We had 4 kids in 5 years… I was pregnant or breastfeeding a total of 64 out of 76 months between 2012 and 2018. So, if you are looking for some tips on a maternity wardrobe that doesn’t break the bank, I’m your girl. Because while we were having all those babes and figuring out…
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Pregnancy Tips for the First Trimester: 23 Pregnancy Hacks From a Mom of 4
I have been pregnant 5 times in the past 5.5 years. One of those pregnancies ended in an early miscarriage, but all 5 came with varying degrees of morning sickness. With each pregnancy, I had more other small children at home to take care of (because that’s how that works… ha!) Thus, I had to…
Life Long Readers
One of our goals for our kids is that they develop a love for reading and maintain it throughout their entire lives. To that end, here are 10 specific ways we encourage reading in our home: 1. BECOME LIBRARY NERDS We go to the library almost every week. When the girls were 1 and 3…
Joy and the Temporary Relief of Me Time
I thought I deserved me time. Everyone told me I did. “You should get your nails done.” “Just buy yourself a cup of coffee.” “Just do a little shopping.” “You’ll feel better if you can have a night to yourself.” And all those things are nice and were said by well-meaning people. Sometimes even by…
YNAB Review (You Need a Budget) // Is YNAB Worth the Money?
YNAB stands for You Need a Budget. In 2016, YNAB moved from being a downloadable software program to being an online (web-based) budgeting program. We have tried several budgeting systems and tools over the years: Mint, Everydollar (my complete Everydollar review here), spreadsheets, random apps, and now YNAB. Though it’s not perfect, YNAB is by…
How to Track Your Grocery Spending // 3 Methods That Work Every Time
This post is part 3 of a 3-post series to help you simplify & get control of your grocery budget once and for all! In part one, I explain how to figure out a realistic grocery bill amount that works for your family. If that number is lower than what you’ve been spending, part 2 explains…
How to Cut Your Grocery Bill
It seems like everyone and their mom wants to know how to cut your grocery bill down. Whether you’re trying to stop overspending on credit cards or want to spend less on groceries so you can hit a savings goal, this grocery-bill-cutting process works. If you stick to this, you will learn how to cut your grocery…
The Best Google Photos Tutorial // A Complete Solution for All Your Phone Pictures
Mommas, I see you at the park (and the zoo, pool, checkout line, library,…) snapping a zillion phone pictures like a boss. I do it too. And then a month later, you start getting the dreaded YOU ARE ALMOST OUT OF STORAGE notifications. What’s a girl to do!? If you have an iPhone like me, Apple wants…
A Practical Guide to the Parent-Led Grace-Filled Home
Our 4 year old’s bedtime habits had gotten out of control lately. One more toy, one more kiss, one more hug, one more drink… if we said no to something, dramatic tears ensued. Perhaps you can relate? Any one of those things on any given night wouldn’t be an issue. But, slowly we had let our 4…
Let Us Not Grow Weary of Doing Good, Mommas!
It all started when I had a 10 month old. We had just moved across the country and my husband was in a crazy intense masters program. I was staying home in our tiny 3rd floor apartment, with no family nearby, no friends, and no car. AND we’d just found out we were pregnant with our second…
Do I Have A Spending Problem or an Income Problem?
People often feel like they don’t have enough money… like the solution to their financial problems is making more money… an “income problem,” if you will. While it’s possible that you do have an income problem, it’s also very possible that you have a spending problem or an expenses problem. So how can you tell which it is? If…
Budgeting When You’re In Survival Mode
Budgeting and tracking your spending are helpful habits for anyone who wants to achieve financial goals, but budgeting when you’re in survival mode financially is a non-negotiable!! If you are exhausted by your financial mess, or not sure what the first right step is, this post is for you! You will learn exactly what to do, step…
#1 Meal Prep Tip: Make Dinner in the Morning To Save Stress and Money
Ever feel guilty that you order too much last minute takeout? You’re just tired by the end of the day… it’s understandable. Or maybe you have every intention of making dinner tonight, but then the baby doesn’t nap well and needs to be held, and you can chop veggies very well while holding a 1…
Stop Yelling at Your Kids | 3 Parenting Lessons From Losing My Temper
(Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a commission off purchases from customers I refer, at no additional cost to you of course. Read my full disclosure policy here.)Have you ever said something to your kids impulsively? You know… where the words are coming out of your…
Meeting My Husband (Aka: We Got Married 10 Months After We Met)
Wanna hear a little love story? It goes like this. Boy: “Hey, girl hey. My name is Ben, what’s your name?” Girl: “Oh, hi, Ben. I’m Renee. Nice to meet you.” Boy: “Wow, you’re nice. Wanna get married?” And they lived happily ever after Okay, okay, it wasn’t quite that fast. But close. When people…
7 Principles to Make Goals and Crush Them… Like a Mom Boss!
Do you make goals? If so, how? Do you tend to crush them all, or do they just kinda float around in your head until you get interrupted by a kid who desperately NEEEEEEDS you to help them find that one little lego piece RIGHT NOW? As a mom, it’s so easy to get caught up…
How Much Should I Spend on Groceries? Use These 5 Simple Questions
I hear people bemoaning the darn grocery budget all the time! It’s so hard to know how much groceries “should” be costing. In fact, one of the most frequently asked questions I get is, “how much do you spend on groceries?” or “What should your grocery bill be?” In the last couple years that we’ve been paying off our…
The Best Parenting Book I’ve Ever Read
You guys. I have read a LOT of parenting books. And there are a lot of good ones out there. But this one is the best parenting book. If you have a kid or think you ever want to have a kid, this is a must-read book for you. It easily soared into my top 5 best…
Must Have Items for an Organized, Efficient, Small Kitchen
Alternate Title: What I would have registered for if I’d have known we’d move a zillion times in the first 5 years of marriage! (Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a commission off purchases from customers I refer, at no additional cost to you of course….
Where to Organize & Backup Your Pictures
In this digital photography age, organizing and backing up pictures can be really overwhelming. It’s also kind of a funny problem because what the heck are you going to do with all those backed up pictures anyway? Sit on your computer and just click “next” a zillion times and look through them? Go back and…