys did this to Eric and I in the studio. It was borderline an emergency and if we hadn't had these little disposable sacks with us, the whole place would have known what had happened. They trap in odor and you can toss them in your diaper bag until you can find a trashcan or restroom to dispose of it. They're also super inexpensive!

2. Snack Pouches

My kids prefer the original apple sauce flavor, but these snack pouches come in a very large variety of flavors and brands (they also have organic options). They are so handy to toss in the diaper bag as you're walking out the door. The caps are re-attachable, which is handy if your child doesn't finish it all in one go. These have saved us from a few meltdowns in the past. They're also a healthier alternative to your traditional snacks (i.e. chips and cookies).

3. Easy Velcro Shoes

I know my toddlers are twins, but their feet are very different. Lucas has very narrow, thin feet, while Zachary has very thick and bigger feet. That makes getting shoes to fit Zach very difficult. My husband and I actually found the above shoes at our local Wal-Mart on clearance for $3 a pair! I kid you not. They are easy to put on both boys, there is no fuss, and no yanking or pulling on them. The Velcro makes it easy to tighten them for Lucas and also loosen them up for Zachary. I can't say enough good things about these shoes. They aren't on clearance anymore but I'll link them here if you want to go check them out. They are still only $10 a pair. The boys wore them all summer and they are still in great condition. I just throw them in the wash when they get dirty and they're like new again!

4. Step Stool

A stool is a great help in a home with small children. They make washing hands, brushing teeth, and getting drinks of water much easier. No more heaving and straining to lift your quickly growing young ones up to reach the sink. They can just grab the stool and do it themselves. Plus, I've noticed that it makes them feel independent and they really like doing these types of things on their own. A definite must have!

5. Mess Free Markers
If your children like to color and draw as much as mine do, then these are a must for you. Maybe everyone already knows about these and I'm the last one to get the clue. But, I have definitely cleaned my share of crayon and marker off the wall at my house. My mom mentioned these to me and I suddenly got very excited. Now I don't have to hide the arts and crafts basket from the twins!

6. Boo Boo Buddy
These aren't necessarily a "must have", but are still really neat anyway. I didn't even know about these until someone gave my daughter one in a gift. You just put them in the refrigerator or freezer, and whenever your little one falls down and gets a scrape or bump....well pretty self explanatory! The kids like these a lot better than a plain ole ice pack or wash cloth. I guess it's the cute little animals on the front....

7. A REAL Spill-Proof Sippy Cup
They are harder to come by than you'd think. Or at least in my experience they are. And if your little ones are anything like mine, then these will also need to have a hard spout. We first tried the soft spout sippies, and my boys just chewed them right off. The ones pictured are the Dr. Brown's brand. They are about $8 for the two of them! I like that you can see them lying sideways on the floor and not worry that milk is dripping everywhere. They've helped my sanity haha!

8. Potty Seat
In my experience, kids would rather go potty on the potty they see you use, other than their own special-makes-noise-and-sings-$45-potty that you've purchased just for them to use. Go figure....
So I've found these nifty little "fit in your own toilet" potty seats to be a must have! They fit their little bottom just right and the toddler feels like a grown up sitting there. They're also very inexpensive. Win-win!

9. Faucet Cover
Let's face it, once the kids turn two (and sometimes even before), they become wild animals in the bathtub. I have had serious fears about one of them raising up and raking their back across those sharp faucet edges. But never fear! Faucet covers are here! Most people already know about these as well, but I had to include them because they really are a must have. They will give Mom and Dad great peace of mind. We have the one pictured. It's made of a soft foam and has worked really well. We got ours at Target.

and last but not least....
10. A Good Diaper Bag Back Pack
I had a Thirty One diaper bag when the boys were infants and it was really nice and spacious. However, as the infants turned into toddlers, it became a lot harder to lug that thing around everywhere. I don't need to take as much stuff with me when we go out, so I don't need that large of a bag. I saw a YouTuber (KKandBabyJ) order one of these off Amazon and had to have one. It really is a must have. It's stylish so you don't actually feel like you're carrying a diaper bag. You can carry it on those rare occasions you go out without the kids, and you won't feel strange. I don't carry a purse, I just put all of what I need in the diaper bag as well. Plus, these are only $30 on Amazon and they come in different colors. It has plenty of room inside for a couple changes of clothes, diapers, wipes, a wallet, sunglasses case, and checkbook case. There is a front pocket for your phone, and several pockets inside and one on the back. I also have a small pack of random baby essentials inside and it fits as well. Do yourself a favor and get one! You can thank me later :)


Hopefully you found this post helpful and will benefit from some of these things like I have. It's hard being a parent sometimes, so anything that makes life a little easier is always nice! I hope you are all enjoying the holiday season so far and I'll talk to you again soon!

Hugs and Love,

This has been a long time coming and I am so ecstatic that it's finally happening! My husband and I have been saving and budgeting for a couple of years now. We have paid off a large portion of our debt (medical bills from having the twins and vehicle loans), and we are finally in a place where we can get a home! This has been a dream of mine for as a long as I can remember: a warm, welcoming house, near my parents, with a yard where my children can run around and play until their heart's content. We do have to wait a few more months until our lease is up at our apartment, but you know how it goes. The planning and preparing has to start pretty early for a change as big as this one.

We currently live about a half hour from where I grew up and where my parents still live, and I never dreamed I'd be this happy to get back to that little town. It's true that everything changes once you have children. If Eric and I were alone, I'd have much more of a desire to live in other states and travel around, but the thought of taking my children away from their grandparents that love them so dearly, makes me terribly sad. Now that I am creeping up on my 30's (yikes!) I have much less of an interest in seeing the world, and much more of an interest in setting up roots and raising my children in a place they can always call home.

This next place won't be our forever home, we've considered building in the future. But it will be in the town where I hope to grow old with my husband. I've already started looking at some new furniture for the boy's room, and I plan on doing Izzy's room in different decor at the new place. This is the best part for me! Shopping and decorating :) I love going to consignment and thrift stores and re-purposing antique items. I can hardly sit still as I type this. I want to get started now!

I had to write and share my joy and excitement. It will be bittersweet. We have loved where we currently are and it's been good to us. This is the only place my children really know and we have made it our home. A lot of wonderful memories have been made here. But we are blessed for this next chapter in our lives and so thankful to God for everything He does for us.

Stay tuned for future posts on moving and decorating the new place!

Hugs and Love,

The lovely ladies over at The Vintage Honey Shop gave me the wonderful opportunity to write a few blog posts for their website. It was a wonderful experience and I am so thankful to have found their adorable business. Two best friends started this business on Etsy a few years ago selling hand-made teething and nursing necklaces. They have grown and expanded and now have thousands upon thousands of followers on their social media pages. Women rave over the quality of their jewelry and I have to agree. I have my own teething necklace, or "honey" as they're so adorably called. My baby boys absolutely love it and it's very fashionable. I would wear it anywhere!



I also just couldn't get over how adorable the packaging was! I love supporting small businesses and this is a great one to support. They're just mama's like us creating something very useful and beautiful too! I wish I had one when my daughter was a baby. She chewed on everything, she would have loved it. They consistently get new fabrics in, so there are always new options to choose from (they even have necklaces for dads too!) I just can't say enough good things.

As a thank-you for writing for them, they sent me a $35 gift card to give-away to one of my loyal readers. Just post a comment below telling me some other teething remedies you've tried, or plan to try, and I will randomly select someone to win. This giveaway will end July 31st and I will announce the winner  August 1st!

Thank you for reading and good luck!

EDIT: I am going to allow my Instagram followers to enter this give-away as well. If anyone likes this post on my Instagram page, they are automatically entered. Thank you!

Hugs and Love,

I have been wanting to start a YouTube vlogging channel for a while now. I kept being a chicken and finding excuses to wait, but I decided there is no better time than now! I hope you guys will check it out, subscribe, and support me on this fun journey! I will be writing again soon!

Hugs and Love,

I think most of us have heard that saying before. And it's true.

...but aren't they just so cute?!

Swinging with daddy

He was bringing mommy a flower

Precious water babies

Izzy decorating Easter cookies

I know many of us busy ladies do not have much time to do our makeup these days. Here are my top 10 makeup products that make it a bit easier for me get out of the door feeling pretty and put together! (they're inexpensive too!!)

1. E.L.F Mineral Face Primer- This product sells for $6 at Target and Amazon, and is a bargain. It comes with a pump so you can get the exact amount you want. It is clear, so it does not change your skin tone. It fills in small lines and wrinkles and gives your foundation a flawless appearance. (I only use this when I am really getting dolled up for something, it isn't necessary for everyday use ;)
   
2. Rimmel Clean Finish Foundation- This foundation is only around $4 at Wal-Mart and it is really great. When you open the cap, there is a stick attached to it with a little spatula on the end. Makes application easy and mess-free. The coverage is medium to full and gives a nice matte finish. There are also several shades available.
   
3. Real Techniques Beauty Sponge- I LOVE this and don't know what I was doing before I purchased my first one. This is my ride or die. It can be used to apply foundation, concealer, or powder. It makes application so quick and easy. My first one lasted me a year and would have lasted longer if I hadn't gotten it caught in a drawer, which ripped it. I just purchased two more! They clean easily and costs about $8. 
   
4. Wet n Wild Coverall Pressed Powder- My love for this product actually came as a surprise. I purchased this at the Dollar General Store while I was in there getting something else. I went down the makeup aisle and remembered I needed powder. I figured I'd pick up some there to hold me over until I could get to the drugstore. I ended up loving it and now it's my go-to. It sells for around $4 and has a small sponge applicator included. It sets foundation and keeps you matte.
   
5. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer- I love watching makeup videos on YouTube, and SO many gurus use this product. I had to give it a try and ended up loving it. It has a built-in sponge applicator, so no need for an extra brush, which makes for quick and easy application! Just what us busy mamas need. Also, I get the shade "brightener" and boy does it wake me up! Takes away my dark circles like a pro. It sells for around $6. 
   
6. Rimmel Maxi Bronzer- This $5 product is one that I have been using since I was in high-school. I have never found a bronzer that does a better job. I am very pale and always feel better with some color and dimension to my face. I also contour with this. It's build-able and very pigmented, so you don't need to get much on your brush. It goes a super long way! I get it in the shade "sun love".
   
7. Colormates Twelve Long Wearing Eye Shadow- This product was actually given to me by my mom. She had purchased this at Big Lots for ONE DOLLAR. I am not kidding. She has so many that she gave me one to try. Now I'm hooked and use it every single day. I couldn't find an exact picture of the one I have, so I will post one that just has a few different shades in it. The one I have is a dupe for Urban Decay's Naked palette. Which sells for around $60. Do yourself a favor and try these. They are beautiful, pigmented, and with primer they last all day!
   
8. Rimmel Exaggerate Eye Definer- This is just eyeliner, but it's really good eyeliner! I get the waterproof kind and it lasts the majority of the day. It will wear off some if you are crying or sweating, but it's the best I've found and they have a large color variety (I also like the smudger that comes on the end). It costs about $6. 
   
9. Maybelline Falsies Mascara- I have not found a mascara that I love more than this one. And I think I have tried just about every single one. Or at least it feels like it. I was once the person that would get a different kind every time I went to the store. Until I found this one. It lengthens my lashes and makes them more voluminous than any I've ever tried. It's true that it makes them look as much like "falsies" as possible. I put on one coat, let it dry, and then add a second coat. It sells for around $5. 
   
10. BH Cosmetics Sculpt and Blend Brushes- I ordered these brushes from bhcosmetics.com a little over a year ago for $21, but they frequently go on sale for $12.50. And that is a steal! These brushes are so dense, have no fall-out, and still look brand new a year later (and I use them just about every day). They clean easily and apply makeup flawlessly. They have really saved me a lot of time in my makeup application because they are so soft and blend makeup so well. I don't have to sit there blending over and over and over. These are a must have!