Is one of your New Year’s resolutions to get on a better footing financially? Maybe to pay down debt or to save more. I used to focus on financial goals more than I do now but I think it’s time to change that. I want to be mindful of what we spend and how much we’re saving. Not only is the cost of everything rising and rising but the more money we can save each month, the closer we’ll be to reaching our retirement goal. -Make a Plan We’re going to get proactive with financial planning. We’re going to look at our budget every month and plan the next. The budget surplus will go into our savings ..read more

I haven’t written much on here in a good long while and I’m hoping this will be the first of many as I make my way back into posting regularly. (I share daily on Instagram if anyone wants to see a regular sneak peek into my life.) I’m glad you’re here and appreciate you taking the time to read what I share. I’m grateful for you and hope that you find something here that is good, true, and beautiful. Are you feeling overwhelmed with stuff?  It seems that no matter how much I donate and purge beforehand, my home feels overstuffed after each Christmas.  I need this challenge for myself ..read more

It feels like yesterday that I sent my husband an email with a Zillow link saying, “this house is huge but hideous.” Truth is, that was nine years ago! Time flies when you’re doing remodel projects and living life. My husband bought the first home we lived in but the second was a joint decision and the first home I had ever had a part in purchasing. It was a great deal on a fixer upper and while it’s still not perfect by any means, I love it to pieces. If you’re thinking of buying a new home, here are a few tips to help you know where to begin. 1. Start saving right away. When calculating how ..read more

Years and years ago I had a series on my blog called Things I Love. There I would list things I’ve been enjoying whether it was a product you could buy, a service to use, or just a view in my home that I was currently loving. When I started posting those same things on Instagram I felt that I was being redundant and called it quits. However, since I haven’t written on my blog in quite some time I think it’s a good way to come back. Sharing things I love comes easy and I think it will be a nice way to dip my toes in the water. I hope you agree. Without further ado… (Some of the links below incl ..read more

Are you struggling to get enough rest due to sleep apnea? Here’s the good news: there are several lifestyle changes that can help you improve your sleep apnea, ranging from nutrition and diet tips to exercise habits. In this blog post, we’ll be exploring how incorporating healthier habits into your daily routine could potentially help manage your symptoms of sleep apnea and increase the quality of your overall well being. Read on for effective ways to deal with – and even successfully overcome – those long nights caused by nocturnal breathing difficulties! 1. What is sleep apnea and what are ..read more

Living with the Anxiety of Having a Child with Neurofibromatosis By Jessica Jemente A few hours ago I was fine…Well, okay, not fine but I was suppressing/managing my anxiety to the best of my ability, like I try to do everyday. BUT last night it all hit me. This is what life is like now. It is fear, sadness, the feeling of being lost, angry, confused and helpless. This is having a child with an incurable medical condition. Not a medical condition that entails just ONE type of illness or symptom but a terrifying genetic disorder that causes countless symptoms, illnesses, pain and disabilities ..read more

The topic of respect for law and authority can be complex, especially if your child is already questioning authority figures and the world around them. However, it’s something that all parents should work on to help their children understand what is expected of them in life and prepare them for adult situations. It doesn’t matter whether you agree with the laws or not. Instead, it’s about teaching your child the importance of following what is set by those in power. Here are some tips on how to teach children to respect law and authority. 1. Ensure Discipline at Home Discipline is one of the m ..read more

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and with it comes the desire to try to throw an inexpensive Valentine’s Day party for your family. Throwing your own at home inexpensive party to celebrate the day of love is a great way to encourage a loving bond within your household.  Today, I wanted to show you how you can throw a family Valentine’s Day party without going broke.  This post contains affiliate links. Make Sugar Cookies Sugar cookies are an inexpensive treat for Valentine’s Day and you can place icing on them that spells out cute sayings. Gather up the kids and bake some s ..read more

10 Things I Love About You – Free Printable! This Valentine printable is unlike the other ones we’ve shared so far and I think it’s a good kind of different. The others were simple and cutesy printables that you, well, print and leave for your Valentine to find. This one requires that you stop for a few minutes and write out ten things you love about the person you’re giving the note to. Because my personality tends to procrastinate in hopes of achieving perfection, I want to encourage you to print this off and fill it out right now. Right now. If you save it for another day that day may neve ..read more

Cooking with kids is an excellent way to enjoy quality time with your kids. Whether you have younger or older kids, cooking is something that all ages enjoy. This important life skill is something that you’ll eventually need your kids to understand so that they can cook on their own in their adult years. Today, I’m going to share some of the amazing benefits of cooking with kids to help inspire you to get in the kitchen and start cooking with your kids regularly. Benefits of Cooking With Kids Increases Language Development Cooking with kids offers your kids the chance to read ingredients and ..read more