Mom Hacks, Tips & Tricks

Late last fall, I got the idea to make a list of all the things I like to cook to make it easier to plan our meals. Seeing as I’m the type to sometimes get wrapped up in a project and take things a bit too far, the next thing I knew I had spent several hours designing and writing a restaurant-style menu. Even the descriptions are flowery. I knew that it was cheesy and over the top and was honestly a little embarrassed, but six months later I’m shocked to say that I still use it. Even my husband has remarked that he really likes referring to it when we're talking about what we'll have to eat. He says...

So you think you want to buy a house? Congrats! Don’t start packing the china just yet.  There are lots of things to consider before you take the plunge into homeownership.  I bought my first home just weeks before my husband and I met (oops), and we are now in the process of buying our first home together.  This series documents my experiences and tips for making this major purchase go as smoothly as possible. The very first thing to do is to determine what you can afford.  I have found that the best way to really know is to do a thorough household budget (you should be doing this monthly anyway.)  There are many online calculators to choose from,...

I have such a treat for you with this month's Heart & Home post.  Bethany Riggs is artist-turned-mother of two, who truly uses her home as one giant canvas.  You will be blown away by her use of color and textures, her skillful DIY trickery, and her elements of kid-friendly decor all throughout her home.  What's even more special, is getting to know this mom.  She will give you a good laugh but also knows how to seriously talk about decorating your home. I know you will love this interview and this gorgeous Baton Rouge home. Enjoy! Q: Tell us a little about you and the family who lives here. I'm a stay-at-home mom with a B.F.A. in Fine Art, with...

If you’ve spent much time in thrift stores (or sorting through donations for nonprofits or following a disaster), you know that our society is absolutely overrun with clothes. It’s a burden. It’s kind of jarring when you think about it that clothes are mass-produced, worn for a short time, then sent to languish on thrift store racks while they are still in good condition. It’s the definition of excess. Thanks to Macklemore, thrifting is becoming more popular but it’s still kind of stigmatized and there are still more clothes than we could ever need getting donated to thrift stores every day. At my favorite thrift store I regularly walk out with Banana Republic, J. Crew, Calvin Klein, and the...

Simple, fast, easy: that is what so many moms strive for on a daily basis. Whether it's diaper changes or dinner arrangements, we just want to get the "chores" done quickly so there is time for the fun and joy of LIFE! The last time we introduced you to Indie Plate, the new online grocery store and delivery service for the Baton Rouge area, it was clear that their goal was to make life simpler in the grocery department.  When they asked us to try out their service to plan and cater our next contributor meeting, we were all for giving it a try. Could a dinner party be simplified when it comes to feeding 10+ people?? We...