Back to School in Style with Zulily

 

*I received a Zulily credit for free from Moms Meet to use and post my honest opinions. This post may contain affiliate links.

The back to school season with 6 kids is chaotic - and expensive! I don't mind much, though, because this moment in time is my FAVORITE moment in time. All of my kids are still under the age of 18, and we're all living under one roof!

Whenever I start to feel overly sad about Dylan and Lexie being so close to adulthood/college, I try to focus on the fact that we have four younger kids, too! It doesn't make it that much easier, but we still have so many school years ahead of us. SO many!

We are now two weeks into the school year. Time flies when you're busy! Our kids headed back to school - and into fall - with style this year!

8 Tips to Help Your Child Sleep Better with Pact Dream Big Pajamas

I received Pact Dream Big Pajamas for free from Moms Meet to review. Compensation for this post was provided, and this post may contain affiliate links.

Whether you have 1 child or 10 children, I'm sure you probably have times when you are absolutely exhausted. Raising kids can be tiring, and it seems like sleep struggles are the cause of most of that exhaustion! So many factors have to work together in order to help kids sleep well, including plenty of fresh air, a consistent bedtime routine, and comfortable pajamas.

4 of my 5 kids have always been great sleepers, but my 5th child is not. I'm just so tired, that I cave into things like letting him sleep in our bed so *I* can get some sleep. I know it's time to sleep train him, so he can establish healthy sleep habits on his own.

Several things have worked wonders with our 4 older kids, so I know it's time to utilize these methods! He has a comfortable crib and a cozy room, he naps early, he doesn't get caffeine, he gets plenty of exercise, he has the comfiest pajamas, so NOW it's time to start a bedtime routine. It's best for all of us in the long run!

Making Life Easier One Shoe at a Time with Xpand

*We received the following product free in exchange of our honest review.

When you have a big family, there is a LOT to juggle! There is no extra time, so any second saved is precious. I'm always looking for ways to save time (and energy), so I was thrilled to discover a time-saving product - Xpand!  

With Xpand, you never have to tie your shoes again! I love the concept behind this product, especially for Liam. We love them so much that we're replacing ALL of our laces with Xpand laces!

Putting on shoes is so much easier these days. It truly does save me time, and is much less stressful! And if you have little kids or a child who has extra needs, Xpand is a must have!

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 {Week 2}

I can't believe we are more than halfway through the first month of 2020! Is it just me, or does time go by faster each year? I used to always think of January as a boring month, but as my kids get older and my family grows bigger, we get busier, and January is no exception!

Everyday life in a big family is already busy enough, but when we add all the extras to our schedule, life becomes chaotic. We are always on the go! We absolutely have to keep a one extracurricular sport or activity per child rule in our family, but obviously, our schedule changes throughout the year due to seasonal sports and activities.

Week two of 2020 wasn't really remarkable, but there truly is never a dull moment around here! Even when we are running from one thing to the next, I try to keep in mind just how blessed we are to have our beautiful family. Here's an ordinary week in the life of a big family...

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!

Amazon Finds July & August

This post contains affiliate links. If you click through, and make a purchase, I will earn a commission. Everything I recommend has been tested by me or my family!

It took me a while to fully embrace Amazon Prime, but now I buy as much as possible from them! If it saves me a trip to the store with five kids, it's worth it. Plus, I can pretty much find everything I'm looking for, order straight from the app on my phone, and get it within 1-3 days. That's a definite win!

July and August were full of birthdays in our immediate family, so lots of gifts were purchased. Grant turned 40, Lily turned 8, and Liam turned 6! We also started to shop for Fall clothing and back to school items. I got sucked into the Amazon Fashion hole for the first time ever, and never looked back!

My Amazon finds for the past two months include baby clothing, first day of school outfits, jewelry, fashion accessories, bags, toys, books, storage boxes, and electronics accessories. I'm sharing my honest thoughts on everything I bought! (Spoiler Alert - Most were hits!)

A Few Of My Favorite Things

Happy Friday! It has been a few weeks since I shared a few of my favorite things, and my love list just keeps getting longer. I have so many new favorites that I would be typing forever if I included them all, so I'll just share some today, and some more next Friday!

If I'm going to be perfectly honest, much of my focus these days is on my kids and the new baby that we were not the least bit prepared for! (And if you missed the news, here you go!) It has been 5+ years since our last baby was born, and so many things have changed since then. Plus, we have to purchase almost everything again, because we were DONE. When I'm feeling so sick all the time, I don't really love much for myself, so most of my favoites are for kids!

Here are a few of the awesome things that made my love list...

A Few Of My Favorite Things

Happy Friday, my friends! Can you believe it's the end of September already? Where did the past month go?!? Today I'm sharing a few of my favorites that I loved during the month of September!

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday!!! If you read my post on Tuesday, you know we're recovering from a tough two weeks. The good news is Liam is on the mend, he's done taking steroids (YAY!!!), and today is Lily's 7th Birthday! We have a LOT to celebrate! 

I'm keeping this week's Friday Favorites short and sweet, and sharing 5 awesome things that we are currently loving!

The Motherhood Chronicles

Happy Monday and Happy July! It's hard to believe another week of Summer has flown by, and June is over. Motherhood is never dull, so it's no wonder that time seems to fly by!

Friday Favorites: Five Things I'm Currently Loving

Happy Friday, my friends! Life is super busy right now, which is why I'm writing this post at 3 AM. I had some HUGE collaborations to work on this week, and Liam had his June summer session of preschool, so there wasn't much time left over for anything else! All I can say is TGIF!

Friday Mom Life Favorites

Happy Friday! We are a week into Summer Break, and it isn't nearly as relaxing as I thought it would be. I'm taking a much needed break from the chaos, and sharing a few of my current favorite mom life things!

May Days: The Busiest Month of the Year

May flew by in a whirlwind of activity! Every single day was scheduled, and I'm not quite sure how we made it through unscathed. But we blinked, and the month was over! 

A Few Of My Favorite Things

                                  DISCLOSURE: The bag and the games were sent to us for review. I only share the items I love the most!

Happy Friday, my friends! We are getting ready for a really busy weekend. My brother's wedding is tomorrow, and Mother's Day (and Lexie's soccer game) is on Sunday. It's going to be a weekend full of celebrating! Before the chaos begins, I wanted to share a few of my favorite things with you!

Kids Fashion: The 5 Best Small Shops That Promote Positivity and Awareness

I love to shop! I mean...who doesn't?!? One of my favorite things to shop for is kids clothing. And with four kids, that can be VERY dangerous! Although my tween and my teen have strong opinions about what they want to wear, I shop small for most of Liam and Lily's clothing. There are so many amazing small shops that promote positivity and awareness, which is EXACTLY our mission.

10 Simply Relaxing Ways To Enjoy The Holiday Season With Kids ~ Featuring Cozy Holiday Style From OshKosh B'gosh + $50 Gift Card GIVEAWAY

This post is sponsored by Everywhere Agency on behalf of OshKosh B’gosh; however, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

We are in the midst of the busy holiday season, and I am struggling to stay afloat! My to do list is 5 miles long, we have plans every single day, and I'm wondering how we're going to check off all of our favorite Christmas Traditions from our Christmas Bucket List. We should be enjoying the holiday season with our kids, but instead, we spend more time rushing from event to event, and trying to accomplish tasks from our to do list!

Pineapple Love: Frozen Pineapple Whip & Adorable Pineapple Style

DISCLOSURE: The clothing from French Toast that is featured in this post was received complimentary.

My family loves pineapple! It's one of our favorite snacks year round, and any recipe that features pineapple is an instant hit. At the beginning of the Summer, we tried Pineapple Dole Whip for the first time, and my kids begged me to duplicate the recipe. After some trial and error, we found a homemade recipe that we love!

This recipe is simple to make and absolutely delicious! The first time I made it, my family devoured it in one sitting and immediately requested more. It's an incredibly refreshing treat that is perfect for Summer days!

This 3-ingredient recipe is so easy to make that even Dylan and Lexie can quickly whip it up on their own! It can be served straight from the blender for those who prefer a softer frozen dessert (ME!), or placed in the freezer for a few minutes for those who prefer a more frozen dessert (like my strange husband). Either way, everybody wins!

FROZEN PINEAPPLE WHIP

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 cup crushed pineapple, frozen
• 3 cups vanilla ice cream
• 1/2 cup pineapple juice
• OPTIONAL: pineapple chunks for garnish

The great thing about this recipe is that it can be easily adjusted for personal taste. Although the recipe above is a family favorite, some family members occasionally like to add a bit more pineapple punch! Sometimes, I bump up the crushed pineapple measurement to 1 cup.

We have also made it more like a milkshake by using crushed pineapple that isn't frozen, and bumping up the pineapple juice to 1 cup!

MAKE IT:

1. Place all 3 ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth. 
2. Pour into dessert cups and serve immediately, or place in the freezer for 30 minutes for a more frozen dessert.
3. OPTIONAL: Garnish with pineapple chunks.

It really is as easy - and DELICIOUS - as it sounds!

While we're on the topic of pineapple love, let's talk pineapple style! This year, pineapples seem to be everywhere, including on clothing. My girls adore their pineapple outfits from French Toast!

French Toast offers mix and match clothing in styles that kids love! Not only is the clothing affordable, but it's also comfortable. It's perfect for school (hence why they specialize in uniforms) or the playground!

Lexie and Lily loved their pineapple leggings, but they were even more excited about their coordinating styles! 

They really DO love each other! (Most of the time!)

Pineapple Love is strong with my family! Frozen Pineapple Whip is one of our new favorite treats. Not only is it incredibly delicious, but I love how I can make it in just a few minutes and make my entire family happy. Enjoy!

Have you tried Pineapple Whip?

You might also like:

Frozen Chocolate-Covered Banana Bites

TUESDAY TALK

It's time for Tuesday Talk! Grab the button, link back to your hosts and add your blog post link on the widget below!

An InLinkz Link-up

Back To School Shopping Tips with Carter's at Kohl's

DISCLOSURE: This post is sponsored by Kohl’s. I received the included Carter’s clothes as compensation.

Just as it always does, Summer Break flew by! In just a few weeks, Dylan, Lexie, Lily and Liam will be heading back to school. I love having my kids home all Summer, so I’m feeling sad (and a bit in denial), but it’s officially time to start back to school shopping!

So many big changes are coming our way this year. Dylan will be starting middle school, which means school will start a full hour earlier. Lexie will be moving to a new school within the district for 5th and 6th grade. Now that Lily will be in first grade, she will be in school all day instead of half days like last year. And Liam, who is rocking an extra chromosome, will continue at his preschool with a new teacher,  AND start additional speech therapy. All of the change is very bittersweet for this mama!

Dealing with all of those changes is overwhelming enough, but thankfully, back to school shopping isn’t one of them. I now have a decade of back to school shopping behind me, and over the years, I learned exactly what we need, how much we should buy and where we should shop. With 4 kids, I need to have a battle plan before I shop, and find ways to save money! I no longer feel completely overwhelmed by that task, because I know from experience that it can be done!

I started our back to school shopping early this year, and I’m thrilled to say that I’m almost finished shopping for my younger two. (The two tweens, however, are a whole new ball game. And it’s not exactly a game I want to play!) Thanks to the adorable selection of back to school clothing from Carter’s, that is available at Kohl’s, Lily and Liam are ready to go back to school in comfort and style!

Lily's Tunic & Legging Set / Liam's Shirt

BACK TO SCHOOL SHOPPING TIPS

TAKE STOCK OF WHAT YOU HAVE.

Before you head out on your back to school shopping trip, find out what your child has left over from the previous school year, and make sure it still fits! Donate or pack away outgrown items, set aside anything that could still be used as play clothes, then write down what can still be worn for the upcoming school year.

MAKE A LIST!
Write a list of everything your child will need for the upcoming school year. My lists vary depending on which child I’m shopping for, but the back to school basics remain the same.

• 10 pairs of underwear
• 10 pairs of socks
• 10 bottoms
• 10 tops
• Athletic shoes
• Dress shoes
• Raincoat/lightweight coat
• 2 hoodies
• Backpack
• Lunchbox
• Reusable cup
• School Supplies

Tunic & Legging Set / Bunny Flats / Plaid Shirt / Jeans / High-Top Sneakers

SHOP AT KOHL’S.

Kohl’s is your one stop shop for everything your family needs! I do most of our back to school shopping at Kohl’s each year. I can find clothing and shoes for my entire family, in popular styles that they love, and the prices can’t be beat. When I’m shopping for a family of six, I need to go where I get the most for my money!

Here are a few more reasons why I love to shop at Kohl’s:

• Frequent sales!
• Yes2You Rewards Program - I receive special coupons in the mail throughout the year.
• Kohl’s Cash - During certain times you can earn $10 in Kohl’s cash for every $50 you spend.
• Extra savings for Kohl’s credit card holders!

SHOP FOR ONE CHILD AT A TIME.

A few years ago, I tried to shop for all four of my kids at the same time, and I quickly learned my lesson. I was so overwhelmed, my kids were bored and irritable, it took forever, and we forgot so much that we had to go back another day.

Now I shop with one child at a time. It’s a much better experience for everyone involved, and my kids love the one on one time with me! We focus solely on purchasing their back to school items, and we are able to get it done quickly without the interruption caused by other siblings!

Tunic & Legging Set / Ballet Flats / Jeans / Sneakers

STICK WITH QUALITY BRANDS.

If you have kids, you know which brands hold up well! Carter’s is one of those brands that I love and trust. They have been with us from the first days of life to the first steps to the first days of school! Carter’s clothing is durable, will comfortably keep up with my active kids and is available in styles they love!

SHOP DURING SALES & UTILIZE COUPONS.

Everybody wants to save money! Do some research, and wait to shop until there is a big sale. Before you begin, search online for a coupon that can be scanned in the store or coupon code that can be used online. And don’t forget to utilize those rewards programs!

Tunic & Legging Set / Bunny Flats

MEASURE THOSE LITTLE FEET!

Each year, while doing your back to school shopping, measure your child’s feet. It’s amazing how much they grow in just a few months over the Summer! If you’re going to be shopping online, you can easily measure your child’s feet at home. (Just search online for it!)

Liam's High-Top Sneakers / Liam's Sneakers / Lily's Ballet Flats

BUY ENOUGH CLOTHING FOR 10 DAYS.

Every parent is different, but this is my general rule of thumb. My kids always have additional clothing from previous seasons or hand me downs, but I aim to buy each of them enough new clothing for 10 days. That way, I’m not in a panic if I don’t get the all the laundry done, and it gives them plenty of options to rotate outfits.

TRY TO BUY COMPLETE OUTFITS OR COORDINATING SEPARATES.

I love it when I can find complete outfits for my kids, so I don’t have to search for matching items! Carter’s is one of those brands that always has complete outfits for sale. When the top and the bottom match perfectly, it makes my life easier!

Thankfully, Carter’s also has plenty of coordinating separates for sale. Most items within a particular line are designed to coordinate, so there are lots of options!

Tunic & Legging Set / Bunny Flats

LOOK FOR CLOTHING THAT WILL GROW WITH YOUR CHILD AND ADAPT TO EACH SEASON!

Pants with adjustable waists (drawstring or interior belt) are a must, because my kids have tiny waists. Pants that can be folded up, then later unfolded as the child grows are a great option. Button down shirts that have sleeves that can be rolled up halfway or worn down are my favorite for transitioning between seasons!

Tunic & Legging Set / Ballet Flats / Shirt / Sneakers

Thanks to the adorable back to school clothing from Carter’s at Kohl’s, Lily and Liam are going to start the new school year in style! And thanks to the savings below, we just might be heading back to Kohl’s for more!

Save 40% - 50% off Carter's Playwear at Kohl’s from 8/4 through 8/20! Use the BTS10 code to get $10 off $50 spent on the back to school categories (includes Carter's clothing). SHOP NOW!

*My blog may contain links to other websites. I am not responsible for the privacy policies of those other websites. When you click on a link, your information may be collected by those websites so I encourage you to read their privacy policies. Affiliate links are not associated with Kohl's.