Love. Laugh. Explore.

Raising a child without Screen Time

The point of this blog post is not to convince anyone that our choice is better or worse than anyone else’s choice, it is just to share our journey and support anyone else who may want to go this route and let them know that yes, it is possible to do this. My husband and I are not unfamiliar with the experience of saying I am going to do something as a parent when I was pregnant and having people…

My friends and I were looking for a fun way to have a kid-free girls trip with great drinks, food, and views and Napa just stood out as the most obvious choice. When planning a trip to Napa or Sonoma the first thing you will probably do is google “Best Winery in Napa” and find 100s of articles telling you every different winery in the area is best and why. I scoured through dozens of these…

After living in Europe with access to thousands of Christmas markets, I am always on the hunt for where I can find the biggest sites of Holiday Spirit in the US. This year I found my answer in Enchant Christmas – a magical maze of lights, a search for “lost toys,” delicious food and drinks, shops and an ice skating rink! If you are in Tampa, Dallas, Las Vegas, or Washington D.C., add this to your…

2021 Toddler Gift Guide

A list of my top picks for the toddler (or toddler parents) in your life!  I will continue to add items to this as the season continues and I find new items!

Tips for Flying with a Toddler

I know I previously covered tips for Flying with an Infant, but after 4 round-trip flights with just me and my 15 month old, I think it is time for a new post because things change fast when your little one is mobile! Bottom line – traveling with a toddler is way harder than traveling with an infant – so fly as much as you can with that little baby and don’t sweat it! Plan Ahead This was first…

Lets be honest, a toddler will look cute in ANYTHING. Seriously, there is nothing that an adorable little kid can’t rock, which almost makes it THAT MUCH HARDER to pick what they should dress as!! Personally I like costumes that are timeless – something that is still just as likely to be a costume in 20 years as it is now. For that, I turn toward classic cute animals and classic movies. Here is…

Some classic halloween costumes to give you inspiration for dressing up your toddler with a look that will bring lasting memories.

Ok, so I am publishing this post about a year after I wrote this…but it still deserves a place on the blog! (so read it like I am 3 months post partum, not with a 15 month + old lol) You may be thinking, “Fourth Trimester? I thought we were done with these recaps?” I had never heard of the “Fourth Trimester” either until I was halfway through my pregnancy.  So what is it? The Fourth Trimester is…

Ok, so I am publishing this post about a year after I wrote this…but it still deserves a place on the blog! (so read it like I am 3 months post partum, not with a 15 month + old lol) You may be thinking, “Fourth Trimester? I thought we were done with these recaps?” I…

Our C-Section Birth Story, going from the unexpected to prepared and learning to embrace the journey. I want to share a story about a positive c-section experience.

Did you know that April is C-Section Awareness month ? Neither did I, but after having one last year I noticed an article mentioning it this year and decided this is the perfect time to share our birth story. I would generally consider myself well educated and well prepared when it comes to a lot of medical decisions. I have a science degree background and regularly read studies on hot topics.…

In honor of c-section awareness month, I wanted to share our c-section experience and show a side that doesn’t get a lot of attention – a positive one.

DIY Cake Smash Tips for amazing memories on a budget!

There is always a new reason to take photos of your kids, but sometimes paying professionals for every event can really start to add up. Instead of spending almost $300 on a cake smash photoshoot, we chose to set up our own at home! Here are my tips to ensure the best results for your DIY cake smash!   Buy a backdrop One of the things that make studio photos so professional are the clean…

There is always a new reason to take photos of your kids, but sometimes paying professionals for every event can really start to add up. Instead of spending almost $300 on a cake smash photoshoot, we chose to set up our own at home! Here are my tips to ensure the best results for your…

4 Must-Pack pieces to make traveling in Spring a breeze!

Spring may be my favorite time of year to travel. The temperature is warming up, all the flowers and plants are blooming and bringing color back into the world, and the crowds haven’t quite reached their summer time packed craziness. That being said, traveling in spring can also be the most unpredictable season as temperatures can suddenly swing and that perfect sunny weekend you planned for can…

The 4 pieces you will want to pack to make Spring travels a breeze!

Raising a Babywise Baby

My husband and I have always been a fan of suggestions and learning from other people’s experiences. Before we were even pregnant we were asking friends about different parenting tools and techniques they used so once we were pregnant, you can only imagine how our questions went into full throttle. One of the biggest questions we had was about sleep. How do we get through the first year and…

Ultimately every baby is different and you have to do what works best for your family but with a baby who has slept through the night since 7 weeks, we can’t stop singing the praises of the guidance this book provided us.