A Few of My Favorite Things

Happy Monday! Can you believe we're already almost two weeks into July? Every year, time goes by more quickly! It has been a while since I shared a few of my favorite things, so I figured it was time to jump back in!

We are over one month into summer break, and thoroughly enjoying a more relaxed routine. Don't get me wrong - my kids still want driven everywhere, Liam had a week of summer school, Lily has tumbling, and Liam is taking swim lessons. BUT...we are staying up late and sleeping in most days, which is awesome after 9 months of really early wakeups, and constantly being on the go. Summer is DEFINITELY one of my favorite things!

Over the past few weeks, I discovered a few items to add to my rapidly growing list of favorite things. From apps to travel blankets to everything in between, I've got it covered! Here's what made my Love List in June...

Aldi Aisle of Shame Finds of the Week

Once upon a time, I was afraid of Aldi. People would tell me how good it was, but change scared me, and it just didn't appear to be worth it. A best friend finally dragged me in one day, and I was hooked!

At first, I just stopped in to buy gluten-free food for Liam, but soon I was purchasing snacks. I realized I was saving SO MUCH MONEY, so I tried buying all of my groceries at Aldi one day, and we discovered that we loved everything. Once I grew comfortable with shopping at Aldi, I discovered the Aldi Aisle of Shame!

The Aldi Aisle of Shame is so popular that there are Facebook groups devoted to it. If you don't know what I mean, just venture into an Aldi one day, and look for their Special Buys section. They go so quickly, so act fast if you see something you like! I shop at Aldi every week, and most weeks, I just leave with 1 or 2 items from the Aldi AOS, but this week, I brought home an Aldi Haul!

Ten Adorably Festive & Inexpensive Christmas Decor Target Finds

 

I usually have a firm rule of No Christmas Before Thanksgiving. This year is a different story! All the stress caused by 2020 is making me to get into the Christmas spirit early this year. Christmas music is already being played, the Christmas clothing is coming out, and Christmas decor is starting to show up in my home!

Over the past week, I picked up a few new Christmas home decor additions from Target. If you couldn't tell, I LOVE Target! My savings account - and my husband - doesn't love Target, but I'm very thankful for all the options Target has for a big family on a budget!

All of my finds are $5 and under because I love a good deal! Most are from the Target Dollar Spot, and can be used throughout Winter, too. If it's inexpensive, cute, and versatile, it somehow ends up in my cart. I'm not quite sure how that happens, but I sure do love what I brought home!

Favorite Finds of the Week - Sam's Club & Aldi

 

Confession: I love shopping...but I love a good deal even more! I even love to shop in a mask! With 5 growing kids, we have to shop smart, search for deals, find things that work well for our family, and add extra money to the weekly budget to allot for clothing, household necessities, and gifts.

I frequently share my finds on Instagram, but got away from sharing them on the blog. Sometimes I only bring home a few things other than groceries, while other weeks are a bit heavier in the extra stuff department. (This week, we have a birthday.) I decided to transition my finds back to the blog again, in addition to sharing on social media. I love discovering new things on social media, and love sharing mine as well!

My weekly shopping trip is an undertaking with 7 people in my family. I also shop for my neighbor each week, and occasionally grab things for my parents. I always stop at Sam's Club for the bulk items (we go through a LOT of food), Aldi for the rest of our groceries, and I rotate between Walmart and Target for the extra grocery/household items that I can't find at those stores. Every so often, I stop at a different store, but most of my finds come from Amazon, Target, Aldi, and Sam's Club. This week, I'm sharing my favorite Sam's Club and Aldi non-food finds!

A Week in the Life of a Big Family + Life with Down syndrome {Week 3}

Can you believe it's already the last week of January? January used to go by so slowly, but that just isn't the case anymore. Perhaps it's because I learned how to embrace Winter, or the fact that this month has been very Spring-like, but January hasn't been bad this year!

Week 3 of January was our "boring week." We only had a few extra things to do for once. Plus, we had a much needed day off from school and work! It was so nice to have that break after the harsh return to reality after the holidays!

My goal for blogging in 2020 was to get back to posting regularly at least two times a week, then increase it from there. So far, I'm on track with my goal, and I have dozens of partially written posts to finish. In February, I have a lofty goal to post THREE times a week! I'm trying to get my blogging groove back, and share everyday life with five kids and an extra chromosome again!

Fab {Target} Finds Friday

Happy Friday! I'm so glad it's Friday, and I'm really looking forward to the weekend thanks to having an extra day "off." The return to reality after the holidays was rough, so the three day break is much needed!

I've been participating in Friday Favorites for years, but this year, I'm starting something new: Fab Finds Friday. Here, I'll be sharing my favorite finds from stores, websites, and small shops. It probably won't be every single week, but I'm aiming for twice a month!

I usually stop at Target each week to pick up the little extras (cleaning supplies, pet items, healthcare and beauty items, etc). I also hoard gift cards I receive to Target, and use them to pick up items as I see them. Over the past two weeks, I found some great clearance deals, and some cute seasonal items in the Target Dollar Spot, and decided to share them with you for my first Fab Finds Friday!

Fall Favorites

It's nearing the middle of November, and while everyone else seems to have decorated for Christmas already, I'm still fully embracing Fall! If there's anything having five children has taught me, it's to quit rushing things, and enjoy the moment. I love everything about the holiday season, from Halloween to New Year's Day, but I'm still enjoying pumpkins, Fall decor, and our Thankful Tree! And on Thanksgiving night, you will find all of us in Christmas pajamas!

If you read my last post from last month, you already know that life has been very chaotic around here. I just haven't had time to blog, and I had to fight through the guilt and realize that I would get back to it when I had a chance. Life has changed even more since I wrote that post three weeks ago. I now have a teenager at home with me every single day, doing cyber school. I'll share more details on the why and how soon. It's still very new to us!

Currently, my nap-protester is actually sleeping, my sick self is stuck on the couch trying to get rest, and my kids are off school for the next two days. It's surprisingly calm in my home for 8 PM on a Sunday night. It's the perfect time to share a few of my favorite things this Fall!

How To Set Up A Shared Bedroom For A New Baby And Their Older Sibling

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #StayConnectedwithVTech #CollectiveBias

When we found out our fifth baby was on the way, it was a huge surprise! With 6 people living in a 3 bedroom home, room sharing was a given, and we knew we had to rearrange our room configuration to include a 7th family member. We ended up adding a bedroom to our basement, letting our teenager move into that room, and turning his former bedroom into a shared bedroom for our new baby and our 5 year old!

Although our newborn would be sleeping in a bassinet in our bedroom for the first 6 months, just like our other children did, we still needed to set up a safe space for diaper changes, clothing changes, playtime, and daytime naps. We put a lot of thought into our two youngest boys' shared bedroom, and it worked out well! Our baby has slept in his crib a few times at night, but we're getting ready to transition him to the room full time very soon.

While we were setting up a shared bedroom for our boys, we focused on three key factors: safety, comfort, and function. There were 5 1/2 years between our baby and his older brother, so we had to make sure our 5 year old still felt special, and our newborn was completely safe. With the help of fun multi-age toys, comfortable play areas, safe beds, and a video baby monitor, we're able to ensure that the transition to full-time room sharing is as easy as possible!

A Year of Color: White {BAKE / PLAY / CRAFT}

Welcome to the first monthly edition of A Year of Color!

On the third Friday of each month,  I will be co-hosting a monthly linkup called A Year of Color with Little Dove, Macke Monologues, and Work It Mommy. Each month will focus on one color and you can link up any post that revolves around that particular color.  Fashion, Recipes, Activities for Kids, Crafts...ANYTHING is welcome! The link will be open for a month, so you can link up any time. We hope you will join us!

The color for the month of January is: 

I had so many ideas go through my head for this month, but I decided to focus on a winter theme. I'm going to share a cute cupcake recipe, an easy and inexpensive winter craft, and a sensory play activity for kids. It's unusually warm in Pittsburgh this month, so we are finding other ways to enjoy winter!

Polar Bear Cupcakes

My mom is a baker so she is the one who always gets to wow my kids with her cute baked goods. My creations are seriously lacking compared to hers, but I was able to impress my kids with this one! (For now. My mom has plans to make polar bear cupcakes with Lily this weekend. I'm sure hers will put mine to shame!)

When it comes to baking, I am all about easy. I don't have the time or the energy for complex recipes. This recipe is really simple and each cupcake only takes about 2 minutes to assemble.

Ingredients:

• 1 box of white cake mix
• White Frosting
• White Cupcake Liners
• Black Writing Gel
• Brown M&M's
• Cereal Rings (Fruit Loops, Cheerios)

 

Directions: 

1. Make the cupcakes according to the directions on the box and allow to cool. 

2. Cover the top of each cupcake with white frosting. Don't worry about making it smooth. Texture is good! 

3. Place a cereal ring (I used fruit loops) in the middle of each cupcake to form a nose and two at the top of the cupcake to form ears. 

4. Carefully cover the cereal rings with white frosting.

5. Place a brown M&M in the middle of the nose.

6. Use the black writing gel to make two tiny dots above the nose for the eyes. 

So easy! 

These cupcakes turned out really cute and went VERY quickly!

My girls actually squealed when they spotted these cupcakes, which made this not so accomplished baker very happy!

 

Two Ingredient Sensory Play Snow 

Sensory Play is very important in our home, and sensory snow is one of the easiest sensory play recipes to make! It can be whipped up in less than a minute. And when you can't experience the real stuff, this is a lot of fun. It's even cold!

Ingredients:

• Baking Soda
• Shaving Cream

Directions:

1. Pour a 1 lb box of Baking Soda into a large bowl. (If you're feeling extra adventurous, quadruple the batch and pour it into an under the bed storage container!) 
2. Squirt shaving cream into the bowl and mix the two ingredients together. Continue adding small amounts of shaving cream until you get the desired consistency. The "snow" should be crumbly but stick together when molded.

Not only is Sensory Play Snow quick and easy to make, but the ingredients are inexpensive and you can control the amount.  Kids can play with a small batch and mold it into shapes, or they can use shovels and other sand toys in a bigger batch. This is one of my kids favorite sensory play recipes!

 

Winter Snowball Banner

This easy craft is perfect for kids ages 5 and up (under supervision), is very inexpensive, and is a great addition to your winter home decor!

Items Needed: 

• Cotton Balls
• White Thread
• Needle

Directions:

1. Decide where you want to hang the banner and measure the length needed. Add 2 extra feet to allow for draping and tying.

2. Tie one end of the thread to the head of the needle. Tie the other end of the thread into a triple knot.

3. Thread the needle through the middle of a cotton ball, then use your fingers to push it gently to the other end. Tie the end of the string around the cotton ball. This will be the end piece.

4. Continue threading the needle through cotton balls and pushing them to the end of the thread until you have the desired amount.

5. Cut the thread and tie it around the cotton ball at the opposite end of where you started. Trim the ends of the thread on both sides.

6. Use your fingers to space out the cotton balls evenly.

7. Hang out of reach of toddlers and young children. Trust me on this one. This is a delicate banner and my toddler tornado took the cotton balls off the first one we made in approximately 30 seconds!

This craft is a lot of fun and all the threading helps strengthen those fine motor skills that are so important for so many tasks.

The snowball banner is quick, cheap and easy to make and it looks so cute hanging up!

It may not be white outside right now, but we had so much fun with these winter-themed activities!

Please join us for A Year of Color next month on February 17th!  February's color of the month will be:

Link up your color white themed posts with us all month long! XOXO

An InLinkz Link-up

Home Decor: A Modern Touch {Featuring Modern Ball Clock from Regency Shop}

 DISCLOSURE: I received product in exchange for a blog post. All opinions are my own.

When you walk into my home, there is no doubt that it's filled with kids. From the play kitchen in the middle of the real kitchen, to the lovingly created masterpieces hanging on the walls, to the photographs of my children in every single room, there are signs of my kids everywhere!

I sometimes dream of the impeccably styled homes that are all over Pinterest, but I know that's just not feasible with four children. Instead, I choose comfort with a touch of fun, modern and whimsical. Kid-friendly is also a must, because I currently live with a Toddler Tornado!

I love finding fun pieces that fit in easily with my home decor. I look for items that catch the eye and spark conversation. If I can find something that can stand out in the land of toys and kid gear, then it's a clear winner! The Modern Ball Clock from Regency Shop is a PERFECT fit for my home! 

The Modern Ball Clock is a modern timepiece inspired by the Nelson clock design. According to the description on Regency Shop, it "transforms any room into a work of art." Now that it's in my home, I completely agree!

I couldn't wait for my new clock to arrive! I checked the tracking number every night and I was relieved to find out that a signature is required upon delivery. I do worry about packages being stolen, especially around the holidays. I knew exactly when the clock was supposed to arrive and the delivery was right on time!

The Modern Ball Clock is a beautiful piece!  The brass arms and the colorful Beechwood balls are unlike anything I've ever found in stores. The Quartz movement is designed to last for years and assembly is a breeze! All I had to do was take the clock out of the box and hang it on the wall.

At first, I wasn't sure where I was going to hang the Modern Ball Clock, but the moment I spotted it, I knew it would be perfect for the modern play space/family area I will be creating for my kids after Christmas. When I hung it up on a white wall, I knew it would be perfect for the play space I have been envisioning!

My current plan is for a modern black and white play space with pops of color.  I plan on having white walls with colorful pops of art hanging on them (which is why the Modern Ball Clock is perfect), a black and white teepee with lights strung inside, a white faux fur rug, colorful modern chairs and a storage cube with colorful bins for the toys.

It will be a few months before the play space is complete. We already have several of the items but we need to purchase a few others.  Here is my inspiration:

Top Row L-R: Teepee / Pom Pom Garland / Canvas Toy Bin

Middle Row L-R:  Storage Bin / Modern Wall Clock / Barcelona (Ibiza) Chair

Bottom Row L-R: Egg Chair / Storage Cube / Scoop Rocker

My kids range in age from 3-12, but I have no doubt that this play space will be a favorite spot for all four of them. I wish I could do it now, but Christmas comes first!

Until the play space is finished, the Modern Ball Clock has a spot in the middle of the gallery wall of black and white photos that I captured. My husband always said it needed some color, and he was right!

 

In addition to the beautiful Modern Ball Clock, Regency Shop offers many other modern pieces!

I'm in love with the Egg Chair! It comes in several bright colors, but red immediately captured my attention. It's bold, it's modern and it's kid-friendly!

The Chesterfield Sofa would be gorgeous in a family room. It can be purchased in black, white, brown or a custom color. Leather is always a great choice with kids around!

The Barcelona (Ibiza) Chair would work well in any room. Thanks to the sturdy construction, I wouldn't worry about my kids ruining it!

The Modern Ball Clock is a great addition to my home decor. I love seeing it hanging on my gallery wall and I know it will look amazing in our modern play space.  It truly is an eye-catching, functional work of art!

Thank you to Regency Shop for sponsoring today's post! To see more of their beautiful pieces, visit their website.