I was talking to my lovely Nana today, which my children refer to as Nana GG, and I was going over all my "mommy brain" incidences that had happened the past few days and we discussed some good tips and tricks for Moms!
1. Handy Stain Removal:
We all LOVE our children's adorable outfits, but let's face the facts. They do NOT stay clean, it seems right when we put on the best dressed look for our little ones SOMETHING happens. Always seems to happen to me when my kids are wearing white, so I try to avoid white, but it's hard with spring clothes since white is a "spring color". BABY WIPES (ones with alcohol as ingredient) can be used as a quick stain removal if you are out and about and do not have a washer machine and dryer handy! haha I looked it up, and they are safe to use on any material!
2. Picture of a Picture:
When going to get pictures made it can be major money. It is good to buy some professional sheets and have them if you are going to hang them or collage them, BUT I found a much cheaper way to do things. "Someone" did get the sheets of the professional grade pictures then took my nice camera with NO FLASH, snapped a picture of the picture, emailed it to themselves, used their nifty photoshop app, emailed back to themselves the edited picture of the picture and then sent to CVS. CVS has 4x6in prints for 0.16 a copy and you can pick them up in store, which is awesome because there is a CVS on every corner! Handy and CHEAP idea if you want to send out professional pictures to many family and friends!
3. AMAZON and BELK CLEARANCE:
I have recently turned into an Amazon junkie! I really didn't even consider that they had a clearance section until I really started looking for a certain outfit. Belk carries BonnieBaby and Rare Editions clothing lines for baby girl clothing and the outfits run about $50.00 a piece at regular price. The outfits are absolutely stunning, cute, girly, and adorable! But, who really has $50 to spend on every cute outfit they see? Not this girl! So, Amazon carries those 2 lines of baby clothes, and has a clearance section for them! NICE!
Also, I did work at Belk for a while, and my best friend is a manager there, the BEST time to go to Belk is the LAST week of the month! That is when clearance items are 75% off!!! Some even more, 85%-90%. I literally stock up at the end of the month on things for myself and kids. I scored a $89 Cynthia Rowley shirt there for $8.00 last time I hit the end of the month clearance. I also get Mason TONS of Nike and Polo shirts for $5-$7... that is less than T.J. Maxx!
Monday, March 3, 2014
Sketchy Neighbor...
So, we have an older single lady neighbor directly to the right of us (if you're looking at our house from the street). In November my mom was in town for Mason's birthday party and was outside with the kids, and she approached my mom asking HER if we could rake our leaves in our yard. We don't have that many leaves, and not everyone's yard is perfection in our neighborhood to her standards. I was BLOWN away she would ask my Mother that. Then, my mom told her that I am a stay at home Mom with 2 small children and that Jeff works A LOT (which she knows). She then proceeded to tell my Mom that if Jeff works then we can pay someone to rake them!?!?!?!
My mom being the non-confrontational person she is just said "ok" and came back inside to tell me. We did NOT rake our leaves, and now they are all gone because they have dried up and gone away due to the warm weather we have sometimes had.
Today, I get home from dropping Mason off at school and running errands and she was IN OUR YARD picking up sticks. I didn't realize it until I opened the blinds and saw her standing there.
I went out again and this is what I see in my yard.
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My mom being the non-confrontational person she is just said "ok" and came back inside to tell me. We did NOT rake our leaves, and now they are all gone because they have dried up and gone away due to the warm weather we have sometimes had.
Today, I get home from dropping Mason off at school and running errands and she was IN OUR YARD picking up sticks. I didn't realize it until I opened the blinds and saw her standing there.
I went out again and this is what I see in my yard.
That's right, a pile of twigs and sticks she decided to pick up and place in our yard... Does anyone else find this odd??? Please get a hobby sketchy neighbor!
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Countdown to Florida.....T-minus 12 Days!
I feel like I have been preparing for our vacation to Florida for the past year, when really it's only been 6 weeks! I remember the days when I could pick up and go to the beach for a weekend and literally pick up and go to the beach THAT DAY, without a care in the world.
Those days are far behind. I am a planner. I might even say OVER planner. I think once you have children your mind goes from carefree to worst case scenario even when going on a trip to Target 5 minutes down the street. This condition can only be cured with proper planning and preventative maintenance. Haha.
I have planned outfits (for four), making sure we have swim suits, CHECK, warm weather clothes, CHECK, cold weather clothes (just in case), CHECK, timing out our stops and traveling, CHECK. Looking up weather details, traffic details, where are the closest hospitals? Also, my "notes" in my iphone is filled with things to remember like: check tire pressure, check oil, diapers?, sippy cup, tablet, nintendo DS?? Yes, I need to be reminded of things and am CONSTANTLY making lists! It also helps the over planning condition!
After I worry myself with every detail, clothing option, and car maintenance I think to myself, "AMANDA, this is supposed to be FUN!!!!" and worrying is NOT fun. Finding the fine line between over-planning stress and FUN is KEY! The key to success? Maybe... but, definitely the key to my sanity.
SO, with that being said, I am trying to loosen up on my planning/worrying and realize this will be a fun vacation to see family and friends! If I forget diapers, guess what? 300 places sell them! If I forget socks, I'm sure we will manage. Besides, who needs socks in beautiful Florida sunshine?!? haha
Now that it is nearing the day of departure, I am getting more excited and less stressed and that makes me happy!
We are going to be visiting my grandparents in New Symrna Beach, FL (where I was born), and then taking the kids to St Augustine to do all the fun historic things and meet with Jeff's childhood friend and his family. My Mom will also be traveling with us to help with these two ANGELS we have who absolutely LOVE the car (insert sarcasm). Very grateful she is coming.
Moms- sometimes it's good to let loose and have fun! Remember that worrying takes out of the FUN!
These are some pictures of our trip last year to Florida! I'm getting excited seeing that bright sunshine!
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Those days are far behind. I am a planner. I might even say OVER planner. I think once you have children your mind goes from carefree to worst case scenario even when going on a trip to Target 5 minutes down the street. This condition can only be cured with proper planning and preventative maintenance. Haha.
I have planned outfits (for four), making sure we have swim suits, CHECK, warm weather clothes, CHECK, cold weather clothes (just in case), CHECK, timing out our stops and traveling, CHECK. Looking up weather details, traffic details, where are the closest hospitals? Also, my "notes" in my iphone is filled with things to remember like: check tire pressure, check oil, diapers?, sippy cup, tablet, nintendo DS?? Yes, I need to be reminded of things and am CONSTANTLY making lists! It also helps the over planning condition!
After I worry myself with every detail, clothing option, and car maintenance I think to myself, "AMANDA, this is supposed to be FUN!!!!" and worrying is NOT fun. Finding the fine line between over-planning stress and FUN is KEY! The key to success? Maybe... but, definitely the key to my sanity.
SO, with that being said, I am trying to loosen up on my planning/worrying and realize this will be a fun vacation to see family and friends! If I forget diapers, guess what? 300 places sell them! If I forget socks, I'm sure we will manage. Besides, who needs socks in beautiful Florida sunshine?!? haha
Now that it is nearing the day of departure, I am getting more excited and less stressed and that makes me happy!
We are going to be visiting my grandparents in New Symrna Beach, FL (where I was born), and then taking the kids to St Augustine to do all the fun historic things and meet with Jeff's childhood friend and his family. My Mom will also be traveling with us to help with these two ANGELS we have who absolutely LOVE the car (insert sarcasm). Very grateful she is coming.
Moms- sometimes it's good to let loose and have fun! Remember that worrying takes out of the FUN!
These are some pictures of our trip last year to Florida! I'm getting excited seeing that bright sunshine!
Need some fresh gear in Summerville?
I became new to Summerville and surrounding areas almost a year ago. Whew, time flies!
I started getting suggestions on where to go for things like monogramming, hair bows, kids clothing (you know, the necessities) haha. I just want to give these local small businesses some "street cred".
Obviously, when you have a girl that means monograms and bows become your hobby. You compare prices, search for deals, and look for that "must have" outfit that she will probably only wear once and throw-up on. BUT, we need these things right??? haha
I have encountered two WONDERFUL places that have gone above and beyond to customize and make the most adorable and AFFORDABLE things for Ellie and Mason.
First, is Girly GIrls Boutique located in Goose Creek. Amanda Farmer is the owner and creator of all things lovely! She designed both of these shirts for Mason and Elliana for our Florida/St. Augustine trip coming up. St. Augustine only makes me think of pirates, so pirates it is!!
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I started getting suggestions on where to go for things like monogramming, hair bows, kids clothing (you know, the necessities) haha. I just want to give these local small businesses some "street cred".
Obviously, when you have a girl that means monograms and bows become your hobby. You compare prices, search for deals, and look for that "must have" outfit that she will probably only wear once and throw-up on. BUT, we need these things right??? haha
I have encountered two WONDERFUL places that have gone above and beyond to customize and make the most adorable and AFFORDABLE things for Ellie and Mason.
First, is Girly GIrls Boutique located in Goose Creek. Amanda Farmer is the owner and creator of all things lovely! She designed both of these shirts for Mason and Elliana for our Florida/St. Augustine trip coming up. St. Augustine only makes me think of pirates, so pirates it is!!
Adorable right?? I KNOW!
The next place is in Summerville right off of N Gum St., Fancy Trimmins, they have monogrammed A LOT of Ellie's things, but her 1st birthday outfit I just picked up today and I was just blown away at the girly cuteness of her outfit.
Adorable again??? YES!
So, for any of you in the Summerville and surrounding areas and need suggestions here they are!!!!
Hello, blogging world!
We have family and friends all over (South Carolina, New Jersey, Florida, Michigan...) so, I thought to start a blog into our daily "fun" would be a great idea to keep everyone in tuned to what goes on with Jeff, me, Mason, and Elliana. Facebook limits me to snapshots and a tiny bit of space for a status here and there of a funny situation or story (which we do encounter daily) so, I thought a blog would be best to fully grasp the daily trials, tribulations, laughs, cries, and FUN that we share and could share with our family and friends who don't get to actually be here to see and enjoy these precious moments and milestones!
I hope everyone enjoys and that Mason and Elliana can make you giggle every now and then at their antics!
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