Mom Hacks, Tips & Tricks

We love to travel. We’ve gone places near and far; exploring new places, cultures, and food is our idea of fun.  The downside to travel is the challenge of packing, being away from your creature comforts, and finding yourself needing something that you have at home. In the last 15 years of traveling with my husband, and now a toddler, I’ve found these five things to be essentials whether we’re going 500 miles or 5000.  Packing Cubes- I am, in a word, obsessed with packing cubes. I first used them for a big international trip and they were a lifesaver.  Now, each family member has their own color. It makes it easy to grab red for the baby or...

Being a momma of four isn't always easy. I have had to learn how to diffuse lots of different situations in my house. One of the biggest issues in our house is sibling fights/arguments. If you are a mom of multiples, you know what I'm talking about. "Moooommmmmmmm, he is looking at me! Mommmmmmmmmmm, he has my toy! Mommmmmmmm, she is in my room!" If you don't hear these things constantly, please teach me your ways! So, over the last four and a half years, I have had some time to get creative. When things start getting heated in our house, there a few things that I do to help distract everyone, and maybe even get them to do...

Preparing for a Hurricane With Kids Is your family ready to pick up and go if there's a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico? Do you have a hurricane evacuation plan? Preparing for a hurricane with kids can be overwhelming, which is why it's best to get your storm plans ready when things are calm. My best piece of advice as a Louisiana mom is to make your family a hurricane binder. Truthfully, I think a family binder is a great idea for many scenarios, but it is absolutely essential for hurricane prep in my mind. Family Hurricane Plan :: Make a Binder Every year in advance of hurricane season I update our family binder with insurance info / phone numbers /...

I’m happy to shout to the rooftops that I don’t have a picky eater (so far). It’s convenient to not make a separate “kid’s meal” at home. It’s better for my grocery budget to not have to buy so many different things. It’s easier to eat out when we can split an entrée. She is more willing to try new things when we go to a restaurant or someone’s house to eat. This is what works for us. I had to do a great deal of trial and error to get here. Feel free to take, tweak, and reject any of the following. The worst thing you can do is not try! The “stranger” the main dish is, the more...

Dear Tiny Yogurt Handprint, This is the 5th morning you and I meet like this at my dresser drawer. It makes me chuckle, because there was once a time when the first sight of you would have sent me dashing for the Pledge. It’s been days though, and I still haven’t touched you. Boy, has motherhood changed me. Initially, I chalked it up to the fact that I haven't stopped running around chasing after your artist long enough to get rid of you. However, even when I found the time, I stopped myself. I now realize that I'm pretty fond of you, and I think I've become attached. More than that, I imagine the day you stop popping up on every...