When we moved into our 2 story house 5 years ago, I was elated at all the space we had. We need it, having 2 families living under 1 roof, and it felt so great to spread out. Now, 5 years later I realize just how much space that is... and while this statement might possibly make me look lazy, ok it does, I always wish I had a way to have my morning cup of coffee without walking all the way downstairs! Dolly Parton Mugs are from Mountain Laurel HOME in Dollywood.Chalkboard Chipped Canisters are from Kirklands.Mug Rack and Bucket are from IKEAHamilton Beach Scoop Coffee Maker is from Walmart.Table was made by my husband. So, yes, this beautiful coffee bar was born out of laziness, but I'm so happy it was because it adds to our upstairs space so well! Not to mention, I can have a hot cup of coffee whenever I want! The … [Read more...]
Sauce Beauty: Hair Care Inspired by Foodies
This post is sponsored by Sauce Beauty. All opinions are my own. This post also contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase through these links, I earn a small percentage. Thank you! Do you like making your own products to use around your home? I do and always have. I started making my own products for two reasons - to save money and to know exactly what was in the products my family used. While I still like making different household products, like cleaning supplies and the occasional personal care products like hand soap and lotions, but some personal care products are just better left to the professionals. And by professionals, I don't mean products with too many unnecessary and un-clean ingredients. Meet Sauce Beauty. Yes, the name sounds like it might be a salad dressing rather than a shampoo and yes, even the … [Read more...]
SodaSense: An Easier Way to Exchange CO2 Bottles
Enjoy your at-home soda and sparkling water machine but hate the hassle of exchanging CO2 bottles? Yeah, me too! But now it's easy with SodaSense. This post is sponsored by SodaSense. All opinions are my own. Have you jumped on the sparkling water train yet? I've seen so many ladies raving about their love of bubbly water and I've tried several kinds myself. I just hate to buy cans or bottles when I know it can get pretty expensive and wasteful. Because it got me thinking - our family doesn't buy single plastic water bottles so why should I be buying single serve sparkling water cans and bottles?! You've likely heard about at-home sparkling water machines. They've been around for quite a few years now and one of those most popular is Sodastream. In fact, I had one many years ago and loved it. I loved having … [Read more...]
The Ultimate Essentials for the Winter Cozy Trend
This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com. Has there ever been a better trend the comfy, Winter Cozy? Sure, shoulder pads and big hair were a fun trend [and also seem to be coming back - oh no], but my ultimate favorite trend and one I hope never disappears is the winter cozy look. You know, sherpa blanket draped around cute and comfy sweats with a cup of warm tea in one hand and a book in the other. While blanket scarves, sherpa pullovers, and fuzzy fur-lined hats might make some winter cozy lists, I'm sharing a few different products that will help you stay right on trend this winter and I discovered them all in my latest Babbleboxx! Hanes ComfortSoft™ EcoSmart® The best part of the winter cozy trend starts with comfortable loungewear that is as cute as it is comfy! Hanes has been creating comfortable … [Read more...]
4 Things You Should Know About the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
This post is sponsored by, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, but the content and opinions expressed here are my own. As a Mom, my ultimate job is to keep my children safe. I talk about this with them often because they often, as all children tend to do, have some risky behaviors. Running around a swimming pool, walking through a parking lot oblivious to the surroundings, and so many more daily activities that could bring about harm. One subject that I've always discussed with them is the safety around medications, even their own vitamins, for example. I've always explained that they are never to take medicine or vitamins, without it being given to them by me. If they see a pill or even a piece of candy that could resemble medication, they are to tell a parent immediately. The reason this has been a discussion in our … [Read more...]
5 Reasons The Whole Family Will LOVE the Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Show
Looking for a dinner show in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee that the whole family will love? You have to visit the Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Show! The show is highly entertaining, hilarious, and offers an amazing Southern dinner that is all you can eat! My family just returned from a fun and full weekend in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. We live just a little over an hour from the foothills of the Smoky Mountains and it's no secret that it's one of our favorite places to vacation... or is it a staycation since we're so close? Either way, it's one of our favorite towns to visit and always has been! We've been Dollywood season pass holders since the girls were little [and I was when I was growing up too], so it's no surprise that when we spend time in Pigeon Forge, we're usually at Dollywood. But this past weekend I made it a goal to visit a few … [Read more...]
Best Way to Fill Water Bottles for Back to School with Primo
This post has been sponsored by Primo®. All opinions are my own. A few weeks ago, the girls and I did their back to school shopping. It's quite fun for all of us and we love perusing the aisles and I love getting new office and school supplies... for them, of course! One item that's always on their school lists is a water bottle. Now, I'll be honest, we're really struggling to find THE magical water bottle that doesn't spill, doesn’t have a ton of little parts, and is super cute, but alas, we're trying each brand until we do find THE one. But one thing I'm not trying to find is a way to fill their water bottles anymore - that's been covered with our new Primo water dispenser. The girls easily fill their water bottles up each morning and are out the door, ready for a day of learning. Did you know that adding a water … [Read more...]
Picky About Your Produce? Me Too!
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PickyAboutProduce #CollectiveBias If you're picky about produce, you're not alone. I don't just buy produce anywhere, and neither should you. I buy produce at the store I know is just as picky as I am. Here's where you should buy your produce and 5 tips to get your kids [and entire family] to eat more fresh produce too! Living in a small town in East Tennessee definitely has its advantages and sometimes disadvantages too. While we only have 2 main grocery stores in town because of a lower population, you get to know those stores really well... and the employees too. While sometimes it's great to have lots of choices, it's even better to know exactly what you'll find when you visit your favorite grocery store in … [Read more...]
THE Snack You Need to Try Today
This post was sponsored by Blue Diamond® as part of an Influencer Activation and all opinions expressed in my post are my own. Do you crave salty and sweet? Crunchy and soft? Spicy and tart? Blue Diamond Almonds & Fruit are the snack that you need to try today. No matter your paired snack cravings, these bags have you covered! It's over. I've done the work. I've found it. THE ultimate snack for us Moms. Ok, Dads can enjoy too, but I'm currently hiding my bags of Blue Diamond Almonds & Fruit so they are mine, all mine. Now that my girls are back in school, my snacks no longer consist of finishing off what they didn't eat at lunch. It's time for a snack for ME and the new combinations from Blue Diamond are definitely one of my current favorites. They pair perfectly with your favorite non-cartoon binge-worthy … [Read more...]
3 Reasons It’s time to Upgrade Your Kitchen Appliances
This post has been sponsored by Best Buy. All opinions are my own. It seems as I get older, my priorities in life are definitely changing. In fact, last year on my birthday we had a delivery of one of the BEST presents I've ever received... a refrigerator delivered from Best Buy! Not only was it the very first refrigerator I've ever gotten to buy [at 36 years old], because when we bought both our houses they came with an older one], but it was delivered and set up without a fight between my husband and me! Woohoo! If you've been married anytime at all, and your Type A like both me and my husband, that delivery and set up is one of the most golden parts of the appliance purchase. No fighting over putting a shelf in wrong, no fussing about not lifting high enough... ok, you get it. But how do you know when it's time to … [Read more...]
Celebrate Back to School with a Movie and School Supplies
This post is sponsored by 3M. All opinions are my own. Back to school time can seem overwhelming and not-so-much-fun at a glance, but in our house we celebrate this yearly occasion with school shopping, a fun family party, and this year - a movie thanks to Post-it® and Scotch™ products! Staying organized when things are about to get super busy is my biggest priority during back to school time. Not only do we have all of our regular activities that continued throughout the summer - gymnastics, piano lessons - but we'll start adding school choir, homework, and more to the list! It's important for me to keep all of that on track and I do just that with a command center in our kitchen. We recently did a huge renovation and turned our dated kitchen and dining room into a farmhouse kitchen so I DIY-ed my calendar and command center to match … [Read more...]
5 Tips for a Better Snack Station for Kids
This post is sponsored by General Mills. All opinions are my own. It's my favorite part of back to school, but can also be one of the most stressful parts of back to school... packing lunches and snacks. While we saw our share of lunches and snack times during summer, back to school lunches and snacks are just different, right? Getting anything together on school mornings adds a level of frustration and stress, so the better prepared you are for it all, the smoother school mornings go. This definitely includes snacks and school lunches so today I'm sharing my top 5 tips with you to build a better snack station for kids. Keep your snack cabinet organized. Organization, especially in the kitchen, just makes my heart and eyes happy. It's one room in the house where I like things to be kept up and clean. It's much easier to see when … [Read more...]