This is the view I have while siting in the rocking chair in Nora’s room.
It’s the short hallway between our bedroom and Nora’s bedroom… and it’s honestly one of my favorite places in our home.
Blog
My Frugal Reality Check
I love sharing simple ideas and tips to save money on almost everything; however, I felt like I needed to write this post — just as a “reality check” for those of us (myself included) that might get a little too carried away, trying to save EVERY. SINGLE. PENNY.
P.S. You might think I’m insane after reading some of these stories!
Did You See Me in HGTV?
Perfect Pancakes
If you’re looking for a simple, delicious, from-scratch pancake recipe your whole family will love… today is your lucky day!
This “Perfect Pancake” recipe is one of the many recipes I know by heart. I’ve literally made hundreds and hundreds of these pancakes over the past 6 years — and I can only imagine how many more I’ll make in the years to come!
Big Changes!
It’s officially been 6 years since I filed my first LLC and started my business. And this summer, it will be 3 years since I decided to start a blog.
While I most definitely didn’t start my business with the intention of “sitting on my computer all day”, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t happy with where I’m at right now. However, it’s time for some changes… Big Changes!
Saving More by Doing Without
Time-Management and Multi-Tasking
7 Simple Tips to Take Better Photos
This post is one I NEVER expected to write… because personally, I feel like photography is not one of my strengths.
However, over the past 2-3 years, I have learned A LOT about taking and editing photos; and since I’m frequently asked to write a post about photography, I’m venturing out into uncharted waters today.
A Few of My Favorite Things {March 2013}
I’ve thought about starting a “Favorite Things” post for a while now… and it looks like today is the day! I’m always getting questions about products I use, items I like, etc. so I’m hoping to do a monthly post to share some of MY favorite things with YOU.
These posts will NOT be sponsored and there will be no giveaways or prizes. So in no particular order, these are a few of my favorite things…
My REAL, Usable, Organized, Unpretty Pantry
I’ve been reading a lot about pantry organization lately — and seeing loads of glamorous “designer pantries” {as I call them} plastered all over Pinterest. These pantries are fun to look at, but I have to question how functional and practical they really are — especially for busy families with children.
Today, I’m sharing pictures of our pantry — and although it IS organized, I’m hoping we’re not the only kitchen with an unpretty pantry!
How I Took Control of My Email Inbox
I get SO many questions asking about email management; so in today’s post, I tried to break it down into baby-steps to give you a clear picture of what I do each time I check my email — and how these specific steps help me take control of my Inbox.
If you’re struggling with email overload, this post is for you!
How I Store and Organize All Our Baby Clothes
About 18 months ago, I posted pictures of our soon-to-be-baby’s closet… and all the cute baby girl clothes inside. It was neat, organized, and everything was in its place — obviously, because there was no person to wear the clothing or mess anything up yet!
Well, fast-forward a little over a year and although it’s not quite as organized, we still have a pretty good system for storing and organizing Nora’s clothes.
How I Remember to Return + Free Printable
I’m always an advocate for borrowing something versus buying something whenever possible. Not only do we save money by borrowing, we also save so much space in our home by not storing things we don’t need on a regular basis. The only issue is that I then need to remember to return the items!
Today, I’m sharing a few tips that help me remember to return.
Chocolate Easy Layer Bars
My “Not-So-Routine” Cleaning Routine
Meal Planning, Shopping, and Cooking for 30!
Last weekend, Dave, Nora, and I went up north for a long weekend with friends. There were 30 people total — and for some reason, I offered to create a meal plan and make the majority of the food! It was quite a bit more work than I originally thought it would be, but everything turned out well, the food tasted great, and we had SO much fun!
Today, I’m sharing a few pictures from our trip as well as a bunch of tips and recipe ideas for feeding a crowd!
Our Memory Boxes
3 Life Lessons from my Busy Childhood
Growing up, I was always involved in as many extra-curricular activities as possible (big surprise, huh!)
While I totally understand that there is only so much one child or one family can be involved in, I also think there are 3 important reasons all kids should be involved in a few extra-curricular activities (at least based on my own experiences).