Archives for February 2013

A Reason for the Quiet

by

It’s been a little quiet around here lately.

I’ve been busy getting my priorities in order and creating margin in my life. It’s not an easy task to cut back.  It almost seems like more work to let go of things and hand them off but I’m getting there.

I did want to share with you something I have been a part of working on and I am incredibly excited about. It’s this:

The Declare Conference is a conference for Christian women bloggers.  Our desire is to bless and encourage you while helping you to grow and learn about blogging and social media. The conference will take place in Dallas, Texas August 9th-10th, 2013.  It’s going to be so much fun! We have some amazing speakers lined up to learn from.

If you are a blogger or want to start blogging I’d love to invite you to join us.  We will have fun connecting, learn a lot, eat well, enjoy some awesome swag, have great vendors to meet with, party and, of course, indulge in chocolate! You won’t want to miss it!

I’ll be back to regular blogging soon and sharing all about what moms love. Thank you for your patience with me as I am learning and growing as a wife, mom & blogger.

Are you a blogger? Have you ever been to a blogging conference? Which one is your favorite?

Filed Under: Blogging Tips

Cookie’s Kids Fashion Bargains

by

I love a good bargain and having 6 kids pretty much makes bargain shopping mandatory.  Recently I was browsing Cookie’s Kids Online Department Store for some winter clothing for my 4 year old for next year.  Now, she is a girly girl with the taste of a princess and loves anything frilly and feminine.  Shopping for her is usually fun but the kind of outfits she likes are often pricey.

I was really surprised at what I found for the money at Cookie’s Kids.  I was aiming to spend about $30 and I started out searching for girls dresses. I was pleasantly surprised as I found cute dresses like the one below for as little as $9.99.

Cookie’s Kids Dress

As I searched for the perfect outfits for my daughter I was excited to find that Cookie’s Kids has Hello Kitty and Disney Princess clothing too.  Both of which are favorites for her.  It took me a little while to decide what to get with so many choices.  There where quite a few different styles and looks that were great deals but I needed to stick to the budget. So, I was able to find 3 adorable outfits for just under $30.

Finding the right size was incredibly easy on Cookie’s Kids. I just clicked on the Alva Kids icon next to the size selection and entered my daughters information.  Once I had added the information my daughter’s size was already selected for each new item I viewed.  Super simple shopping if you ask me!

We anxiously awaited the package to arrive in the mail and when it came my daughter was thrilled to open it and see what I had found for her.  She was so excited with each outfit.  I got them in the next size up but she just had to try them all on and see what they looked like.

My daughter danced and twirled and giggled with her new outfits on.  Honestly it was difficult to get her to be still after she tried each one on.  She could hardly wait until daddy go home to show him all of her favorite new clothes.

She promptly picked the Princess outfit to wear for the day and had to hang the others up so she could wear them the following days.  I’ve had a hard time convincing her that the clothes were a little big and meant for next year.  I may just have to hide them away one day when she isn’t paying attention.

After shopping at Cookie’s Kids for cute girls clothes I also noticed that they have a nice selection of school uniforms.  I’m keeping my eye on them and hoping to find some good deals for next year.  I also think some of their boys suits are adorable and would be perfect for Easter coming up. They also have a great new Spring Line if you are getting ready for the warmer weather.

To find out more about my Cookie’s Kids shopping experience check out my Google+ Story.  Also, search #Cookieskids on twitter for more info and stories about Cookie’s Kids. If you are in NYC there are 7 Cookie’s Kids stores in Bronx, Brooklyn and Jamaica as well as their online store at CookiesKids.com.

Do you shop for bargains online for the next season?  Have you ever shopped at Cookie’s Kids?

I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and CookiesKids.com #CBias #SocialFabric

Filed Under: Great Finds for Kids, Great Finds for Moms, Babies & Kids Tagged With: ,

5 Days to a Clutter-Free House {A Review}

by

It’s out of control and you don’t know where to begin.  Ever felt that way about your house?  I know I have. I have tried various methods of getting a cluttered house back together.  Thankfully my house is not out of control at the moment {mainly because I took 31 days to Become an organized mom and am still working on these ideas} but after reading “5 Days to a Clutter-Free House” by Sandra Felton & Marsha Sims, I feel like I am better equipped to tackle my house when it needs it.

I, first off, have to do a little raving about one of the authors of this book: Sandra Felton.  I first heard of her when I listened to a radio program she was on years ago.  She was talking about how to get organized and the mental thought process behind staying organized.  I was sold and proceeded to follow her site and buy her books.  I read her book “Organizing for Life: Declutter Your Mind to Declutter Your World” and was forever changed.  Her methods just make good sense. She isn’t all about just telling you what to do but rather how to think like an organized person.  If you truly follow her methods it will transform your organizational skills!

Okay now back to the book “5 Days to a Clutter-Free House,”  This book will take your house from cluttered to clear in 5 days.  Felton and Sims offer a very thorough and step-by-step plan to get your home sorted and in order.  If you are overwhelmed this would be the perfect place to start!

You will find out in the book that you really need help to get clutter under control. Don’t let that stop you if you aren’t normally quick to ask for help though.  You can seek help from family, friends, hire someone, or even your kids {assuming they are old enough to do some work}.  In 5 days you can accomplish a lot with help that would take you much, much longer on your own.

I really like the system they use in 5 Days to a Clutter-Free House.  The whole plan is laid out for you very clearly.  Each day the team tackles a new level, beginning with everything “below the knee” on Monday. This means you sort items on the floor and sort them into boxes according to where in the house they need to go.  You continue with new levels each day and by Thursday, the house should start to become much less cluttered. Then it’s time to clear out areas that are closed (cabinets, drawers, etc…). By Friday, your surfaces should be clear, and you will have accomplished an incredible amount. The next steps are also clearly defined for you so that you can maintain the clutter free house and sort through all of your boxes of stuff.

If you are in need of getting the clutter under control in your home check out 5 Days to a Clutter-Free House and let me know how it works for you!

Available February 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Disclosure: I received this book for free in exchange for a review.  My opinions are my own and I only recommend what I believe in and use myself. Affiliate links are included in this post.

 

Filed Under: Organization

What Moms Love {Weekly}

by

Are you ready for this weeks What Moms Love {Weekly}?

This week I am loving: play dates with sweet friends, holding a little baby for the mom to have a break and getting my baby-fix at the same time, chocolate covered strawberries, listening to my four year old sing when she doesn’t know I’m listening, listening to my 13 year old sing when she doesn’t know I’m listening {smile}, a husband who gets me and has lots of grace.

How about you? What are you loving this week?

Here are some favorite finds this week that I wanted to share:

1. Bamboobies Heart Shaped Nursing Pads– I am past my nursing days but I would have loved to have had Bamboobies when I was nursing. They’ve been around for a little while but if you haven’t seen them or tried them I would recommend you look into them.  Here are the details about them (and all the reasons I know I would have loved them): Bamboobies ultra-soft nursing pads are unique because they don’t show through or leak through like other washable pads.  Ultra-thin, heart-shaped regular pads are made for light leaking and less visibility and Overnights are made for heavy leaking and newborn nursing.  Both types of pads are made with a unique milk-proof backing to stop embarrassing leaks. Washable Bamboobies save $$$ over disposables.  Made of ultra-soft and soothing organic cotton and bamboo rayon velour with an inner layer of hemp and organic cotton, these pads are ultra-absorbent and ultra-eco.

2.“Dude your wife keeps checking me out!” Onsie by Darling Little Bow Shop on Etsy- I laughed out loud when I came across this adorable onsie on Etsy.  It’s perfect for your handsome little guy! You can find it in various sizes and also older boys t-shirts.  Be sure to check out the other adorable items while you are browsing Darling Little Bow Shop. She’s got some adorable little girls things too!

3. What I Wore Today Doodle Book– Sometimes I come across things I wish I had when I was a kid and this is one of them.  I used to love to draw outfits and fashion I envisioned.  This book is super cute and perfect for the girl who likes to draw and is in to fashion.  A girl can keep track of all of her fashionable efforts and keep track of ideas for new trends.  There are also tips on dressing for the seasons and even inspiration from others included.

4. Love You More Box Sign From Primitives By Kathy– My husband, kids and I often use the phrase “Love you more” when one of us tells the other that we love them. So I fell in love with this box sign when I saw it and wanted it for my wall in the middle of our family pictures.  Luckily I had birthday money to spend on it and it should be arriving today! It would also be lovely in a baby nursery or kids room.

Have a LOVELY weekend!

Filed Under: What Moms Love Weekly