Being here in Yosemite, I have learned that summer is pretty much here! We were lucky enough to come into the valley at the moment it began to snow and were in a winter wonderland for about six hours before it stopped. By morning, the snow was nearly gone, however we were thrilled that the girls were able to experience a winter wonderland while we are here.

With spring/summer now upon us, we are beginning to think about the improvements we would like to make around our home to better enjoy the summer season. Our back patio is not covered, so typically each year we purchase a patio covering and call it a day. Our back patio isn’t big enough to do much, but this year we decided it’s time to change all of that and at the very least, add a small sitting area where we can enjoy a cool drink and watch the girls play.

The Problem? The dogs eat everything!

After doing a quick online search, I came across Rattan garden furniture from Bridgman, although Bridgman is a UK company, they had some amazing information on different types of Rattan furniture and I think there are a few varieties that look to have a plastic coating that the dogs would have a hard time chewing. I suppose I could always spray the furniture, with my “no chew” spray and hope for the best, but to be very honest with you, the whole idea makes me nervous! What if we spend the money and the dogs end up destroying it anyway?

So here is my question to all of you with dogs – how did your outdoor furniture fare during the puppy phase? Did you dare put out any furniture? Or, did you skip a season and wait until they were out of the chewing stage? Weigh in!

Recently, I have been contemplating whether our family is complete or not.  It’s such a big, big decision for a woman to make.  I am in my prime baby-making years and evolutionarily speaking, I’m wasting it. However, reason quickly takes over and I think about how many people are currently on this earth and the two beautiful little girls that I have been given, and one more (although I would love to have a baby again) doesn’t equate in my mind.

When I was pregnant with my first daughter, I can remember being terrified of the unknown. Would I be a good mother? Could I adequately tend to her needs in the proper way? What if I messed this up?  I assume that these are normal responses and any mother pregnant with her first child has a number of concerns about the future may hold.

I wanted to ensure that I did it right, because babies don’t come with cute, little instruction booklets, nor do they typically offer second chances.  I immediately sought prenatal care, after checking out a handy dandy pregnancy calculator. Then, headed to my local drugstore to stock up on horse pills prenatal vitamins (seriously, where were the gummy vites when I was pregnant?).  I then combed every.single.website. for information on how to do this “pregnancy thing” properly, such as pregnancy information from Bounty.com, among other parenting websites that offered up a “guide map” for the next 9 months.

I was overwhelmed.

Eat this – don’t eat that.  This can be linked to cancer – that can be linked to ADHD – ahhhhhhhhh! I thought that labor was supposed to be the hard part?  I was excited for our upcoming arrival, but my goodness is there a lot to learn during those nine months.  Of course, regardless of what I put into my mouth, or how many jumping jacks I did, she arrived beautiful, healthy, and perfect in every way.  In fact, we enjoyed her so much that we decided to have #2.

Little miss #2 provided her very own set of challenges.  I was sick for the first 3 months so severely that I had to crawl off of the couch just to use the bathroom.  Once the severe morning sickness subsided, I rather enjoyed my pregnancy and had an easy C-section delivery.  Then, she began to cry.  She was the loudest baby in the hospital by far and she showed no signs of slowing down.

I was prepared for this. I mean, babies cry.  I knew the routine, and I had this baby thing licked (or so I thought).  The problem?  She kept crying…for two years.  Often times when I tell people this story, they think I’m exaggerating.  I mean really, can a baby cry for two years?  Why yes, yes they can – I lived through it, never once losing my temper, but I’m sure a little of my sanity was gone by the end of it.  In fact, I’m certain of it.

So, baby #3, although an endearing prospect, isn’t really going to become a reality.  I long to hold a baby and smell their sweet skin, but I don’t know that adding another baby to our family flow would be a good choice for anyone.  On the flip side, it’s hard to say goodbye to my baby-making years, and I will look back fondly on them.

How did you decide when you were done?  Was it hard to say goodbye?

Mother’s Day is just around the corner and if you’re like millions of others around the world, then chances are you will be sending a beautiful bouquet of flowers to bright her day!

Flowers are a great way to say many things, and although I didn’t really understand the popularity of flowers when I was younger, I certainly appreciate them and understand the thought now. I think as you get older, its the simple beauty in life that makes us all smile and flowers are certainly a reminder of the small beautiful objects that surround us each day.

When I’m picking flowers for myself, the process seems reather easy. I know what I like and what I don’t. However, when I’m buying for someone else, the task seems rather daunting and I have been known to stay on flower websites for an hour at a time just trying to decide the right bouquet to send!

I have found that it can be helpful to have an idea of what you would like that special someone to have before you shop. Browse online to see some great ideas.

(For the Mom who love whimsy)

(Beautiful, bright, and perfect for Mother’s Day)

(For those who seek elegance)

(For those who love the island life)

(Simple luxury in a beautiful glass vase)

Visit Interflora for more Mother’s Day bouquet ideas!

When I was a child, I can remember going to multiple dress-up parties for both kids and adults. In fact, I think the adults had more dress-up parties than the kids! But these days, it seems few and far between that you come across an invitation to a dress-up party and I think it’s time we bring it back!  When else can you dress up like a Neon Skeleton, or an Evil Pumpkin?

The creativity really comes out in people at dress up parties, and the costumes can truly be amazing. I remember one party I attended as a child, there was a man dressed up as Edward Scissorhands and the detail in the costume was truly amazing, including the real scissor hands!

I was curious to what was out there for the “dress up party crowd”, and happened to come across some amazing costumes and Halloween ideas from Fancydressball online. The costumes for adults are truly amazing (check out the Chucky doll), and the childrens outfits that are available range from very simple, to very fancy (check out the Rodeo Girls costume).

If you have no plans of throwing a dress up party anytime soon, then you may want to take it into consideration. It’s a great way to get a group of friends together and have a few laughs, at the very least. And, if dress up parties really aren’t your “thing”, well then just check out the amazing costume ideas for this years Halloween festivities.

For our young family of four, traveling is at the top of our list when it comes to family activities. Although we cannot fly all over the world in search of famous pyramids and the like, we can take “mini vacations”, traveling no more than 5-6 hours from home and we can do it on a budget!

The biggest expense for our little family is hotel accommodations, but we’ve figured out a few ways to pay less and get more! Here’s 3 quick tips on how you can book hotels and resorts on a budget, while spending quality time with your family and offering experiences that are sure to last a lifetime.

Travel Off Season – this tip can really save you quite a bit of money on hotel and resort stays. For instance, we booked our yearly 10-day vacation one week before spring break and we saved about 40% on our hotel stay! That’s a significant savings, especially if you are going on an extended vacation. Apply this same idea to a family cruise and you can get a cabin for next to nothing!

Put your computer skills to the test – All of our travel starts with my laptop. Often times, we don’t exactly “plan” our trip, but we rather stumble upon an amazing deals through discount travel sites, or flash sale sites that offer discounts up to 80%. Depending on the site, I also search for net voucher codes that extend our savings.

Call Ahead of Time – before you book your reservation, a quick call to the hotel/resort may save you money. Make sure to check your “discount” price against their current prices to ensure that you are receiving a deal, and also ask if they have special pricing or packages that may save you even more. If you top off your phone call with a bit of honey, you can sometimes get the hotel/resort to offer a room upgrade for not much more if they have the room available. The key is to “ask”, because if you don’t ask, then you’ll never know!

In the past ten years, shopping has certainly morphed in ways that we would have never predicted fifty years ago! I remember having access to my first computer as a young teenager, thinking how amazing it was that I could chat online with people in other countries. At that time, I never would have dreamed that we would not only be shopping online years later, but that shopping online would become a way of life for many, including myself. I got my Venetian Blinds from an online retailer, too.

I’m all about supporting local businesses and there are many in our hometown that I do support, however when you have so many families on tight budgets, turning to online shopping can save you thousands upon thousands of dollars each year. When it comes down to the bottom line, many families have to ensure that there is a roof over their head, and food at the table – online shopping can help families keep that consistency. I’m sure that many of you can relate.

The biggest concern for so many with online shopping over the years has been the safety of online payment services. However, after many years of trial and error, the online shopping industry has a number of different forms of security in place to ensure that making a credit card online payment is not only quick and painless, but that the consumer is protected.

The online shopping industry will only grow in the coming years, and its time for many businesses to change their strategies, and integrate into the new way that consumers consume goods. I can tell you that I will continue to shop online when it betters the life of our family, and the life of my children.  How about you?

Do you do the majority of your shopping online or do you still visit the B&M stores?

When my kids began their “schooling career” we were hopeful for the future. We researched every preschool in town in an attempt to provide them with the best start possible, and found just that in a local Montessori school in our hometown. Pricey? Yes. Would I have done it any differently? Not a chance!

Montessori provided them with a love for school that I’m grateful for, and often days I’m in awe of how eager they are to learn new things, make new friends, and thrive in many areas. Looking back, I certainly had no such love for school and I thank my lucky stars each and every day that they do not feel the same.

However, with class sizes rising here in California (average classroom is size is now 30-40 students per class), we have seen our second grader backslide this year in certain subjects, and we began to contemplate whether a public school education was really suitable for her, or her younger sister.

The idea of Homeschooling suddenly rang a bell for the first time.

Truth be told, homeschooling wasn’t exactly an idea that was even on the radar. With my husband just finishing up his BA and contemplating whether or not to pursue his Ph.D. in Psychology and work at a place like PCH Treatment, or rather pursue a MFT and work for himself, we were certainly at a crossroads with not just schooling, but the entire structure of our life as a whole. I had planned to stay home with the girls until they were a bit older, but I also work from home and to make homeschooling work, I would have to fore-go my personal plans and focus and the girls education.

As you can imagine, the importance of their education was at the top of the list, and we have decided to move forward with homeschooling both girls next year. While my husband has yet to pick a certain path, I’m certain that he will make the decision that’s best for him, and our family.

The decision was such a big one, but I feel that we are making the best decision on their part. I know that the one-on-one attention that they will receive for the next few years will be priceless in the end – although I must admit that we are rather overwhelmed with the different homeschooling approaches and curricula. I suppose we’ll save that discussion for another day!

Are you currently homeschooling? Are you considering homeschooling? Weigh in! Tell us your thoughts and experiences!

The Sperry was originally created for the boating crowd. While the Sperry Topsiders are still a great shoe to use while sailing, they have gained popularity with a larger audience. The shoes used to be available in a classic white. Now there are a variety of styles and colors to choose from. Whether the shoe is used for a purpose, or just for fashion like the Darlington Penny Loafer Pumps, there is a style available for everyone.

The Sperry Topsider was created because of the slippery surface of a boat. The Topsider was created to provide traction on the wet areas of the boat. The grooves cut into the sole made it easy to walk on the deck of the boat. Today the Sperry Topsiders are still used by boaters.

They are also a very popular trend in fashion so you can easily find deals on Sperry Topsiders. This branching out has led to the Darlington Penny Loafer Pumps. The shoe has the classic look of a boating shoe while being available in cordovan and cognac. The other twist on the classic design is the 3-1/2” inch rubber heel. This eye catching blend of loafers and pumps is made using either suede or leather.

Whether one is sailing or staying on dry land, Sperry Topsiders are a trusted name in the shoe industry. The Darlington Penny Loafer Pumps are only one example of the brands shift to fashion forward designs.

Sponsored.

If you have yet to take part in a Relay for Life event, then I hope that this year you’ll find your way to an event in your hometown. These events help the American Cancer Society help others get well, stay well, find cures and fight cancer head on!

What is Relay for Life?
“Relay For Life is a life-changing event that gives everyone in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease.

At Relay, teams of people camp out at a local high school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Because cancer never sleeps, Relays are overnight events up to 24 hours in length. Relayers do not have to walk all night, but each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event.”

Ready to Get Involved?
Visit Relayforlife.org and find a local event near you. You’ll be given the option to sign-up to fundraise, walk as a survivor, care giver, team captain or team member. You can also sign-up to volunteer at a Relay for Life event and contribute by setting up, cleaning up, assisting during the survivor dinner, etc. If you are not yet ready to jump in head first, you can still participate by donating to an individual, a team, or even the event itself.

There’s a number of ways for you to get involved and take a stand against cancer! Head over to Relayforlife.org now and help the American Cancer Society with their continuing efforts.

This post is sponsored by the American Cancer Society.