Online Shopping With ShopSmarter

This post is sponsored by ShopSmarter. I was compensated in exchange for an honest review. As always, all opinions stated are my own. Thank you for supported the brands that make this blog possible. 

I'm a huge fan of online shopping. When I used to work at an office job it was such a nice break to do a little retail therapy on my lunch hour right from desk instead of rushing out to a store nearby. And now that I'm a SAHM with a one year old, I appreciate the ability to purchase just about anything at my fingertips. Don't get me wrong, Target trips are not stopping anytime soon, but I do the majority of our household shopping online. So why not be rewarded for that?

Say what? That's right, if you haven't heard of ShopSmarter.com and you're an avid online shopper, you must read on. There are several companies now offering discounts and cash back for online purchases made from participating retailers so why choose ShopSmarter? Well if 10% cash back on all purchases up to $1000 a year doesn't stand out then I don't know what would. But here's the kicker. Approximately once a month you can earn 20% cash back for a limited time! Believe me when I say I have a list of things that can wait to be ordered until that timeframe. And if those perks don't have you hooked yet, the exclusive coupons may grab your attention. ShopSmarter has so many discounts and free shipping offers only available to its members so don't you want in on this?

I realize as a busy mom it can be a pain to have to sign up for one more thing. But it is so easy your kids could probably do it for you. Maybe for a cake pop? Kidding. Okay I'm not. It took me less than 60 seconds, I timed it. And once you're in you can immediately start shopping + earning cash back. ShopSmarter has partnered with thousands of your favorite retailers and you can easily search for them right on the home screen. Looking for something specific but are unsure where you want to buy it from? Or maybe you want to do some price comparisons. Easy. You can just search keywords and you will be presented with options from all participating retailers. As long you are signed into your ShopSmarter account and access the online store sites through the home page your purchase will qualify for cash back. A check with your earnings will be mailed at the end of each quarter. Could it get an easier? I think not. 

So to really be able to give you an honest opinion, I of course had to make some purchases through my new ShopSmarter account. Our master bedroom was in need of a little facelift so I visited my favorite store through the home page. Target, duh. I found the perfect new throw pillows, seriously they are even husband approved, and voila, cash back showed up in my account when my order shipped. I'm a little miffed I didn't know about ShopSmarter sooner. Think of all the savings I missed out on!

Shopping from my bed with my coffee and getting cash back is like something out a dream for me. I mean what will they think of next?! Thank you ShopSmarter for allowing me to save money on all my online purchases and help to support my family. 

10 Ways We Use Essential Oils

Let me start by saying I used to be the person thinking oils are a total scam. I would not even entertain the idea of learning about them for quite a long time. And then I had a baby. A perfect, willful, impatient, wild, nap boycotting baby. I was desperate and during an exhausted late night research quest I caved and bought a starter kit. Here we are 6 months later and I kind of want to slap my formerly skeptic self. 

But this post isn't about making a believer out of anyone or explaining how and why essential oils work. I have a lot to learn, and that's half the fun of incorporating oils into your life, but I have gained so much knowledge since I've started using them. I know jumping in can be overwhelming and we are all busy people. So whether you already use and love oils, just want to see what all the hype is about or take the full plunge, here are 10 ways we love using oils in our home. 

1. Diffusing - I LOVE my home to smell good. I am always amazed at what a scent can do for my mood or the memories it can conjure up. So instead of burning candles that can unfortunately emit toxic chemicals, we have fun trying new oil blends. A favorite is grapefruit + peppermint + lemon.

2. Room Spray - The ones you buy at the store aren't always the safest choice, and with 6 animals + a baby, I'd rather not chance it. We love lavender + gardenia for that moment the sheets are fresh and the bed is made and purification + orange for the bathroom.

3. Carpet Refresher - We actually call these carpet sprinkles and use them before vacuuming as well as to keep our litter boxes from stinking up the house. All you need is baking soda and your favorite oil or blend. Mix, sprinkle and let sit for 5-10 minutes, vacuum and enjoy the most refreshed smelling carpets. Lately I've been using 10 drops each of lime, orange or tangerine and stress away to make my floor smell like a tropical garden.

4. Facial Moisturizer - I have normal to dry sensitive skin and so many moisturizers do not work for me. I found one I loved and then my skin changed it's mind when I got pregnant. I did find another one but it's pricey and I was running low so I decided to try oils instead. It sounds crazy considering moisturizers typically tout their oil free ingredients. But essential oils actually have amazing skin benefits and don't leave your face feeling greasy. Jojoba oil is a close match to human sebum and oils like lavender, geranium, frankensince, lemon and tea tree can be so great for your complexion and healthy skin. 

5. Flavored Water - I love my coffee but I try to drink lots of water throughout the day. I always have a cup or a tumbler with me and while I don't have any problem with plain water, it's nice to throw in a little flavor sometimes. A drop of orange, lime, lemon or grapefruit gives my drink a nice little taste boost. 

6. Cleaning - I swear I am always cleaning. Or maybe it's that I'm always trying to clean. But a baby, dogs, cats or a husband seem to follow behind me making messes. That's just life as we know it though. I've been loving Thieves cleaner for pretty much all the spaces I clean regularly. I add a bit of lemon to take up the scent a notch and it also helps removes stains!

7. Allergies - Oh my goodness the allergies in the Ohio Valley are terrible from St. Patty's Day through Labor Day and sometimes well before and after in a bad year. I typically get hit pretty hard in early Spring so this year it's been wonderful to have oils come to the rescue. peppermint + lemon + lavender not only smells awesome but it really does help relieve those pesky symptoms. 

8. Keep Calm - As a busy SAHM I far too often find myself stressed to the max and overwhelmed. I love staying home with Fallon but oh man some days are just so HARD. I have a rollerball I keep filled with coconut oil, peace & calming and lavender. It takes the edge off and helps me remember to take a deep breath and also is great to roll on Fallon when she's having a moment. Or three. Stress away is also great to apply neat to wrists for calming feelings. 

9. Laundry - I had no idea how not so great dryer sheets are. And we used to go through them very quickly. I bought a set of wooly balls instead to scent with a few drops of oils and toss in the dryer. They are the perfect safe alternative, help your clothes dry faster and smell AMAZING. My current favorite is lemongrass + lavender for a clean, fresh meadow scent. 

10. Sleepy Vibes - This is the reason I started using oils in the first place. We now use them every evening to get nice and relaxed for a good night sleep. It depends on the day but we do a mix of cedarwood + lavender in the diffuser and/or sprayed on the sheets, pillows and pjs. Lavender on Fallon's lovey and peace & calming, gentle baby or lavender + cedarwood on the bottoms of feet or behind the ears are so soothing! 

What are you favorite ways to use oils?

How To Make An Entryway In A Small Space

Some homes have a mudroom, some have a foyer and some have a big hallway when you walk through the front door. My home has none of these so when we first moved in, my plans to update did not include an entryway. But thanks to all the beautifully styled options on Instagram and Pinterest, the creative juices started flowing over the winter.

Our front door is the main point of entry for any guests we welcome into our home. The stairs are off center with the hallway to the kitchen to the left and the dining room just beyond. The walkway to the powder room to the right and we have 4 windows across the front of the first floor of the house so there isn't much wall space. It didn't help that light switches had been placed in the center of the wall space that was available. But sometimes fewer possibilities are easier to work with.

The storage/shelving unit combos sold specifically for entryways are a one shot deal and fit well into many spaces. But when you're working with about 6 feet of wall space and a foot deep of floor space, you have to think outside the box. A simple bench and hanging shelf unit with hooks were the 2 pieces I felt would look best and be most functional. Unfortunately I can't link the exact ones I have as they aren't available anymore, but you can find many similar options here, here and here.

The walls had already been painted Silver Chain by Benjamin Moore so it was a shame that the wall had to be cut to move the light switches. Luckily my brother-in-law is an electrician and did it for us one day and Chris patched and painted afterward. But I was surprised at how little time it took and I would have absolutely paid someone to do it to get my entryway. Your light switches can be moved people! Make sure you measure the space and map out how much of it you want taken up by furniture. Using all the available space isn't always the best way to go. Pick your pieces to flow with with other surrounding areas but don't forget practicality is key! I really just wanted a nice area to put our keys and sunglasses and something to hang Chris's hats and my bags. 2 shelves, 4 hooks and a simple bench were perfect to hold all these things plus add a decorative touch. 

I am honestly so happy with the way it turned out and still amazed that just moving light switches and adding 2 small pieces made such a huge difference. It is one of my favorite little spots in the house. And now we don't spend 10 minutes looking for keys because they somehow ended in the fridge. Hopefully I'm not the only one that has happened to. 

Favorite Finds

I haven't been this excited for a Friday in awhile. I've been the busiest bee this week just doing all the things, both productive and fun. But today, I'm taking the day off! Well, not really, because I mean there's the whole mom gig. Ya know, on call 24/7 with no PTO. But honestly I'm excited to hang with my little fam, relax and revel in this hot summer heat. But first, Favorite Finds. And iced coffee.

Chris is a trooper about taking millions of pictures for me but this little iPhone tripod has arrived to give him a break. If you know me you know I ALWAYS have a drink, sometimes two, sometimes three. I found this adorable stainless steel water bottle that keeps my water nice and cold and fits right into my cup holder for errands without tipping over, the stroller caddy or the pool bag. I might only wash my hair once a week but I hate when my nails aren't done and this has been my new favorite summer color. And speaking of summer colors, I can't stop wearing these bright floral pjs. When I wash my hands with my Method Palm Garden soap while wearing them I'm momentarily in a tropical paradise. I've been trying to take better care of my skin and finally tried this paper mask I bought a few weeks ago. It's tingly if you like that feeling, smells great and makes your skin soooo soft. And since it's Friday, if you're a champs or a margarita drinker you must try this Champagne Margarita. 

Happy weekend friends!

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Picks

It's that time of year again, the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is upon us! Every year there is so much excitement and hype surrounding this sale and honestly it never disappoints. You can snag so many great pieces for fall at steeply discounted prices and get a jump start on next season's wardrobe. Although early access has been available to Nordstrom card holders for a week, the sale goes live to the public tomorrow. I'm sharing my top picks and I have a strong feeling many of these items will sell out quickly, so get them while you can!

You know by now that leggings and tees are my jam so of course I was drawn to a few of those immediately. Black moto leggings are a staple for me because I can run around in them or dress them up a bit if I'm feeling fancy. I am all about the layered look when it gets chilly and soft, cozy cardigans are where it's at in my opinion. Grey is my favorite neutral but burgundy will be swooping in for fall. Honestly I'll still be in sneakers and probably Ugg boots most of the time but I think I'll have to finally give OTK boots a shot. Plain old distressed jeans will always have my heart but I've been looking for a pair of distressed black jeans. And they would pair so well with the cognac leather jacket or the cold shoulder sweaters. And did you honestly think I wouldn't throw in a comfy pair of pjs pants? I mean, they have grey stripes. SOLD. 

Happy shopping!

Nap Time With DockATot

It seems like forever ago and just yesterday somehow that I was making up my baby registry. One of the first items I added to the list was a DockATot Deluxe. I had read so many rave reviews about having one of these cute little portable cots for babes that I just had to have one for mine. We used it all the time to lay Fallon down in and it was so easy to tote around the house with one hand. Chris and I would joke that they should make them for adults because they're so cozy!

Fast forward to 10 month old nap boycotting Fallon. She had outgrown her Deluxe and I jumped at the chance to actually work with DockATot using the Grand. As soon as we put it on the ground, Fallon climbed right in. And we figured out that the key to the dock is that it does double duty for playtime AND sleeping. When we have it downstairs she is free to crawl in and out, bring her toys in it and watch her shows while eating snacks. But when we bring it upstairs she can snuggle up to sleep in it. Throw in some favorite essential oils, crank up the sound machine with a buddy to cuddle and who wouldn't be lulled to sleep in a cushy bed? The positive association Fallon has made with her DockATot has been invaluable to her learning that naps aren't so bad. And we are so grateful! We are at the 1 year mark and finally at the point where naps happen a lot more days than not without a fight. 

As a mom who isn't the biggest fan of having my house cluttered with baby gear, I also

 love that the docks have nice cover options that don't scream BABY. And of course washable gets every parent's vote. The covers zip right off to toss into the wash and they really aren't difficult to get back on. So if you're looking for a baby gift or desperately trying to get your toddler to nap, DockATot is where it's at! Click here for $10 off your purchase.

Fallon's First Birthday

It's been an amazing year of firsts with our little Fally girl and her first birthday party was no exception. When she's sweet she's the sweetest and I couldn't think of a better theme for our summer babe than one with sweet treats. We had ice cream and popsicles everywhere and it turned out incredibly cute if I do say so myself. 

I worked with Jennifer at Ady & Owen to create custom invitations that fit our theme perfectly. She even designed coordinating goodie bag tags for us on an easily printable template. We filled them with ice cream cone pens, mini popsicles paper pads, fun straws and good old marshmallow candy cones. Creativity runs in the family because her sister Heather made our sweet treats and O N E wooly ball garlands. 

Michaels is where we found most of the themed decor including the sprinkle snack cups, ice cream cone cupcake holders and ceramic cone vases. Our dear florist friend supplied the most vibrant carnations we used around the house and to make the "ice cream" for the vases topped with a painted styrofoam ball. The ice cream cake toppers were also DIY projects, just painted floral styrofoam pieced together with toothpicks. 

A few of you detail orientated people noticed that Fallon's party romper was an exact match to the print on the table cloth. We actually layered a white sheet with a few yards of turquoise fabric and then topped it with the ice cream print fabric found on Amazon! The table was set for a meal of mac 'n cheese baked into cupcake tins + fruit skewers for individual servings and hot dogs on the grill. Snack cups for the kiddos with a mix of animal crackers dipped in colored chocolate and sprinkles, pretzel sticks and Goldfish crackers were kept at the ready to venture off with them around the party. We later brought out the cupcakes baked into pointed cones and decorated to look like ice cream, popsicles and ice cream pops. They started melting quickly but the kids could have cared less, ice cream covered in Magic Shell with sprinkles on a stick is good even when it's running down your face. 

We set up an inflatable pool with a slide, Fallon's other 2 baby pools and her new water table, a gift from my parents, in our backyard. The kids were having so much fun we didn't want to make them come inside to watch Fallon open all her gifts. So we went nontraditional and skipped that part. Of course when Fallon is old enough to understand and to be excited to open presents we will certainly let her! 

Overall the party was a huge success and turned out exactly the way I had hoped. It was a beautiful, sunny summer day spent with family and friends to celebrate a whole year with our little girl. She stayed up well past her bedtime on a sugar high and crashed next to daddy. Now that's the sign of a great party! I am so thankful to my hubby and everyone who helped to make this vision for Fallon's first birthday shindig come together. I'm pretty sure it was the best day of her life!

12 Months Of Fallon

It has been harder and harder to keep up with these monthly updates but I am so glad I stuck it out. These are like a virtual scrapbook that I already love looking back on to remember what Fallon was doing each month. I'm lame and never got around to doing an actual baby book so these blog posts will have to do!

Fallon's one year checkup was this morning and she weighed in at 19.5lbs, 29.25 inches tall. A thirteenth tooth is coming in so she has a mouthful of teeth to chomp all the food she gobbles up. Her hair is finally getting a bit thicker but it is far from being ponytail length. One day it will happen! 

The scoot is still her favorite way to get around but she has been cruising across all the furniture and the baby pool for a few weeks now. She does stand on her own for short periods and has a taken a step on a few recent occasions. But she has proved to be the kind of kid that does things when she wants, whether she is capable is irrelevant. She loves stuffed animals, dolls and blankets and cuddles them up to her chest melting us into puddles. It's the best ever though when she hugs us and says awwww. 

We still haven't found a food she won't at least try and she's eating things just like we do now. She can wield a spoon but prefers to dive into applesauce with both hands. I can't say I blame her. But even though she eats all day long and still nurses 3 times a day, she remains petite, save for the little thigh rolls and belly. So many people have asked if I cried on her birthday and have begged her to stay little but I could not be happier about my baby turning one! The more she is able to do the more fun we have. It is exhausting chasing her around and ensuring that she isn't doing things she's not supposed to, but I just love that she's becoming my little buddy. Watching her learn to do things on her own and seeing her interact with her world on a higher level is so amazing and joyful for me. 

Fallon Lynn you have turned our whole world upside down this past year in the best possible way. Every day we learn as much from you as you learn from us. We are so very excited to see what this next year has in store and can't wait to watch you grow!

4th Of July Pie

Every year for the past several years I've made this sweet summer treat we call 4th of July pie for its namesake holiday. It's a totally made up dessert that's quick + easy and can require ZERO baking. It's served cold but tastes just as great half melted in the summer heat and we cannot get enough of it. Last year I was 39.5 weeks pregnant and ate nearly the entire pie by myself. #noshame

Food photography is not my strong suit, clearly, but my hubby insisted I share this little recipe. The fruit colors make this dish perfect for all the patriotic summer celebrations but really you could use any toppings your little heart desires. So if your skills are lacking in the baking department, you need to throw something together for a party really fast or you just want a delicious pie to treat yo' self with, here you go!

Crust 

I make my own crust but you can certainly go the no bake route and buy a premade one. 

1.5 cups crushed graham crackers

5 tablespoons melted butter

1/3 cup cane sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Mix together and press into a 9 inch pie plate. Bake at 375 for 7/8 minutes. 

Filling

12 oz. cream cheese, softened

1 cup powdered sugar

1 cup cane sugar

6 tablespoons butter

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Beat with a mixer until smooth.

If you made your own crust, let it cool for about 10-15 minutes. Then pour the filling over the crust in an even layer. Top with whipped cream and garnish with strawberries and blueberries. Chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour. 

Happy 4th fellow Americans!