Document Your Days {Motherhood Lens: February}

It's no secret that I take a lot of pictures. I usually end up with thousands of pictures each month, and those are the keepers! I just love to document our days by capturing all the little moments that make life so special!

I don't have a ton of pictures from my childhood, and I really wish I did. I wish I had more pictures that documented the everyday moments with my parents and my siblings. I can't get those moments back, but I can make an effort to capture all those moments with my family now. I know that one day my kids will appreciate the fact that I documented these everyday moments and love having so many special memories captured forever.

February seemed to fly by this year. It was such a busy month for my family. From basketball to birthdays to the birth of pet bunnies, it was full of so many exciting moments!

I kicked off the month with a nasty stomach virus. It actually started at the end of January, but it lasted for nearly two weeks. My only symptom was severe stomach cramps, which put a damper on all of our Valentine's Day prep and fun. But I tried to make sure their days were filled with love!

With four kids in school, there is a lot of schoolwork to be done!

Liam eventually fell victim to the respiratory virus that took down every kid in his preschool class but him.

In typical Liam style, he was acting perfectly happy and healthy, but he looked awful. A trip to the doctor was in order, and we found out he had a sinus infection and infections in both ears and eyes!

Spring showed up at the beginning of February which is very unusual for Pittsburgh! We're definitely not complaining one bit!

We managed to find time for some Valentine's Day crafting, but didn't manage to cross much off of our Valentine's Day Bucket List.

Liam got crafty and did a little poo art in his crib. So we had to get creative in order to keep him from doing it again. EVER. Backwards pajamas and a backwards pullover seemed to do the trick.

We took full advantage of our unseasonably warm winter days.

On the rare days we couldn't go outside due to rain, there was plenty to do indoors.

And then the excitement kicked in. Our huge bunny gender oops resulted in eight baby bunnies. It was timed perfectly and the kids got to watch each baby bunny enter the world!

Despite the OMG moment when we found out one of our bunnies was a boy and babies were most likely arriving in the near future, we were all pretty smitten with the newest additions.

Meanwhile, the excitement about Valentine's Day was building!

The big day finally arrived! We had to plan our celebration around school, class parties, storytime and dance class.

Dylan taught Liam how to take the perfect selfie!

We spent every Saturday morning at the gym for Dylan's basketball games. Dylan loves to play, and by his second month of the season he found his groove and started showcasing his talent!

A few 70+ degree days popped up which felt AMAZING.

We managed to sneak in some more crafting. My girls are always willing participants!

Lexie enjoyed her last few days as a 9 year old.

Our babies grew FAST!

Liam played hard and slept harder.

We started picnicking outdoors again. I'm definitely a big fan of these Spring-like Winters.

Lexie was bursting with excitement on her birthday eve!

She was even more excited about turning 10!

At 10 days old, our babies opened their eyes!

Dylan played his last basketball game of the season. We're going to miss cheering him on every Saturday! He played so well this season and we are so proud of him!

Our baby bunnies grew and grew, and we started handling each bunny more frequently to prepare them for their new homes.

I wish we could keep them all. Seriously...have you ever seen anything cuter?!?

And at the end of the month, I was still sick. (Needless to say, after a month of being sick every single day with illness after illness, I gave up and got an antibiotic.)

February was such a fun, busy, and exciting month! Although illness deterred our plans a bit, we still enjoyed our amazing "Winter" and I managed to capture so many great moments with my sweet family. We can't wait to see what adventures March has in store for us! 

Shopping Trips Made Easy with Trolley Bags

Disclosure: I received this product in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are 100% my own.

I have a confession. I absolutely LOVE to shop. Probably a bit too much. Nothing compares to the thrill of finding a great deal or a new product!

Not every kind of shopping is fun, though. I'm not exactly a huge fan of grocery shopping. Mainly because I always have 2-4 kids tagging along. Thankfully, our grocery store offers free childcare for kids 3-10 which is AMAZING (although I still haven't unleashed the Toddler Tornado on them), but I always have my hands full after the shopping trip! Did I mention that shopping for a family of 6 for just one week is intense?

When we get home, it feels like I have a million groceries to haul up the steps. With a toddler on my hip (because he WILL run out of the garage if I put him down) and as many bags as I can possibly carry hanging on my wrists, I make the trek up the garage steps into the kitchen. By the time I make it to the top, I'm out of breath from the weight of the bags and trying not to drop Liam, who loves to throw himself backwards for fun.

Bringing the groceries into the house has to be done as quickly as possible, so Liam doesn't run outside or leave a path of destruction through our house while I'm distracted. And then I have to put it all away. I often dread this weekly chore!

Thankfully, I have a new best friend for my shopping trips: Trolley Bags! These bags are truly one of the most useful products that I keep in my SUV. I've used them for every single shopping trip since I received them!

Trolley Bags are a set of four sturdy, reusable shopping bags that link together. They conveniently roll up and hang on the back of the cart while you shop, then open up inside the cart during checkout. It allows you to sort your groceries perfectly into four large bags, then neatly store them in your car for the drive home. My favorite thing about them is the fact that carrying four large bags into the kitchen is SO much better than carrying 20! Using Trolley Bags saves me valuable time during the unloading/unpacking process!



Trolley Bags can be stored neatly in the back of my SUV or under the middle row of seats. I keep them with me at all times!

I don't go shopping without them!

One of the best features of Trolley Bags is the fact that they fit every kind of cart thanks to the way they are designed. I wasn't certain that they would fit this beast of a cart, so I opened them up inside the parking lot just to make sure. They fit perfectly, and my little ones were so thankful that we could still use their favorite cart (much to my dismay)! And for all of you warehouse shoppers out there, they do fit Costco carts!

Trolley Bags work great for every type of shopping trip! You simply unroll the bags inside of the cart and slide them open at checkout. The slightly OCD side of me loves to leave the grocery store with perfectly organized shopping bags. It makes the unpacking process go smoother and quicker!

The bags connect together with strong velcro, so you can easily separate them to put them in your car after shopping. We put these bags to the test. They hold a LOT of stuff!

When we get home, I can grab a squirmy kid who just wants to play outside with one hand and hold a large bag or two with another!

And sometimes my little tribe likes to help. The four Trolley Bags are all different sizes so there's a bag perfectly sized for each of my kids!

Trolley Bags make my life SO much easier. Especially on those days when I go on two shopping trips! The unloading and unpacking time after shopping is literally cut in half, thanks to these large, durable bags filled with sorted items. Trolley Bags are truly a Mom's Best Friend!

You can find Trolley Bags HERE. They are available in the pastel set (the ones I have) or in the original colors (blue, red, green and orange). 

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I Don't Want To Adult Today

I have a confession. Some days I don’t want to be an adult. There are days when I’m just so over everything.

I don't even feel guilty for admitting that. My truly uninterrupted "me" time amounts to less than 1 hour a week. There are people (and animals) draped on me at all times. And sometimes, it's simply more than I can handle.

Most days I'm happy and positive, and I feel like I CAN do it all. I feel like Supermom. But I'm not afraid to admit that it's not always rainbows and unicorns over here. Those "other" days often sneak up on me. I'm cruising along, feeling like I'm in my mothering groove, when BAM...it hits me. I suddenly realize that I can't take much more and I'm going to snap if I don't do something soon.

I'm sure many moms know exactly what I'm talking about.  It's one of those days when I’m so over dropping kids off, picking kids up, and waiting around during their many activities. One of those days when I couldn’t possibly sit behind the wheel of my car for one more second. One of those days when I’m tired of wiping butts, preparing food, and cleaning up all the messes. One of those days when I don't want to clean or handle one more responsibility. One of those days when the noise level and constant chaos in my home is driving me batty. And most of all, one of those days when I just don’t want to be touched. One of those days when I want to scream "JUST STOP TOUCHING ME!"

I don't really mean it, of course. I know how blessed I am, and I am so thankful for the gift of motherhood. But all moms have these moments. We can't do it all, and when we do, it's only a matter of time before we burn out. We’re on call 24/7 and rarely get a break, and after a while, it takes a toll. Don’t get me wrong. I absolutely love my kids and wouldn’t trade them for anything, but every so often I just need an hour to myself.

Sometimes...just sometimes...I have to cheat on motherhood, marriage, and adulthood, and do something for myself. Sometimes I need to forget that I'm a wife and a mother. Sometimes I need to pretend that I'm not actually an adult with many important things to do.

Ideally, that would be leaving for a night out with friends or a run at the park. But I can’t really leave my house while it’s full of kids, so I have to get creative with my me time! So I “cheat” on my family and escape adulthood for a little while, in my own home. 

Here are my signature moves:

{Little White Lie}

STEP ONE: Claim I have a headache. (This isn’t entirely untrue. I usually do. It's called lack of sleep and four little humans. Story of my life.) 

STEP TWO: Conveniently tuck my iPad under my arm, and make a run for the bathroom.

STEP THREE: Lock the door. This step is crucial.

STEP FOUR:  Fill the bathtub, sit the iPad on a stool, put on Netflix, and soak away my frustration, all while trying to ignore the fingers reaching under the bathroom door. (They are like zombies. I swear.)

{The Not So Dreaded Chores}

STEP ONE: Notice the mountain of dishes that need to be washed and the empty lunch bags sitting on the counter. 

STEP TWO: Let out an extremely audible sigh and announce loudly that these dreaded chores are going to take forever.

STEP THREE: Shoo the entire family out of the kitchen.

STEP FOUR: Set up the iPad, turn on Netflix and get to work!

STEP FIVE: S L O W L Y complete these not so dreaded chores, while letting out the occasional annoyed sigh to show them that you aren't really enjoying yourself. (HA!) 

{Laundry and Chill}

STEP ONE: Make a comment about how much laundry there is to do. (It's true. The never-ending pile of laundry is unavoidable. And 6 human beings create a ridiculous amount of laundry each day.)

STEP TWO: Stomp down to the laundry room with the iPad tucked safely between layers of clothing.

STEP THREE: Let go of all worries. As soon as husbands and kids hear the word laundry, they avoid it like the plague.

STEP FOUR: Binge watch favorite shows on Netflix while you wash, dry, fold and repeat. And repeat. And repeat…. (I did mention it was never-ending.)

{Mama's Gonna Snap}

STEP ONE: Scream “I JUST NEED SOME TIME ALONE!” at your husband, with that crazed look in your eyes.  

STEP TWO: Stomp out of the house with all the essentials. You know...a drink, a snack and a mobile device. 

STEP THREE: Climb into your car and LOCK THE DOORS. 

STEP FOUR: Recline the seat, kick up your feet and escape into the world of Netflix. (Bonus points for curling up in the back of the car with a blanket. There's a reason why I keep several blankets in our SUV and it's NOT just for the kids! Shhh...) 

{TGIF}

STEP ONE: Set a new rule. Late Friday nights are my binge watching night and everybody in my family knows it. After a super long week of being on the go non-stop, I just need to unwind!

STEP TWO: Put on your comfiest pajamas, put Netflix on the TV, turn off the lights and curl up in bed.

STEP THREE: Choose a show (NCIS is how I roll) and start binge watching it from the beginning. Just keep watching until you fall asleep in all your exhausted, drool-covered glory, only to be woken by your husband laughing about how you can't make it through a single episode without falling asleep (not true). No shame. No shame. Even if it does take two nights to make it through one episode.

Just to set the record straight, this doesn't happen often. My TV/Netflix watching is minimal. I'm one of those weird people who hates to have the TV on all day, so I have a No TV until evening rule. But sometimes I just need to relax and lose myself in a show!

In case you’re wondering, here’s what *I* think you need to be watching on Netflix right now!

*The Crown - Incredibly well acted and it will leave you wanting more!

*Cuckoo - A British Comedy that keeps us laughing!

*Lovesick -Another British comedy that's incredibly endearing and very funny. (Obviously I have a thing for Bristish shows.)

*House of Cards - One of my all time favorite shows. I could watch it on repeat!

*Peaky Blinders - A bit too violent, but it has a fantastic story line and even more fantastic eye candy. Ahem...did I actually admit that?

*Santa Clarita Diet - This Zombie comedy is absolutely hilarious! I didn't think I would like it, but I couldn't stop laughing! 
*Gilmore Girls - If you missed that train, get on it now! There's a reason why I've watched the entire series five times through!
*NCIS - There's a reason it has a million seasons. I'm hooked!

Here are a few more cheat-worthy shows:

Do you ever "cheat" on motherhood? What are YOU watching on Netflix right now?


DISCLAIMER: I am a member of the Netflix StreamTeam. I receive service and other promotional products in exchange for my monthly review. All opinions are 100% my own. 

5 Unique Indoor Play Ideas for Kids {Tuesday Talk}

During Winter and Spring, I know there are going to be many days when we are cooped up indoors, thanks to the cold or the rain. With four kids, cabin fever can set in very quickly! An arsenal of indoor play ideas is essential for this mama's survival!

Every parent knows that kids get bored very easily. My kids definitely have favorite indoor activities that they always turn to, but after days of bad weather, they quickly tire of those activities. I'm constantly brainstorming new ideas that will continue to keep my little tribe entertained!

When it comes to indoor play ideas, I have two rules: It must be inexpensive, and preparation must be quick and easy! It rained today, so I figured it was a good time to share five of our favorite unique indoor play ideas that help us survive all those cold and rainy days:

{SHOWER CURTAIN ART}

This is a fun idea that we have been doing for many years! The only supplies needed are a cheap plastic shower curtain (you can buy one for under $2 at Walmart) and dry erase markers.

Spread the shower curtain out on the floor, give the kids some dry erase markers, and let them decorate it!

This activity always keeps them busy for a long while! When they are done, simply wipe off the shower curtain with a wet wash cloth, allow to air dry, then fold up and store away for the next use. This is also a fun idea for a coloring table at a party. We also keep one on our art table at all times, and my kids decorate it with permanent marker while they are creating!

{ROAD ON THE WALL}

I originally found road wall decals on Amazon, but I recently found some in the Target Dollar Spot. I don't know what the appeal is, but for some reason, the kids seem to love to push their cars on the wall track!

I do replace them every few weeks, and I move the wall track from room to room to encourage play in other areas of our home. These wall decals also work great on the floor, or stuck to a table top!

{CHALKBOARD TOWNS}

Purchase an inexpensive roll of chalkboard paper and a box of chalk, and your kids will have hours of fun!

Roll it out on the table for Tic Tac Toe, Hangman and drawing, or roll it out on the floor and tape it down with painter's tape. Kids love drawing towns and landscapes! Bonus points if you have chalkboard blocks to put in the "town!"

{DRY ERASE WALL ART}

Similar to the road decals, dry erase blank canvas decals can provide hours of fun! Find them online, or, if you're lucky, you will be able to find some in the Target Dollar Spot!

Simply peel and stick to the wall, and let the kids decorate them with dry erase markers. They wipe clean after every use. My kids LOVE drawing and writing on these! They're also great for practicing writing letters, numbers and sight words!

{PAINTER'S TAPE MAZES, ROADS, & HOPSCOTCH}

One roll of painters tape = hours of fun!

Peel off strips of tape and stick it to your floor to create mazes, roads or hopscotch boards! Today, we made a road and a parking garage.

After the kids are done playing, have them peel it off the floor to create a tape ball. They have so much fun peeling and sticking that they don't even realize they're cleaning up all by themselves!  #winning

These are just a few of the indoor play ideas that I always have on hand for cold or rainy days! It definitely helps to be prepared!

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