Years ago, my family went caving in Kentucky. We learned quite a bit about the plants and animals in the surround areas and the guide was passionate about bats. The bat population in many areas is decreasing due to the spread of numerous fungal illnesses and a serious loss of habitat. Learning how to attract bats to your yard can be a great way to do your part to support the local bat population. You may think they are a bit intimidating but honestly, they need our help if they are going to thrive! Here are a few ways to attract bats to … [Read more...]
Tips for Saving Money on Clothing for Teens
May 3, 2017 by · 8 Comments
This post about saving money on clothing for your teens has been sponsored by Groupon. All opinions are my own.Last month, while planning our Florida vacation, my daughter came to me and told me that only three pairs of her shorts fit her from last year. Great. Three days before we leave and she has barely any summer clothes to wear! While teens tend to grow slower than smaller children, they still outgrow their clothes. Whether it is a growth spurt of a couple of inches or a broadening of the shoulders, my teens still need new clothes … [Read more...]
Preparing for a Power Outage – Are You Ready?
April 28, 2017 by · 4 Comments
When my son was 6 weeks old, the Atlanta area was hit with a massive ice storm. We lost power for several days in the middle of January. The temperature in my house was in the 40s. Needless to say, we were cold and miserable for a while. As soon as we recovered, we decided we would never end up unprepared for a power outage ever again. Preparing for a power outage is important to protect yourself, your family, and your belongings. You will need different supplies for a winter power outage versus a summer power outage. With summer storms … [Read more...]
What to Look for in a Financial Advisor Before Your Hire Them
April 26, 2017 by · Leave a Comment
From the time my husband and I first moved in together after college, we have had financial goals. We started saving small amounts of money very early in life, even when we were struggling to pay the bills. We bought our first house at the age of 27 and when our first child was born that same year, we opened a college savings account as well. While we have had financial goals our whole lives, we have never spoken to a professional about our finances. We decided it was time to bring in a financial advisor and we have an appointment with one … [Read more...]
Best Closet Organizing Ideas to Keep Your Wardrobe Neat
April 19, 2017 by · Leave a Comment
For the last year or so, I have been trying to clean out and organize my closet. I have adopted the 'one in, one out' rule when buying to clothes and fashion items. Most of the items I have not worn in a year have been donated to charity. Plastic tubs and shelving systems have been added to try and keep my closet organized. In my quest for fashion order, I have been searching for the best closet organizing ideas that I can find to help keep my wardrobe neat. I will include a few closet organization tips that have helped me as well as some … [Read more...]
Creative Ways to Save for a Vacation and Why Your Family Needs to Take One!
April 14, 2017 by · 4 Comments
Family vacations aren't always cheap but they are a great way to relax and reconnect with your family. Vacations don't always need to be expensive to be one of the best times of your life. You don't actually need to go to a 5-star hotel and eat only in the most exclusive restaurants. Some of the best memories you can make with your family will be on a family vacation. Your child won't remember the quality of the hotel you stayed at but they will remember the card games, trips to the beach and all that togetherness that you enjoyed. That … [Read more...]
Music and Teens: Bonding over Panic! At The Disco – Death Of A Bachelor
April 13, 2017 by · Leave a Comment
Music and teens seem to always go together, right? You rarely see a teenager without earbuds in their ears! We have always been a very musical family. From toddler music classes to marching band, my kids have always enjoyed the art of music. My husband and son are passionate rock music fans and often enjoy going to concerts together. My daughter and I have more alternative preferences in music and she regularly shares her love of all things musical to keep me updated on her favorite bands. We have an understanding that if I need help cooking … [Read more...]
Mosquito Protection Tips to Help You Reclaim Your Backyard!
April 10, 2017 by · 2 Comments
Last week, my family and I headed to Florida for spring break. The first half of our trip was spent exploring Everglades National Park which was an absolutely amazing trip. Except for the mosquitos. They were absolutely everywhere! With the threat of West Nile virus, Zika virus and so many other nasty illnesses, I read up on a TON of mosquito protection tips before we left. Of course, your backyard won't have anywhere near as many mosquitos as the Everglades does but it's still smart to protect yourself from mosquito bites.Mosquito … [Read more...]
Tips for Organic Gardening with Kids for a Fun and Rewarding Experience!
April 8, 2017 by · 2 Comments
Kids learn best when they are able to get involved with the learning process. Organic gardening with kids presents a great opportunity to teach your children valuable life lessons with hands-on experience. The most important thing to keep in mind when trying to get your kids engaged in the organic gardening process is to keep their interest. Plant growth takes time, and from seed planting until harvest time of vegetables or flowers, kids often lose interest. Use these tips to capture and hold their attention so you can have a successful summer … [Read more...]
Packing and Planning to Visit Everglades National Park
March 27, 2017 by · Leave a Comment
We have only a few more days until my kids are finally out of school for spring break. We don't always do a big family vacation over spring break but with the kids getting older, we only have a few years left to travel together as a family. Pretty soon, jobs and college will interfere with our family trips so we decided to do a big one this year. We decided to explore Florida and will spend some time in the Everglades as well as visit Disney. A few days with friends and family will round out our trip before we come home. While traveling … [Read more...]
