7 Tips for Hosting a Stress-Free Friendsgiving
7 Tips for Hosting a Stress-Free Friendsgiving

One of my favorite things to do during the holidays is to have Friendsgiving for my closest girlfriends! I like to do this every year if I can, because it’s such a great way to get all of your favorite people together while also reminding yourself of how grateful you are for the people you’re surrounded by. Every year I find myself even more grateful than the last. This year has brought so many new changes and I am so thankful for the friends that have been there for our family all year long. Party planning is a lot of work and can be stressful at times, so I’ve come up with a list of ways to create this Friendsgiving with little to no stress! Check out these tips for hosting the ultimate friendsgiving this year!

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Gift Guide for the Active Mom
Gift Guide for the Active Mom

One of my favorite parts of being a mom is watching Aimery find himself as he develops interests and discovers new hobbies. I can officially call myself a “soccer mom” this year with Aimery having weekly soccer practices! Aimery has been loving soccer this season - he has made the best friends on his team and I love seeing him play! Over the last year of going to and from soccer practice, I’ve come up with a list of gift ideas for the active mom life. From beanies and joggers to sneakers and sweatshirts, I’ve got all you mamas covered this holiday season! Today, I’m working with adidas to put together the ultimate gift guide for any active mom that you know, keep reading for my top picks!

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Turkey Bacon Ranch Pinwheels
Turkey Bacon Ranch Pinwheels

Can you believe that back to school is here already? I can’t believe I’m typing these words because I seriously feel like the summer just flew by so fast. Where did the time go?! I’m not complaining though because that means my pregnancy flew by super quick! I can’t believe baby girl will be here so soon, but you all know that by now. While our summer did look a little different this year, we were able to make the most of it together as a family of three. We all had to make tough parenting decisions over the last few months on how our children will be going back to school this year, whether in-class, virtually, or from home! Every family situation is different so I truly hope you were able to make the right decision for your family. Something we all do have in common is looking for creative ways to make lunches for our kids.

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Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew
Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew

Calling all pumpkin lovers!! I’m about to rock your world with my favorite new drink - Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew. If you’re a pumpkin lover like me and are not afraid to admit it (or even if you are), then I’ve got you covered with this quick and easy copycat recipe for the most amazing Starbucks drink you’ll ever try. I love a good PSL in the fall time, but my new favorite drink this season has got to be the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew. I branched out a few weeks ago from my usual PSL order and I swear I’ve had like four this week! I knew I needed to recreate an at home version! Instead of spending all of my money at Starbucks, I’ve saved so much by making this at home and you should too!

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Postpartum Care Cart
Postpartum Care Cart

As a soon to be second time mama, I feel like I have a leg up with how to prepare for baby number two. While I am no expert, I wanted to share how I’ve been getting ready for her arrival in just a few short weeks. Many moms spend their time getting ready for their labor, delivery, and bringing the baby home, that they completely forget to prepare a postpartum care kit. I’ll be the first to say that I was not prepared AT ALL for postpartum with Aimery - so I’ve learned my lesson for this time around. No matter how you deliver, you’ll need postpartum supplies to get you through the recovery period better. If not for you, these would make for an amazing gift for any first time mom that you may know. I do know that you can buy postpartum kits online, but I prefer making my own so I can pick and choose what products and brands to go onto my cart. Keep reading for everything on my cart!

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How to Create the Ultimate Hot Dog Bar
How to Create the Ultimate Hot Dog Bar

Our family has been passing some serious milestones over the last few months, including Aimery turning 4 years old!! I wanted to make this birthday feel super special for Aims because it was his last birthday being an only child. Aimery’s birthday party was so special this year and I have been so proud to watch him grow and develop every day. We decided to throw him an Adventure themed party with an ultimate hot dog bar - which happens to be his favorite food. It was a huge hit!

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38 Week Pregnancy Update
38 Week Pregnancy Update

The countdown is on with less than two weeks until baby girl’s due date! This could quite possibly be my last bumpdate since she could come any day now. She is the size of a mini watermelon and weighing in at about seven pounds. We’ve been staying busy over here - on top of Ben finishing up his last finals as a full-time college student and me working towards taking a maternity leave, we’ve been checking things off our to-do list to prepare for baby girl. Over the last few weeks, we have installed her car seat, packed our hospital bags, and made a ton of freezer meals! At this point, we feel 100% ready for her to come!

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Hospital Bag Checklist
Hospital Bag Checklist

As we’re getting closer and closer to baby girl’s arrival, I find myself adding more on to my to do list every day of things to get done before she comes. One of the last things that I need to do before going into labor is packing my hospital bag. If you know me, you know I’m over packing - but in my world, having too much is better than not having enough! Since this is my second pregnancy, I do feel like I am a bit more prepared in knowing what I will probably need or want during my time in the hospital. This time around, I am preparing items in my hospital bag not just for me, but for Ben and baby girl as well. Keep reading to see what I’ve decided to put in my hospital bag!

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5 Family Friendly Fall Activities
5 Family Friendly Fall Activities

When the leaves change and the weather drops, I know it’s time for my favorite season of the year! As we approach this new season of life as a family of four this October, Ben and I have been looking for ways to spend quality time with Aimery and activities to do when she’s finally here. I love the fall time because the air is crisp, the outfits are cozy, and there are so many fun things to do together as a family. Whether it’s a Halloween movie night at home or taking a drive through town to see the foliage, there’s endless amounts of fall activities for families to do together.

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Witches Brew Mocktail
Witches Brew Mocktail

Since Halloween seems to be looking a little different this year, I want to make sure Aimery still has the best Halloween yet. He’s been begging to be Catboy from PJ Masks ever since we came home from trick-or-treating last year. I secretly bought it for him and have been keeping the surprise in for quite some time now! I can’t wait to share his reactions with you all, but until then, I wanted to share a super simple Halloween Witches Brew Mocktail recipe with Sparkling Ice that we’ve been loving.

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5 Tips for Helping Dogs Soothe Nerves
5 Tips for Helping Dogs Soothe Nerves

Did you know that dogs may struggle with stress and anxiety just as much as people do? While it can be hard to notice at first, your dog may be trying to tell you something; so pay attention as best as you can! Some ways that your dog might try and let you know they’re feeling off is by tucking their tail, pushing their ears back, trembling, panting, and the list truly goes on. If you notice any unusual activity, that’s when it might be time to discover ways to relax and soothe your furry friend. Our family grew last year when we brought our dog Dimples home, and life has been so great since he joined us! Dimples suffers from general and separation anxiety, so Ben and I have been doing a lot of research and trial-and-error to see what works for us and Dimples. Keep reading to see how we have been working with Dimples to soothe his anxious feelings!

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Fire Prevention Month Family Checklist
Fire Prevention Month Family Checklist

As we transition to October, it’s important to be aware that October is Fire Prevention Month! Ben and I have been preparing for baby #2 over the last few weeks, and making sure our family is prepared in any circumstance we may face, including fire safety. Aimery talks about how much he wants to be a firefighter one day, so Ben and I have been finding ways to incorporate that into our day-to-day. We’ve been putting together a checklist for fire prevention month with the help of First Alert to make sure our home and our safety plan are all in check. You can find Fire Alert fire safety products at your local Lowe’s. Keep reading to learn more about our family’s fire prevention month checklist!

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Fall Road Trip with Erie Insurance
Fall Road Trip with Erie Insurance

These last few months have given our family so many more opportunities to spend time together as a family and take fun family day trips before baby girl makes her debut. We’ve been going to local farms for pumpkin and apple picking, lake trips with family, and just about any other outdoor activities we can find in our area. With all of these day trips planned, and preparing for baby girl, my family’s safety is my absolute number one priority.

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Cozy Self Care Fall Morning Routine
Cozy Self Care Fall Morning Routine

I used to struggle with mornings, but now I’m learning to embrace the time that I get before the craziness of mom life starts each day. Mornings are so hard. I’ll be the first one to admit that staying in bed sounds a lot nicer than going on a run or making breakfast for the family. However, I’m realizing that utilizing my mornings for myself allows me to start the day in a positive way while also setting up the rest of my day for success. Having just an hour to myself gives me the time to spend with myself as I do things for myself. I’ve always been an advocate for self-care and taking time for yourself, so I wanted to share on the blog how important it is to develop a productive morning routine. I’m adapting my routine to the season this fall by allowing myself to really get in touch with my mental and physical wellbeing. Keep reading to get some ideas from my routine for your new fall morning routine.

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5 Freezer Meals to Make Before Baby
5 Freezer Meals to Make Before Baby

When I was pregnant with Aimery, I remember some of the best gifts I got from friends and family were premade freezer meals. Caring for a newborn can be stressful and, to be honest, what to cook for dinner wasn’t the first thing on my mind. Having meals to just pop in the oven to heat up was so amazing for me and helped me out so much during my first few weeks postpartum.

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Bump Friendly Fall Outfits
Bump Friendly Fall Outfits

I love sharing fall outfits that are bump-friendly! Since baby girl is making her arrival this month, I wanted fall pieces that I can wear postpartum for the rest of the season. These are the most cozy looks that I can’t wait to wear around the house, or to the pumpkin patch with my family. Keep reading for my Red Dress try-on!

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Cheesy Meatball Bites
Cheesy Meatball Bites

We have been absolutely loving this easy meatball bites recipe - it’s the best appetizer to bring for family get togethers, thanksgiving, or even a homegate now that football season is here! With only four ingredients and less than 30 minutes of cooking time, this recipe is so easy to make and will WOW any size crowd. Ben and I love making these together for nights at home, and I’m pretty sure he could eat an entire plate of them himself!

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5 Ways to Prepare your Home When Adopting a Dog
5 Ways to Prepare your Home When Adopting a Dog

Our family grew by one about a year ago when we brought our sweet Dimples home. We love our pup so much and want him to have the best life possible! Dogs are a lot of work and it’s important to not lose sight of that when deciding to adopt. I’m sure almost anyone will agree that the puppy stage is a serious business. When you’re getting ready to bring a new pet into your home, there are many ways to prepare for a smooth transition. As we are soon to be out of the puppy stages, I wanted to share some of our family’s favorite tips for preparing your home for a new dog.

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