take 5 in june
5 tips for flying with young children
It’s finally here, the very last day of Take 5 in June! I hope you have enjoyed this little break from my normal posting schedule (but hopefully not so much that you’re not glad to have me back.) Tomorrow I’ll be back to my plain old boring self. Our vacation is officially over. After a very long day of flying yesterday, we are back in Florida and very glad to be warm again. I will admit that I am more than a little overwhelmed by all the post-vacation stuff I now need to catch up on–unpacking, laundry, paying bills, re-stocking the fridge–but it was really nice to sleep in my ... read more
5 Tips for Dressing Well and Spending Less {Valerie @ Charmed Valerie}
I first met Valerie Rowencamp, today’s uber-chic guest blogger when we sat next to each other during a blogging seminar at Blissdom. I remember taking in her absolutely adorable outfit–a striped shirtdress paired with Chuck Taylors–and feeling utterly frumpy and inadequate in comparison. And then I found out she was a fashion blogger and I was even more intimidated. Luckily she was so sweet that I quickly got over my insecurities and simply became an admirer of her awesome blogs. At CharmedValerie.com she shows off her daily personal style, while at MomStreetStyle.com she highlights the unique real-life fashion of other moms & kids. I just love that she manages to ... read more
5 snapshots of our alaska cruise {& weekly shopping linky}
I’ll spare you the details and just say that Husband and I are having an amazing time on our Alaska cruise.Of course we miss our girls–who are apparently having such a good time with their cousins, aunties, uncles, & grandparents that they haven’t given us a second thought–but there is something to be said for alone time with your spouse. I am a little ashamed to admit that sometimes the hustle and bustle of life gets in the way and I forget how much I like hanging out with the guy I married. In five years of marriage, I have never once doubted our love, but without the distractions of ... read more
5 Reasons to Budget that are Bigger than Money {Jesse @ YNAB}
I hope you all are enjoying this Take 5 in June series as much as I am. The wisdom of people around me never ceases to amaze me. You’ll probably remember Jesse from his awesome guest post a couple weeks ago on talking to your spouse about money. It sparked a huge {positive} conversation for Husband and I, and if you didn’t get a chance to read it, you should check out here. Jesse is founder of the financial software company, You Need a Budget. His very-cool software helps people break the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle, get out of debt, and save more money faster, and is based on his own personal ... read more
5 tips for a better work/life balance {hollee @ the new perfect}
Okay, can I just say that I love cruising? The minute I stepped on the ship it was as though a huge load–one I didn’t even know I was carrying–was lifted and suddenly I could breathe. I love my kids, I love this blog, and in general I love my life, even when things get a little crazy sometimes, but I have such a hard time “shutting it off” and just taking a break. There is always one more email to read, one more project to finish, one more load of laundry to fold. Balance is not really my cup of tea, which is exactly what makes today’s guest post ... read more
5 Fitness Tips on a Budget {Running Mama @ Running to Be Skinny}
If you have been following this blog for a while, you may have noticed the glaring lack of “healthy lifestyle” posts. I don’t write about losing weight or exercise, and my recipes usually feature inordinately high levels of butter, sour cream, cheese, sugar, and other similarly fattening ingredients. Needless to say, I’m probably not the best person to ask about getting fit while sticking to a budget. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I’m anti-exercise! In fact, up until I was six months pregnant with Trouble, I was still running at least 5 miles a day. Then she decided to spend her last three months in utero lounging on ... read more
5 Things I Wish I Would’ve Known When I Was 18
My adorable–er, I mean super handsome and very manly–nephew Jacob graduated from high school last night. It seems so crazy to me that the sweet little boy I used to babysit is now ready to head off to college. As he begins this new phase of his life–adulthood–I couldn’t help but reflect on the time when I was that age and wish that I had only known then what I know now. Jacob, I know most of this advice will probably go in one ear and out the other, but I decided to write it down anyway. 5 things I wish I would’ve known when I was 18 1. You ... read more
5 things a coupon newbie should know (& weekly shopping linky)
My time here in Washington is just flying by–I can’t believe it has already been over a week since we got here! My sister and I always have a blast when we get together and this trip has been no exception. Despite the fact that my chaotic little family has completely turned her household upside down–during her kids’ hectic last week of school no less–she has been a fabulous hostess and made us feel more than welcome. I know there is no way I can possibly thank her enough for the hospitality, but one small way I’ve been able to make it up to her is to try, in this ... read more
5 easy steps for canned jam {brittany @ re-writing motherhood}
I have always wanted to learn how to can my own food. Husband is adamantly opposed to the idea and thus far, I have been hopelessly unsuccessful in my attempts to convince him otherwise. He thinks I will poison us. Thanks for your vote of confidence, honey. I am hoping this post, brought to you today by my very talented friend Brittany, will help my cause. She makes it look practically foolproof. And I can tell you from personal experience that her jam is to-die-for. (But not in the literal, poisoning sense.) Brittany and I go way back, to when she and I were both pregnant with our first babies. ... read more
5 tips for taking better photos with any camera {patty @ finding serendipity}
I love taking pictures. Someday maybe I’ll fulfill my dream of becoming a “real” photographer, or at the very least, mastering the oh-so-scary M mode of my camera dial. For now, I’m still mostly stuck on Auto mode. My friend Patty is definitely a “real” photographer and I often visit her gorgeous blog, Finding Serendipity, for inspiration. It’s not hard to find. She is not only an incredibly talented photographer, she is also one of the kindest and wisest people I know. You can’t help but be drawn in by her striking imagery and soulful prose, and if I had half her talent, I would be a happy girl. It ... read more
5 qualities that make my dad an amazing guy
I hope you all have enjoyed the Take 5 in June guest posts as much as I have so far. I am having a wonderful time visiting with friends and family here in Washington State, and the girls are in heaven being surrounded and doted on by all their cousins. One of the main reasons I came home was to help celebrate my Dad’s 70th birthday. My siblings and I surprised him yesterday with a gathering of his closest friends and family, many of whom came from afar. It was a really special day, and I was struck by what an amazing guy my dad truly is. You see, my ... read more
5 Tips for Talking to Your Spouse About Finances {Jesse @ YNAB}
I don’t know how it is in your house, but in my house money can be a bit of a sore subject at times. In fact, fighting with my husband over money is the main reason I started using coupons and started writing this blog. And even though we (okay, me) have managed to get (most) of our spending under control, there are still things we disagree on, mostly because we just don’t always see eye-to-eye. Today’s guest blogger, Jesse Mecham, is founder of the financial software company,You Need a Budget. Based on four fail-safe rules, Jesse’s revolutionary software teaches a method that helps people break the paycheck to paycheck ... read more
5 posts might’ve missed {& weekly shopping linky}
I don’t mean to sound like a baby, but it is a little cold here in Seattle. I mean seriously, it’s June! It was a looooooooong flight all by myself with two little ones but despite all my whining, I really am happy to be back in my home state. And since I didn’t do any shopping today, I thought, in keeping with my “Take 5 in June” theme, I would list five of my all-time favorite posts, just in case you might’ve missed them. 1.) becoming southern {and how to make pimiento cheese} 2. sweet soda shop party 3.) 10 tips for getting more done each day 4.) my ... read more
5 Tips for Raising Children You Like {Edie @ Life{in}Grace}
Beginning today, I am officially on vacation for 3 whole weeks. I love writing this blog but I am also very excited to take a break and spend some long-overdue quality time with my friends and family in the Seattle area. We will be spending almost 2 weeks in Washington State and then Husband and I are taking our first-ever kid-free vacation, a week-long Alaskan cruise. I’m practically giddy. Three weeks is a long time to be away, so I thought it would be fun to do something new while I was gone and bring in some of my favorite bloggers to share some fabulous guest posts. I’ll still be ... read more
