When you sign up for conferences, there are all kinds of motivations going into that decision. I originally signed up for the Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop for two reasons. First, my very funny friend Kim-Marie registered, and posted on social media that this was a must-not-miss event. Second, my writing […] The post Finding My Funny At the Erma Bombeck Conference appeared first on Stress-Free, Baby ..read more

The following is a collection of small essays from some of the people who connected at the Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop held in Ohio recently. It’s compiled by Julia Roberts of Decoding Creative, and the first essay is from her. Enjoy! An unlikely hero, with an unassuming name, Erma Bombeck lived in Dayton, Ohio, and graduated from University of Dayton, having dropped out of Ohio University. Like many young women of her generation, she lacked confidence. Like most writers, actually. The story is that her English professor, Brother Tom Price […] The post Erma Bombeck Takeaways: Write What’s F ..read more

(Note: The shot above will make sense after you read the story. Also note, I was paid to try this product and write a review. As always, my opinion remains my own.) I have a little war going on in my head these days. I’m getting up there in age, and know that people are supposed to start slowing down after their 40s, right? But I also like to believe (and please don’t disagree) that 50 is the new 30, and there’s no reason to do less if my body […] The post Doing ALL the Things Each Day with Encour for Energy appeared first on Stress-Free, Baby ..read more

Odds are you know the story of Anna and Elsa. Every “Frozen” fan does. And you even know the story of Arandelle and the magical mist, from the sequel. And now, you can find out all about how their parents came to meet, and fall in love, then build their life together, thanks to “Dangerous Secrets”, the book by Mari Mancusi, set to be released by Disney Press on November 3rd. It’s the love story of Elsa and Anna’s parents, shared in the new young adult novel, “Dangerous Secrets: The […] The post Frozen II’s Dangerous Secrets: The Story of Iduna and Agnarr appeared first on Stress-Free, Baby ..read more

When I bought a bank-owned home last year, I knew there were a lot of projects I’d end up tackling on my own, after moving in, because my budget just wouldn’t cover paying experts to do it all. Refinishing my kitchen cabinets was one of the top three on that list. I was quoted $3,000 to have a professional painter tackle it. That was less than half the cost of replacing them altogether, but still more than I wanted to pay. My gut kept saying I could paint them myself. […] The post DIY KITCHEN CABINET MAKEOVER appeared first on Stress-Free, Baby ..read more

If you’re a fan of the Netflix hit show Love is Blind, odds are you caught the episodes where the couples were whisked away to a luxurious resort in Mexico, a romantic escape meant to help their love grow. You probably fantasized about also visiting such a dreamy locale, just like Amber and Matt did, along with Cameron and Lauren, Giannina and Damian, and Kelly and Kenny, and yes, even Mark and Jessica. How could any of us NOT want to enjoy the same experiences we saw captured on the […] The post The Netflix Love is Blind Resort: Why You Should Go appeared first on Stress-Free, Baby ..read more

When you pack 5 people into a car to travel 6 hours or more, you can feel like sardines tucked away into a can, with little to no room to maneuver, much less sit comfortably, but that’s not the experience you’ll have if that car is the Toyota Avalon, as I recently discovered on a road trip ‘over the river and through the woods’ to two different grandma’s homes during the holidays. The 2020 Toyota Avalon Limited was sent to me to review and I wasn’t sure it would provide […] The post Roadtrip in the 2020 Toyota Avalon: A Review appeared first on Stress-Free, Baby ..read more

It’s time to get into the ho-ho-holiday spirits!  The over-the-top-holiday themed pop up bar concept that’s a literal miracle is back in Atlanta…times three this year. These bars put on a holiday spin through the Christmas season. Whether you choose a “Snowball Old Fashioned” or a “Run Run Rudolph,” you’re sure to leave these bars feeling VERY festive. Miracle on Monroe is the original Atlanta bar to take on the merry mayhem. There’s also Miracle on Highland serving up the same menu. But if you’re looking for something a little […] The post Want to Feel Festive? Miracle Bar Atlanta Brings Chee ..read more

Not sure what to get your family for the holidays? In my opinion, the best present of all is always time together, and to make it memorable, why not travel together to a place everyone on your trip can enjoy?! Travel is my go-to for a great gift and I’ll always be drawn to the beach, and being landlocked in Atlanta, that means a minimum 5 hour road trip, unless you want to shell out the bucks for flights for everyone. I personally think some of the world’s most beautiful […] The post Great Holiday Gift: a Getaway Together to the Beach appeared first on Stress-Free, Baby ..read more

As it gets colder outside, the risk of a devastating house fire goes up dramatically. We all want to stay cozy and warm this time of year, but with more heating appliances and fireplaces running, we have to take extra precautions.  Most of us know to change the batteries in our home’s smoke detector when we change our clocks twice a year, but do you know you should also change the actual fire alarm every decade, too? Yep. And do you regularly test yours? The folks at Kidde are experts […] The post As Temps Drop, Risk of Fire Goes Up; Protect Your Family #OpSaveALife appeared first on Stress-Fr ..read more