To make it easier for you, this post contains affiliate links to the products I used in this DIY Desk Treadmill tutorial. See my full disclosure here. Walking at your desk can help you stay focused on tasks all while getting a little exercise. I've had a walking desk for about a year and a half and I absolutely love it. There's a problem though. Desk treadmills can be pretty expensive. Thankfully, my husband figured out a pretty genius solution. Instead of buying an expensive desk treadmill, he modified a regular and less expensive treadmill. The great news is you can do it too! With many traditional treadmills, the motherboard containing ... read more
How to start a blog or website in 3 easy steps
Over the years I've had a lot of people ask me how to start a blog. Believe it or not, getting your blog up and running is not as hard as you may think! You can start a blog or website in 3 easy steps, and I'll show you how! I'll walk you through the 3 steps one by one, with pictures so you'll know exactly what to do. By the end of this, you'll have your own self-hosted blog website on Wordpress. This post contains affiliate links but don't worry - I'll only point you to helpful resources that I recommend and use personally. How to start a blog or website in 3 easy steps Step 1: Get a Hosting Account To have a blog or website, you have to "rent" space on the internet. The ... read more
One Business Tool I Can’t Go Without
I'm cheap when it comes to buying tools for my blog & business. Rather than paying a little bit of money to fix a problem, I'll spend countless hours trying to fix it on my own. I've often spent way too much time trying to keep up a presence on my social media outlets, instead of investing in a powerful program to help me take control of my business. I've learned the hard way that sometimes the free option isn't always the right one. Affiliate links are included. See full disclosure here. That's where CoSchedule comes in. Although I'm "cheap", I willingly pay for CoSchedule because I don't want to go without it. Why? CoSchedule helps ... read more
DIY Sit and Stand Desk
Sitting is the new smoking. Researchers are now saying that sitting for long periods of time can be as damaging to your health as smoking. If that's true, a lot of people are in trouble (myself included) If you work in an office setting, chances are you sit at a desk for a majority of your work day. Sit and stand desks are a great solution to help keep your body moving but they're really expensive. My DIY sit and stand desk is easy to make and costs well under $200! Here's how it works: To make it easier for you, this post contains affiliate links to the products I used in the video above. See my full disclosure here. DIY sit and stand ... read more
Easy Ways To Help Kids Sleep In
My kids stay in their beds every morning until at least 7am. {Please don't hate me for saying that} Is it because I'm Super Mom? {I spit my coffee out laughing when you said that} No-I'm far from being Super Mom. Is it because I have perfect children? {now I'm laughing even more} No. We're just a normal family that has tried a couple of tricks that worked really well. The good news is I'm going to share those easy ways to help kids sleep in so you can enjoy more sanity! When your kids sleep in, you'll gain the freedom to get up early and get some things accomplished before they wake up. Or you can enjoy a little more sleep ... read more
Budget Modern Farmhouse Master Bathroom Makeover
For our 15th wedding anniversary, my hubby gave me a budget modern farmhouse master bathroom makeover! We wanted to transform our bathroom into a soothing clean space. As we designed the bathroom, I was drawn to the farmhouse look but I wanted more of a modern twist. I've definitely derived some design inspiration from Joanna Gaines of Fixer Upper (which happens to be one of my favorite shows) One of the best parts of this budget makeover is that all the materials we used are very affordable! For your convenience, this post contains affiliate links. See my full disclosure here. Budget Modern Farmhouse Master Bathroom Makeover Materials: Most of these ... read more
Free Bedtime Checklist Printable
Why is bedtime so hard for children and parents? The kids are wired while you're exhausted and short on patience. That's a bad combination. There's so much to accomplish before our sweet little kiddos finally lay down and go to sleep. Do yourself a favor - help teach your kids a little responsibility with this free bedtime checklist printable and they'll be on their way to getting themselves ready for bed! Bedtime Checklist Printable I’m sharing these bedtime checklist printables with all my fantastic subscribers for free! I’ve included a version for girls & boys and they both include visual cues making it perfect for pre-readers! Click ... read more
How To Put A Blog On Autopilot
Sometimes life gets crazy and things don't turn out the way you planned. What happens when you have to put your blog on hold after putting in years of time and investment? I should know because that happened to me. Things in my personal and professional life changed, along with my schedule and suddenly I had to put my business on the back burner. Over the past 6 months I put my blog and online business on autopilot and surprisingly one of my subscriber lists grew by 44%, my main subscriber list grew by 28% and income from my Etsy shop has grown substantially! It is possible to put your blog on hold and live your life while still gaining subscribers and income. Keep ... read more
How To Get Kids To Help With The Laundry
Laundry is never ending. That's one reason why it feels so overwhelming. It doesn't matter if you wash, fold and put away ten loads. There will always be more to do. Have no fear--I have a couple of ideas for how to get kids to help with the laundry so it won't feel overwhelming. I've invested a little time and energy into doing one thing that has helped my children become more responsible with the laundry all while taking some of the work off of me. With just a little adaptation for each child, this method will work for kids of all ages and abilities. It's called delegation. Simple but profoundly true. They won't know how to do ... read more
Clean and Sanitize Floors In 15 Minutes
I have a feeling you’ll love this tip just as much as I do, so I’ve included some affiliate links for your convenience. My full disclosure is here. You'll wish you'd known this trick a long time ago. I know that's a pretty bold statement but I really think it's true. This method saves me time & sanity and my floors have never been cleaner! Try this & your floors will be vacuumed and sanitized easily all without a mop or scrubbing the floor on your hands and knees. It works on hard floors like tile, laminate, luxury vinyl, marble, stone and hardwood. You won't have to use any harsh cleaning chemicals, either. Let me show you how ... read more
4 Ingredient Quinoa Salad
Let me introduce you to your next favorite summer side item: 4 Ingredient Quinoa Salad. It has a sweet and tangy flavor that's so good you'll forget how healthy it is. It's also really easy to make and pleases a crowd which made it my summertime go-to side item. This salad doesn't last long in my house. My hubby an I usually finish it within 24 hours! We have good reasons for that: The tangy and sweet taste combination is worth drooling over Fresh peppers add the perfect amount of crunch It's crazy healthy 4 Ingredient Quinoa Salad It's healthy, delicious, inexpensive and easy to make. Have I convinced you yet? Good! ... read more
Photo Flower Bouquet
Mother's Day is one of those times when people struggle to figure out what to get for Mom. What do you give someone that seemingly has everything? Often times the most treasured gifts are the ones that have meaning. Last year for Mother's Day the kids and I made a photo flower bouquet for all the grandmas and mothers on both sides of our family. Everyone LOVED them! These are easy to make and you can even have the kids help! For your convenience, I shared affiliate links to supplies that made this project super easy and fun! The full disclosure is here. Photo flower bouquet materials: foam paint brush dowel rods for the flower stems green ... read more
How To Watch The Great American Eclipse With Your Kids
Make sure you and your family have the right equipment to safely enjoy the Great American Eclipse. The solar glasses linked to in this article are affiliate links and CE certified to be safe to protect your eyes. Full disclosure here. Something BIG is happening in August! The sky will turn dark, almost to twilight in the middle of the day. Scientists say animals and humans may feel something strange and act differently. The Great American Eclipse is coming and it will be a great way to get kids of all ages excited about science! The most important thing you need to know about the Great American Eclipse Above all, the most important thing you need to know is ... read more
Schedule Social Media Posts While You Blog
Bloggers have a love hate relationship with social media. In order to have a successful website, an active social media presence is necessary. But who has time for that? Well, as a matter of fact, you do! The key is having access to tools that streamline your tasks. There's a way to combine all your social media accounts into your blog dashboard managing everything in one place, saving you time and keeping you organized. I'll show you how to schedule social media posts while you blog in a step-by-step in a video tutorial! For your convenience, this post contains affiliate links. My full disclosure can be seen here. The key is doing the work at ... read more
Weekly Menu Printable
What's for dinner? Most mothers hate to hear those words and I bet you do too. By the end of the day you're probably so tired you're ready to throw in the towel and let the imaginary chef cook up a meal. I can't give you an imaginary chef (sorry) but I can give you something that will organize your meals for the week and keep your food budget under control. This weekly menu printable will help organize your dinners ahead of time saving time, money and your sanity! For your convenience, I’ve included some affiliate links (at no extra cost to you!) My full disclosure is here. Weekly Menu Printable weekly menu printable (get it for free HERE) chalk ... read more
The Easiest Way To Clean A Microwave
I have a feeling you'll love this tip just as much as I do, so I’ve included some affiliate links for your convenience. My full disclosure is here. I HATE cleaning out the microwave, don't you? For most people, cleaning the microwave ends up on the bottom of the cleaning list. When life gets hectic, you clean what most people can see, while forgetting about the unseen things like the microwave. You'll forget to clean it and the longer that mess stays in there, the harder it is to clean. You're just too busy to worry about scrubbing the baked on mess in your microwave. But don't worry--I've found the easiest way to clean a microwave and it will ... read more
Verses To Read When Life Is Hard
Are you going through a difficult time in your life right now? It's always the right time to turn to Jesus for help, especially when life is hard. Some of the most comforting moments I've had with God is when he gave me hope during hard times. When you give your life to Jesus, you give him access to all parts of your life, including the struggles that are making your life hard right now. Giving my life to Jesus was and will always be the best decision I ever made because I know whatever I face in life, he will be right by my side. I hope this collection of verses points you to Jesus--the source of help and hope that you need. Verses To Read When Life Is Hard (click ... read more
Big Boy Bedroom Design
If you're one of those people that struggles to keep your home decorating "Pinterest-worthy", this one's for you. It all started while pregnant with my second child. I daydreamed about what his room would look like and gathered up lots of boy room decorating ideas on a Pinterest board. I wanted to get my son's room all finished before we brought him home from the hospital. That little goal was made over five years ago and until just recently, his room still wasn't done. Now, finally, I am ready to reveal my son's big boy bedroom design! "Why did it take so long?" you may be asking. Well, there's two reasons. 1) I was busy ... read more
You Are Loved Printable
You are loved. I hope you know how valuable you are. This world would not be the same without you. You bring your special gifts and abilities to the people around you. The little things you do for others doesn't go unnoticed. Some people just need to be reminded of that every once in awhile, so I thought I would share this You Are Loved Printable collection with you today (just in case you needed that reminder!) Free 5×7 You Are Loved Printable Collection Click on the title of the artwork you’d like and print away! Each file will print on regular 8.5x11 paper and you can trim the artwork to fit inside the 5x7 frame of your choice. What ... read more
Quick & Easy Chicken and Dumpling Soup
I'm a total hypocrite. I tell my children to eat vegetables as much as possible, yet I hardly eat them myself. For instance, there are very few times when I will willingly eat peas. This Quick & Easy Chicken and Dumpling Soup is one of the few exceptions that will have me not only eating peas but really enjoying doing so. Chicken and dumplings isn't really known as a quick recipe. The good news is I'm going to share a couple of smart time-saving tricks brings this comfort food staple to your table in minutes! I also love this recipe because it's frugal, you'll only use one pot to make it and it's the perfect way to use leftover ... read more
2 Ingredient Chocolate Croissants
For your convenience, this post contains affiliate links. See my full disclosure here. The warm, buttery taste of croissants merged with sweet creamy chocolate is one of my all-time favorite taste combinations. People will think you worked in a bakery to make these delectable treats. But here's the thing: my 2 ingredient chocolate croissants are so simple to make, it almost doesn't need a recipe. I made these a couple of weeks ago for our weekly Bible study group and they were a hit! I excitedly told my friends how easy they were to make, so I figured I better share the secret with you, my lovely reader. 2 ingredient ... read more
DIY Breakfast Bar
For your convenience, this post contains affiliate links. See my full disclosure here. We love our DIY breakfast bar so much, we're kicking ourselves that we didn't do this project sooner! This simple DIY breakfast bar provides additional seating, a craft area, homework station and blogging station all in one, making it one of the best multi functional projects we've ever done. It's an easy & fun project that can be done over a weekend to instantly give purpose to an awkward space. Let's get right to the tutorial, shall we? First I'll go over what supplies and materials you'll need so you can be sure it's in your budget, then I'll show off the big reveal and ... read more
How To Make Drawings Into Stickers (Easy Video Tutorial)
I had a great experience learning how to make drawings into stickers with StickerApp, so I thought I’d tell you about it in this sponsored post. My favorable opinion is 100% my own. You can see my full disclosure here. I don't know what it is but stickers are magical. My kids' pediatrician is well aware of this phenomenon and keeps plenty of cool stickers stocked at his office. Doctor's visits always go like this: kid gets shot--kid cries--kid gets sticker and suddenly everything is fine. Kids love stickers. Kids also love to make artwork and draw. So why not try to combine those two and make stickers out of their drawings? How To Make Drawings ... read more
How To Put Text And Graphics On First Day of School Pictures (video tutorial)
The first day of school picture session is a must-do tradition around our house. But this year it almost didn't happen. In the hustle and bustle of our morning routine, I almost forgot to take the obligatory first day of school photo! Of course I didn't have time to make a super cute sign for my kids to hold, so in case you're in the same situation, I'm going to show you how to put text and graphics on pictures (with a video tutorial!) If I were a super organized mom, I would have printed off some cute signs for the kids to hold in the pictures. But let's face it--I'm not THAT mom. And that's okay. PicMonkey is one of my ... read more
Things To Remember When You Can’t Do It Yourself
I am addicted to do-it-yourself projects. DIY projects have been a money saving option that has turned into a hobby for our family. If you're reading this, you're probably addicted to DIY too. Do you save a lot of money doing the work yourself instead of hiring a crew? Do you look back at your DIY projects with pride knowing that you accomplished something? Isn't that a wonderful feeling? Although we work together, my hubby does most of the labor for all of the projects around the house. He also fixes our cars, repairs our appliances, and is willing to work on any project in order to save money. Doing projects ourselves has saved us ... read more
The Secret To Getting The Kids Ready Without Nagging
Getting kids ready on time in the mornings is the perfect recipe for a parenting fail. I should know--a good portion of my own parenting fails have come from this phenomenon. There's something about trying to get two little ones ready on time that makes me nag and lose my patience. How many times have you lost patience with your kids during the morning routine? Getting the kids ready on time without stress is no easy task for any parent. Kids tend to forget and parents tend to remind that later leads to nagging and frustration. The Secret To Getting The Kids Ready Without Nagging This year, the kids are officially in charge of getting themselves ... read more
Organize Your Kitchen In Less Than An Hour
There once was a girl who had a messy and unorganized kitchen. Every time she opened the cabinet to get a pan, the whole pot and pan collection would come crashing on to the floor making a thunderous noise. Those annoying plastic grocery bags were stashed everywhere creating chaos. When she needed some garlic powder, she could never find it (although she had it all along) Sound familiar? If your kitchen could use a little more peace and organization but you don't have much time, keep reading. I've got the perfect solution for you! This year I decided to invest just a little bit of money into organizing my kitchen. It is AMAZING how much of a difference ... read more
Encouragement For The Mom Who Yells At Her Kids
Chances are you're doing better than you think. Yep. You read that right. I know mothers can be so hard on themselves so I wanted to make sure I started this post off with encouragement right off the bat. Being a parent is downright HARD. At times, a lot of moms (myself included) feel like they're failing as a parent. Sometimes being a mom is the most gut-wrenching, difficult, make-me-want-to-pull-my-hair-out-frustrating thing I've ever done. On the other hand, being a mom is also the most rewarding thing I've ever done. If you're reading this, maybe you're like me and you yell at your kids more times than you'd like to admit. ... read more
How To Change Grout Color For Less Than $20
Have you ever completed a project, only to realize you HATE the color you chose? It's such an awful feeling, isn't it? Knowing all that hard work went to waste is enough to make me sick. That's what happened after our very first DIY project. Right after we bought our home, my hubby installed tile in our kitchen. Then after several days of hard labor he realized... he hated the grout color! In fact, he hated it so much he was ready to rip out the tile he just installed and start over! This one was my fault and I felt so bad. I chose the dark grout color thinking it would be a good way to "hide" stains and spills. He wanted to go ... read more
River To River Relay Results
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Remember that race I was nervous about doing? The River To River Relay Race is done and I survived! Not only did I make it through, but God helped me achieve something amazing. It's kinda funny how the artwork inspired by my struggle with fear seemed to mirror what happened during the race! River To River Relay Results The River To River Relay race is a long distance race where teams made up of 8 runners run the distance from the Mississippi River to the Ohio river, spanning 80 miles and covering the state of Illinois. We ran all the way across the state of Illinois. Crazy, I know! Each team ... read more
