#iDlivesimply #zulilyfinds #myiDesign #livesimply #iDesign #tidyingup #momtidy #playroomspaces #playroomorganization #momorganizationalhacks

For me when I considered setting up a playroom in my house for the girls, these two words came to mind: c l u t t e r  &  c h a o s. I definitely do not enjoy picking up a million little toys off the ground as my wild toddler chucks them all over the room in an instant…but I suppose that just comes with those everyday motherhood struggles. I also hate the amount of clutter that can happen when toys begin to accumulate slowly over time and you begin to feel like you have lost all control over your home. 

The C H A O S. I asked my IG followers if they leave the mess or clean the mess when it comes to toys and children items at the end of each day. It was almost dead even at 52% saying to clean the mess and the remaining 48% to leave the mess. With this being said, I know that I am not alone about liking things to be left tidy at the end of every day. 

I am not one to leave a mess behind and just go to bed and forget about it…on a typical day going to bed with the mess left behind eats at me…l legit need to force myself to go to sleep and not leave my bed and go back down to clean it up quick before falling asleep…yes, this literally has happened, just ask my husband. Don’t get me wrong, there are certainly some days that I finish off the day totally defeated and run down… I leave the kitchen a mess after dinner, forget to run the dishwasher, leave the wash in the washing machine, or that I just don’t pick up all the rooms that my daughter managed to destroy in the minutes before bedtime. I try to tell myself that it is totally normal to leave things a mess most days. Mamas- if you can relate to this at all, do not beat yourself up if you usually are on the ball with tidying before bed- we all need a timeout on occasion and can benefit from the extra beauty sleep and self-care instead of picking up after everyone at the end of the night.  If you can…. ask for help. If your partner is home/lives with you, ask for support with certain “routine tidying tasks” at the end of each day to lessen the burden a bit and create more of a routine for the two of you.Once you get into the habit of doing it a few times a week, it will start to just come naturally (hopefully no nagging your husband involved, but sorry no guarantees there). 

A typical dream morning for me includes taking a shower, getting myself dressed and ready, coming downstairs A L O N E,  making my coffee & and getting things ready for the morning (toddler breakfast, baby waking up/feeding, packing the diaper bag, starting laundy, etc.)  I like things to be cleaned up and tidy so that when I wake up the next day, everything is in the right place and I am not scrambling to find or do anything. To me- and again this is just my personality that I am speaking on behalf but taking the extra 10 minutes or so at the end of every day to pick up the house a bit and tie up any loose ends from the day totally goes a long way in the long run. It creates a sense of order and routine and puts me in an overall better mood when I come downstairs every morning to a tidy space. This allows me to begin my day more open-mindedly which ultimately allows me to have a more productive morning and afternoon. This goes for stay at home mamas, working mamas, whatever you do every day mamas- tidy homes creates order, which helps us to be more productive and happier throughout the day.  

The  C L U T T E R. uhhh that word just irks me saying it aloud. If you know me even the slightest bit, you probably already know that I love an organized space and despise the “clutter look”. I am obsessed with keeping things looking clean and crisp! I feel like I am constantly purging and getting rid of things I just don’t need anymore. For myself it takes one good initial organization sesh which requires a bit of sorting, searching, and purging, but it is totally worth it in the long run. 

The  T A S K.

I have been wanting to create a seperate space for my daughters toys and such in hopes of gaining back my living room space. With the newest arrival joining our family this past May, I knew that having another daughter would mean endless hours of playtime together. Though she is only 2 months old currently, I wanted to create a space for the two of them to have together. My oldest, Olivia, already loves to go into her playroom with her little sister in hopes to make her laugh and smile as she shows her a glimpse into her little world. Juliette (the youngest Harrington) may not be able to play dolls or read books with her just yet, but she certainly loves to watch her big sister as she plays and explores new things. 

The P R O C E S S.

Here’s what I did to get started. 

1. Sort out the clutter. Make 3 piles and separate them.

1. Donate
2. Trash
3. Keep

2. Once you have sorted everything, take the keep pile and begin sorting that into like items/categories.          
             
         

Here are some of the item categories I sorted out in my playroom space. 

1. Crayons
2. Markers
3. Paints
4. Colored Pencils
5. Playdough
6. Coloring & Activity Books
7. Kitchen Food
8. Dollhouse Toys
9. Play Animals
10. Magnetic Play
11. Baby doll things
12. Mr./Mrs.Potato Head
    

**if it helps to write out your “categories” in order to sort it more easily you may want to do that first on your phone or in a notepad. You can add sticky notes to spots all over your floor, spread them out and start adding each item to the different section as you go to make sure nothing gets mixed into the wrong pile. 

3. Find an organizational system that works for your space and your items and begin putting like items in each storage system. 

**I am obsessed with these bins from iDesign that I am using for our playroom! They are perfect for this space and for the types of items that I had to sort out and organize. I love how they look (blush color) and how clean it looks when they are all together. 

**The best part about these bins is you can leave the lids off for easy grabbing for those small toddler hands or you can leave the lids on for a really clean and tidy look! I typically leave them off and store the lids in the closet for when I need them. Once she is a little bit older, I will probably start keeping them on. 

4. As you organize them into their new designated spot, create a label and slap it on! If it is a clear container, you may want to skip this step.

**Although my daughter is under two and cannot read yet, the labels are really there to help me (and my husband) when organizing and picking up at the end of every day. I am cautious about even moving the bins from one spot to another at this point because Olivia has already memorized what is in each bin and where they are on the shelf for when she is looking for something.  

**Here is the embosser label maker that I love for only $10 bucks! 

5. This last step is the most important step in order to avoid both clutter & chaos. Once everything has found its new home, give it all a final look over and try to remove a small amount of the contents of toys and store them elsewhere. 

*Every few weeks (I like to do it twice a month), swap out some of the toys and such to keep the playroom exciting for your little one. Not only will this seem amazing for your kids but it also saves you the hassle of picking up after a thousand toys each day. Try to minimize and simplify the space as much as you can!

**Store them in similar organizational systems to make it easy to grab when you need them again. Keeping them handy in the closet or somewhere else in the home makes it easy to know where they are when you want to make the switch. 

T H E  P R O D U C T S.

**Here are the storage systems I used for the playroom space. They fit perfectly with what I needed to accomplish in this room! 

iDesign: Cade Lidded Storage Bin in Blush

*these cute blush bins are perfect for my girls’ playroom. They fit all of their small toys and items so well and the color matches the theme of the playroom just right. You can also find the bins in gray as well if you’re looking for a similar system for a boy’s playroom. I have them in gray also and used them to organize my entryway closet! 

 iDesign Crisp Produce Storage Container (not just for produce…duh!)

**this bin is perfect for kids paint/art tools as it has the slotted bottom design which would allow paint brushes and such to dry out when stored. It is easy to be wiped clean when needed. Maybe if your little one is a bit of an artist, you use this style bin without the lid and keep it out on a little table by an art easel for ready to go painting and clean up! 

iDesign Crisp Stackable Food Containers (Small size and Larger size) 

**I love these for just about anything. I have them in my kitchen cabinets, pantry, fridge, freezer, bathroom… literally everywhere! They are the perfect size for kids’ art utensils & I love that they are clear so that they are easy to see what is inside of each one. The lids make it perfect for stacking and storing too!  You can’t beat this style for any of your organizational needs. 

The P O S I T I V E. 

Playroom Benefits:

1. Out of Sight/Out of Mind. You can close the door and leave the mess behind (if that’s your style or when you have company coming over at the last second! hah).
   
2. Tidier House. Most toys are all kept in one space and it is easier to find anything you or your kids are looking for which then makes it easier to keep up with organizing it as they grow in and out of new things to play with!
   
3. Something Different. It gives kids a change of scenery from playing in their bedroom and living room spaces. Toys will seem more exciting if you swap them out every so often and if they are using them in a different space than usual (bring the upstairs ones downstairs and switch out every few weeks). It also separates the bedroom from a place to play so it can then help with sleep if children know that their bedroom is for only (mostly) sleeping. They can get distracted if they wake up and see toys from their crib and then end up wanting to play (think naps and early mornings). 

I have found keeping Olivia’s toys in her room out of sight (on the shelves) helps her to be less distracted when she is trying to fall asleep or go back to sleep since she can’t directly see them from her crib. There have been times where she refuses to sleep and is calling out for her dollies on the floor when I didn’t put them away before getting her down for a nap/bedtime. 

4. Playdates & Sharing. It creates a cooperative play space for kids. Whether it’s siblings, cousins, or playdates with friends, having a space to play can create both structured and unstructured play for kids which helps with sharing and communication skills as kids grow. It also allows for mom and dad to be able to sit down and have a conversation with a glass of wine without worrying about what the kids might be getting into. If your kids are young you may need to stay in the room while they play, but as they get a little bit older and they become more independent- having this space is a definite plus! I will be adding a baby monitor camera to the room as they get older so that when the kids are watching TV or playing quietly independently, I can still keep an eye on them without worry as I get things done around the house.

The N E G A T I V E. 

While there are many benefits of having a ‘playroom”, there are also some things that aren’t too great about it….the biggest being that you lose an extra room in your home. It also may not work for everyone’s situation or it could only work for a short amount of time. For us… we will probably have to switch the room back to a bedroom down the line if we decide to have more kids, but for now it works! If you can’t dedicate an entire room for your kid’s toys, try to find a small space in your home to organize in order to keep all of their fun toys in mostly one spot! If you can dedicate one (or two spots) in your home it should help to avoid having toys scattered all over the place. 

When Olivia was small, I kept most of her toys in her bedroom and a small amount in the living room. Now that we have the playroom, she has some toys kept in a shelving system in her bedroom as well as her play kitchen in the living room. It feels great to be able to reclaim my living room space as to what it was before I had kids (mostly). 

Her play kitchen is really cute and it kind of matches my house decor so I didn’t really mind having it out in the living room. Plus, it gives her something to keep busy when I am in one of the surrounding rooms or if I am wanting to relax on the couch a bit while she plays.  

THE  T E S T. Try it! Start small and organize a small space for your kid’s toys. Let them enjoy the space all day long! Before going to bed each night, tidy it back up and see how different your mood is the next day. Enjoy how it feels? Set a routine of doing it most days and try sticking with it if you can. Let me know how it turns out

Do you have a space in your home that you keep designated for kid’s toys? Send me a DM on instagram @pencils_and_forks…. I love to see how other mamas organize this type of space! 

Some of the products shown and used in this blog post were #gifted.

Products shown in this blog post were #gifted by Zulily and can be found by clicking here.

THE DEFINITION. A GLAM ROOM- “A glam room is a dedicated area where you would get prepared to go out that’s suitable for people to come help you do it,” says Gary Gold, real estate agent to the richest of them all. “Literally, it’s like a workshop to get dolled up where they’re bringing in a pit crew. Jun 12, 2015

THE DREAM. For this mama & reality TV addict- a glam room is something I always thought was so luxurious. For a female to have a room of her own that was all hers to pamper herself and get ready each day… it sounded so amazing- almost like a dream. HA. Think about it- there’s no closest you have to share with your partner- no worrying about someone throwing their dirty clothes on the floor- it’s just your space and how you like things kept. Having watched the Kardashians and Real Housewives on TV for so long, I became almost programmed to think that it was such a ritzy and affluent thing if you were one of the lucky ones to have this type of space. This luxury is obviously not attainable to the everyday person so I suppose I’ll stop fantasizing over all of the amazing little details a glam room has to offer. We obviously can’t all keep up with the Kardashians and their lavish lifestyles, so some of us “average people” need to get creative if we want our own “glam space,” when we can’t afford a beloved “glam room.”

THE REALITY. I’ll admit when I moved into my first home with my husband- we had one spare bedroom in which I contemplated long & hard about what purpose I wanted for that room. I had a vision of it being a large walk-in style closet for all my clothes, purses, shoes, and accessories. I pictured amazing bright lighting, big mirrors, and ceiling to floor storage (all illuminated of course) for all of my skincare, makeup, and hair products (see picture below for my “vision”). Obviously- my husband slapped me back into reality reallyyyyy fast once he realized this dream would probably cost us a fortune and the room was probably no larger than 300 square feet. Ahhh– it did not take very long for my dreams of a luxurious glam room to be utterly crushed… until we moved again. This time came with a baby on the way and a home that begin to quickly fill with an immense amount of baby gear (not exaggerating here). There was no room for negotiating the need for my own space now that we had a baby arriving with the coming months. At this point our oldest sassy little one hadn’t even arrived yet & was already ruling control over the house and everything in it.

THE COMPROMISE. Here’s what I settled for… a simple vanity by some natural light in our master bedroom. A small piece of my home is now dedicated to my very own g l a m s p a c e and I think of this space just as I think of a glam room- f a b u l o u s because it is all mine! It may not be 1,500 square feet like that of most celebrities, but it’s just right for this busy mama. Yes, my toddler enjoys it just as much and my husband sneakily uses my eye cream & serums when I’m not looking, but it’s mostly ALL mine!

THE NEED. The best feeling ever is when I am able to sit at my vanity and take the time for myself to relax and unwind A L O N E. Whether I am throwing on a face mask, doing my makeup, or getting my face ready for my bed- the space is just right. It’s all mine and sitting there doing whatever I need to is honestly the little piece of self-care that I need in my life every single day.

THE PROBLEM. I have been fortunate to have this space for a little over 2 years now, but one thing it has lacked is basic organization. I’m not talking ceiling to floor storage like before, I mean like BASIC…. makeup brushes in one spot, eye shadows together, old products thrown out…. you know that sort of basic. Over the last few years as I was unenthusiastically approaching 30, and would frantically research, purchase, and try just about every skincare product on the market in order to be “preventive” when it comes to aging. In result, I have accumulated sooooooo many different products…(again this is not an exaggeration) many that needed to be tossed, others that needed to be cleaned, and some that I didn’t even realize I had. Now I realize I was not doing myself any favors because those impulse buys did not “cure” me from looking any older- but by no fault of those products and brands because I probably never gave them a realistic shot at working. With having no clear system of organization for this area- I could never find what I was looking for when I was looking for it. Isn’t this how it always is with just about everything? The second problem- T I M E — something I always took for granted when I had more of it before kids. I simply do not have the time for things like I used to… so I need to be able to find what I am looking for and I need to find it fast.

This project was fantastic for me and the timing was impeccable. Having just had a baby 7 weeks prior (my second), my skincare routine has been seriously lacking and my makeup wearing days have definitely been cut short. The unorganized mess that was my vanity did not help either situation. As a mom of two under two- I am already struggling to carve out the time for myself that I once took advantage of. I now crave the time where I can apply a face mask and catch up on reality TV while it dries.

THE MESS. It took me about an hour to go through all of my products (makeup included) to see what I will actually use. I was able to get rid of so much that it already started to look a lot better….ahh the sweet feeling of a good purge. Once I had my top products (things I use every single day, once a week, etc.), I was able to get right to work. I tried to prioritize products I used most often by keeping them out and accessible when needed. For example- if my cleanser is not out where I can easily grab it- I’m not washing my face…. period. Learn from my mistakes and make your life easier by getting your “glam area” organized and ready for everyday use- your face will thank you in 5-10 years (trust me).

THE SOLUTION. Luckily, I was given the opportunity to try some amazing organizational products from iDesign to give my vanity the refresh it deserved! I had so much fun organizing my makeup & skincare products with the Dakota line that I am already looking to find more from this line to continue to add to my collection. Keep in mind that these pieces can be used in other parts of your home as well (think bathroom, office, upscale playroom). This line is perfect to meet all of your glam needs… here are my top 3 reasons why I’m obsessed!

#1- It’s chic..

The white marble look is timeless. It makes me feel like I have my own “real housewives glam area” to get ready every day. The products I had been using before were completely random and did not match…to be completely honest- they were ugly and boring and I hated how it looked when looking from afar. Now I get so excited to go my glam area because everything looks so chic and classy…. move over Lisa Vanderpump- there’s a new housewife in town.

#2- It’s durable…

One thing I need in products anywhere in my house, but definitely at my vanity is something strong and long–lasting. I’m talking- pieces that are going to withhold toddler force across the room. My almost 2 year old daughter’s favorite thing to do (pretty much anytime we are upstairs) is to sit at my vanity and play with all my products (cue the need for reorganization).

#3- It’s easy to clean…

One thing that I hated about the system I had before was that everything got so disgusting from either products leaking or makeup residue being left behind. It was always a pain to clean them and get them to the back to new state that I bought them in. With the Dakota line, there is no issue with keeping these sparkling. All it takes is a quick wipe with warm water & a little soap (if needed) and your good to go!

THE REVEAL. Here’s the moment I know you have all been waiting for. The transformation from mess to YASSS, girl.

Here’s the products I used for my refresh. For an up close visual of this line, check out my quick video breakdown of each item here!

1.Dakota Palette Organizer

*perfect for all different sizes of makeup palettes! You are more likely to use these pieces if you can easily grab them at any second!

2. Dakota Earring Organizer

*Doesn’t everyone have earrings and earring backs lying around just about everywhere in your bedroom? This is one thing has been difficult for me to keep up with. Recently, I did a big purge and got rid of any jewelry pieces that I no longer wore or saw myself wearing. I’m not big on wearing jewelry so stud earrings and my wedding rings usually do the trick… this piece is perfect for just that!

3. Dakota Divided Organizer

*I love this one for my “twice a day” type products. I’m all about accessibility and this is great for grabbing just what I need when I am in my sleep daze each morning and bedtime.

4. Dakota Vanity Organizer

*This organizer piece might be my favorite in the line. It can fit a could amount of different sized products. I keep my remaining skincare products here for you guessed it…. easy access & quick grabbing! The middle section of this piece is great for keeping makeup brushes handy as well. I have been using this for my dirty brushes so I know when they need to get cleaned. I pretty much trade out the set I keep below with this so I always have nice clean brushes. I also like to keep my tweezers hooked on the side so they don’t get lost in the shuffle.

5. Dakota Toothbrush Holder (not just for toothbrushes of course)

*This is just what you need to hold and organize your makeup brushes! This can hold a majority of your brushes and will keep them looking fresh. I also love that I have a place for my phone if need to either make a video or or when watching something. It also fits my baby monitor just right!

*My mama friends & girl pals out there- you deserve a space of your own to be proud of! If you have an area already dedicated to your own version of “glam,” show me! Leave a picture in the comments or head over to my IG page and share there. If you want help in transforming a space just for you, try out some of these products to get started. I’m happy to offer some virtual suggestions to help bring your vision into life (within reason of course, HA).

*The Dakota line by iDesign can be purchased online or in-store at multiple retailers.

Prep Time:  5 minutes                        

Bake Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

-1/2 tsp vanilla extract

-1/2 tsp sea salt or Himalayan pink salt

-1 tsp baking soda

-1 1/2 cups flour

-4-5 ripe bananas mashed

-1 egg

-4 tbsp cane sugar

-2-3 tbsp nut milk (linked is what I use)

-1/3 cup of unsweetened applesauce or pear puree (I used 1 jar of beech-nut pears!)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Prep your dry ingredients by sifting together your flour, salt, baking soda, and sugar until well combined.

3. Next, prep your wet ingredients by mashing the bananas and leaving some small chunks and adding in the egg, puree/applesauce, and vanilla extract. Add the nut milk in later.

4. Now combine both the wet and dry ingredients until well mixed. Slowly add in the milk one tablespoon at a time until the consistency is right. It should not be too runny and not super thick either. The amount of milk you add will depend on how ripe your bananas are.

5. If you are feeling fancy, try adding in some dark chocolate chips to your batter for an extra sweet treat!

6. Portion into your muffin pan and bake for 15 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean. Sprinkle with powdered sugar while warm and serve!

Anyways, a lot has happened over the last year. We moved into a new home last December, found out we were expecting a month later and welcomed our bundle of joy in late September. Life has certainly been moving in the fast lane! Just thinking back on the day I found out I was pregnant, I start feeling all sorts of ways. I remember leaving work that afternoon and calling a friend about what type of pregnancy test to even buy while at the store…literally had no clue what I was doing. I raced home and immediately took the test and within about 60 seconds that test read positive…. total shock ran through my body. Still uncertain about the reality of the whole situation, I proceeded to take about five more pregnancy tests to assure it was true. It was. It was real and it was happening. Jimmy, working from home was downstairs in his office. I freaked out in the bathroom for about 20 minutes alone…and in a complete panic began trying to cleverly come up with some cute “pinterest” way to lovingly tell him we would soon become parents. Scrambling to come up with something, I remembered that I had bought a book months earlier geared towards new dads…thinking well “someday,” I’ll be able to give this to him, I simply held on to it until it was time. Not remembering where it was since we had just moved and not everything was unpacked…I ran through the house flipping things around until I eventually stumbled on it. There it was, in a random container of junk drawer things. I grabbed it and quickly running back upstairs. Considering my nerves, all I could come up with to surprise him with the news was sticking one of the many pregnancy tests I took into the book and giving it to him while also somehow expressing how I felt about us and this new chapter. Don’t worry the pregnancy test had a cover on it… haha

When I went downstairs and opened the door to his office, I threw the book (with the positive test inside of it) onto his desk and said nothing… He looked at me, read the title of the book and questioned why I was giving it to him and said, “Is this a joke?” while laughing. In that moment, all I could muster up the courage to say was…”open it.” He opened it; we both smiled… and the rest was history!

Parenting? What’s that? We both had no idea what we were in for when we considered ourselves as “parents,” since the closest we were at the time to being a mom and dad was to our dog, Brady. There really was no preparing for parenthood. There is no book or class that can show you how to prepare to be a “good parent.” I suppose in some sense, there is a lot of mental preparation that goes into it since it is such a big lifestyle change. But what really prepares you is the time you spend thinking back on how you were raised as a child and how influential your own parents were and continue to be…and if this isn’t the case for you, maybe thinking how you could or would do things differently for your own children. How you came to the point where you are when you are about to enter parenthood is what helps to shape you as a new mom or dad… all of the good, the bad, the hardships, the love, the loss… all of it. It doesn’t all define you, but it shapes your future. These experiences are what will prepare you for your future journey in life.

We approached our due date and began to think back on our experiences in life up to this point in time…all of the many special family traditions we shared, the memories growing up, and all of our quality time spent with family over the years; we immediately began to feel at ease as we realized how fortunate we were. We both were raised by amazing parents who not only taught us patience, but also hard work, strong values, and infinite love…it was because of these things that we knew this parenting chapter would be something we could indeed handle. Our own parents had helped to shape us; they helped us to build our foundation as a family; they helped us to become the best parents we could be.

Parenting… here it lies, and here it begins. Fast forward 9 months later and we welcomed the best part of both of us. A tiny human. A tiny, perfect, beautiful human that we created. She got here and our whole life changed. Here we are now heading home as a family of 3 (plus 1 furbaby) and those same feelings I felt the day I found out I was expecting seemed to almost return in an instant… excited. scared. anxious… all the feels a new parent goes through when bringing home their baby for the first time. The sleepless nights I once had while waiting for her all those months began to look a little different once she had finally arrived. Parenting… it’s hard… it’s scary…it’s real life. It’s the reality of these feelings that you feel as a new mom or dad. You keep this little human safe while he or she grows inside of you for 9 months, you spend hours birthing this child, and there you are sent off on your merry way after a short hospital stay while leaving with new precious cargo in the backseat. What’s next? …Chaos and Cuddles.

First-time parents have no other option but to enter survival mode for the first six weeks of baby’s life. You figure out what works for you and what works for your baby…you simply make it work to get through the days until you find your rhythm as a parent. Finding this said rhythm might include countless phone calls to your own mom or dad, extremely late nights spent googling all of your anxious questions and concerns about every little thing they did or didn’t do throughout the day and last but not least the endless amount of Amazon prime purchases in hopes to “fix” things or to make them better, not knowing everything was just fine the way it was.

“Nursery rhymes and lullabies?” What are the words to those again?…never mind that, the baby is crying and all you can think of to sing are 90’s boy band hits to help alleviate those baby tears. This is the reality that not many people talk about. Nobody ever said parenthood was easy, because it’s not and I can only imagine it getting harder in different ways as your child grows. Parenting is hard work…don’t always sugar coat it… embrace it for what it really is in order to really enjoy your child and the precious time you have together. You will find your rhythm and you will adapt. It’s a life-changing chapter in your life so don’t expect it to be perfect…don’t expect it to come naturally overnight. Listen to your gut as you travel through parenthood and enjoy those days with your little one because they will go by all too fast.

Here we are, 4 months later and we are still so smitten by our sweet girl and couldn’t imagine our life without her in it. It seems crazy to think back on our time before her. I think back and am grateful we had so many years to spend just the two of us…10 years together, 3 years married, lots of traveling around the world, and a fur baby to keep us occupied for quite some time in between.

Parenting didn’t get “easier” per se, it just became more and more natural for us. Throughout the many sleepless nights, the constant feedings, and the endless bottles to clean, there is a belly laughing babe looking back at you enjoying your sweet cuddles. Our precious girl, Olivia teaches us something new every single day… to be flexible, to be patient, and to have fun. So Parenting….what is it? It’s learning what works for you and your child. It’s learning what your child needs from you. It’s living through the chaos and cuddling when it gets hard. It’s living in the moment… and it’s recognizing the here and the now and the everything in between. It’s all love.

xo

Your dog will fall in love with you all over again when you make them these yummy treats! These treats are easy to make and great to keep on hand or to give as a gift for any furry friend in your life! Store these treats in an air-tight container or a Ziploc bag at room temperature and enjoy within 3 weeks. 

Ingredients:

• 1+1/2 cups brown rice flour
• 1+1/2 cups flour
• 3 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp vanilla extract (REAL stuff)
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons peanut butter (REAL!!) 
• 3-4 tablespoons honey
• 3/4 cup water

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Mix all dry ingredients together and slowly incorporate wet ingredients into the mix. Thoroughly mix until there are no clumps. 
3. Form dough into small balls and press down to flatten as they will not rise when they bake. Using a fork, make your standard snickerdoodle pattern. Each cookie should be about the size of a quarter once flattened. I tend to make mine a little bit bigger because my dog likes to hoard his treats and stock up on them when they are small…no lie! :-O
4. Bake for 18-24 minutes or until nice and golden in color. They will be crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside… the perfect combination for your furry friend! 
   

   

*Anyone who knows me is totally aware that breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. As soon as I wake up I am thinking about what I can make for breakfast, so pancakes are a no-brainer! Since I have finally mastered my gluten-free pancake mix it felt fitting to get on board early with my pumpkin kick. These are delicious at any time of the day and will totally kick your “something sweet” craving! 

Prep Time: 5 minutes 

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Serving Size: 4-6

Ingredients:

-1 &1/2 cups Gluten-Free Flour (see here for recipe)

-1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum

-1/4 teaspoon baking soda

-1 &1/2 teaspoon baking powder

-dash of salt 

-1 egg (beaten)

-2 tbsp honey

-1 cup non-dairy milk (almond, coconut) 

-1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

-1 tbsp melted coconut oil (or vegetable) 

-1/3 -1/2 cup canned pumpkin 

-1 teaspoon cinnamon

-1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

-1 teaspoon cinnamon sugar *optional

-1/4 cup dark chocolate chips  (mini works best)

Directions:

1. Mix all of the wet ingredients together and fold into the dry mix. If the batter is too thick, add in a little more non-dairy milk (and vice versa).
   
2. Add in the chocolate chips.You can put as much as you’d like!
3. Using a 1/4 cup measuring scoop, add the batter to the pan in 2 batches. Cook on an oiled pan about 2 minutes on each side or until you start to see bubbles on one side. Flip over and finish cooking.
4. Serve with fresh fruit, powdered sugar, and real maple syrup (or honey). Top it all off with some cinnamon or cinnamon sugar to really compliment the pumpkin flavor! 

Ingredients: 

• • 1/3 cup rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup non-dairy milk
  • 2 tablespoons peanut butter
  • 1/2 of banana (sliced) 
  • 1 tablespoon mini dark choc. chips
  • 1/2 tablespoon chia seeds **optional
  • a drizzle of honey (if you’d like added sweetness) 
  • 1 tablespoon chopped walnuts or sliced almonds **optional
  • cinnamon (a sprinkle or 2)

    

Directions:

1. In a mason jar, add the oats in first and then all other ingredients except for the non-dairy milk.
2. Put the cap on and shake it quickly and then add the milk and shake again until well combined.
3. Put in the refrigerator overnight and enjoy in the morning! ***Served cold or warmed in the microwave. 

**Tip #1- Leading up to the wedding, you will want to make sure your venue and other vendors have copies of the contact information for some of the important services you will be using. You can easily copy & paste from the first four columns and share away with those that need it!

**Tip #2- It’s also a great idea to make sure your maid of honor & best man both has a copy of the contact information for your vendors leading up-to your special day to handle any problem that may arise.

**Tip # 3-Give your “key” vendors a copy of the contact information for your maid of honor and best man in the event that they need to reach you. Chances are you will not have your phone on you during your special day and obviously, emergencies happen and you will want to be informed if by chance it does!

Google Doc—easily “MAKE A COPY” and make it your own!!

PDF–Save & Print!

Materials:

• 3-4 tbsp witch hazel (alcohol-free is best)

• 3-4 tbsp water

• small mason jar with lid

• cotton pads (as many as you can fit in your jar)

• 3 drops essential oil (**optional**lavender is nice**) OR rosewater

Directions:

1. Place half of your cotton pads into the mason jar and fill with equal parts water and witch hazel.If you are using an essential oil add 1 drop to start. 

2. Shake it quick and then add the other half of cotton pads to the jar and add equal parts water and witch hazel. Add the remainder of your essential oil drops here.  

3. Shake the jar one last time and store on your vanity or in your bathroom cabinet for daily use! 

*In order for these ingredients to stick together and actually bake like a real cookie, it is completely necessary that you add the xanthan gum to the mix. This will hold it all together as it bakes! If you are not dairy-free, feel free to use real milk and butter to the recipe. Definitely, give this recipe a shot if you are in the mood for something sweet! 

Ingredients:

• 2 cups gluten-free flour (see recipe here)
• 3/4 tsp xanthan gum (**completely necessary**) 
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup organic light brown sugar
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 1/4 cups organic sugar 
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract (REAL, not artificial)
• 1 egg (or egg substitute) 
• 2 tablespoons non-dairy milk
• 8 tbsp vegan butter (if DF)
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips (this will depend on how much you like!)  

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. 
2. Sift your dry ingredients (flour, xanthan gum, baking soda, salt) together in a bowl and set aside. Make sure everything is mixed together well! 
3. Using a stand mixer or electric mixer, cream together the butter and sugar (both) until creamy and smooth. 
4. Slowly incorporate the egg, milk, and vanilla. 
5. Add in the flour slowly in 1/4 cup increments and mix in the mixer until fully combined. 
6. Add in your chocolate chips (as many as you like) and mix until the chocolate chips have fully settled into the dough. 
7. Using a small ice cream scoop, place your balls of cookie dough on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. 
8. Bake for 11-15 minutes…the baking time will depend on the actual size of your cookie dough balls and if you want them a little crispier. The bottom of the cookies should be lightly brown in color and the center should still look a bit chewy (They will harden a bit, once you remove them from the heat).