Mommy Musings

A huge thank you to Uncommon Goods for sponsoring this post! A week before I was contacted by Uncommon Goods , I had received one of their catalogues in the mail.  Now, I know, we're all inundated with catalogues these days.  Most of them I simply toss in the trash.  But a few items caught my eye on the cover, and I started to flip through. Next thing you know, I had hopped on the computer and was clicking purchase for several gifts for my family.  I also earmarked other items to save for upcoming birthdays! {true story} So I absolutely jumped at the chance to review some of their items myself!  I mean, who doesn't want a little early Christmas gift for themselves? I'm embarrassed to admit that it took me about three days to finally chose what items I wanted...because there were so many good choices!  In the end I chose two very special gifts. The first is this bullet pen.  How cool is this?!  As a cop wife and writer, this could not be a more per...

As the girls have been getting older, we've been focusing more on what we can do for other people, especially with the holidays coming up.  Just last weekend the girls and I went through every toy in the house and filled three bags to donate to charity. This week we decided to brighten our neighbor's day and #SpreadCheer with Betty Crocker! They make it SO easy for me to be able to bring a smile to someone's face.  Baking with little ones, especially when my husband is working a double shift, can be tough!  But with these simple ingredients, it was so easy to do! The girls and I had so much fun making our sweet holiday treats .  And since I don't have a million ingredients lying around, I was free to step back and let the girls do most of the work! While we were waiting for the cookies to finish baking, we printed out the Betty Crocker cookie gift tags and picked out our favorite!  It really dressed up our cookies in such an easy, festive way! Then we popped o...

Today’s post is sponsored by Great Clips , by my love for their veterans campaign is all my own! At twenty-one, I said goodbye to my brand-new fiance as he headed off to war. As a Marine, he had volunteered to join the military and deploy, away from America, his family and friends, and the comforts we all take for granted, to keep the rest of us safe.  For me, that is the definition of selflessness. All of our veterans answer the call willingly, putting aside their safety, to make sure we all remain free.  It is an honor we can never fully repay. Besides my husband, I personally know several other veterans who have deployed.  And every Veteran's Day, I try to spoil them as best as possible.  I send cards, thanking them for their service.  I've had my kids make pictures and notes, telling them of the sacrificing these brave men and women have made for us.  We take my husband out to dinner to celebrate the fact that he has home with us, and thank him for his ...

Worried About Your Kids and Drugs? What Parents Can Do No parent wants their child to get wrapped up in the world of drugs. When kids become drug users they damage their health, their grades, their friendships and even their lives. However, not all kids that use drugs have drug problems. The fact is that many kids who try drugs are acting out in a variety of other different ways. They might be failing in school, acting out against other kids or simply acting out at home and not listening to their parents. Use these tips to help you learn more about how you can help your kids if you think they might be using drugs as a way of acting out. Talk to Your Kids Talking to your kids is something that almost everybody thinks that they can do as a parent. However, there are times when you may not be able to talk to your kids about drug use without losing your temper. Instead of yelling at your kids it is important to make sure you sit them down and talk to them about your concerns in a cal...

Thank you to Pete Scobell for sponsoring today's post.... If you've read this blog for any amount of time, you know my personal connection, and love for our men and women in the armed forces.  And I am always thinking of ways to support them. Today I am asking for a minute to introduce you to an amazing American hero.  Pete Scobell .  He selflessly served our country as a Navy Seal for 17.  After suffering a traumatic brain injury overseas, he turned back to his love of music to help him heal. His album, Walkin A Wire, comes out today.  He has collaborated with music royalty Wynonna Judd and Cactus Moser.  One of the songs, "Hearts I Leave Behind, " was written at the request of Taya Kyle, widow to American Sniper Chris Kyle.  You all know the love and respect I hold for the both of them.  It is a song he released earlier this year and went on to reach #1 on the iTunes Country Singles Chart.  All proceeds from the song were donated to the...

I'm sure a lot of you have heard of the company Minted before.  For years they have been one of the most popular online stationary stores.  I swear over half the Christmas cards I receive from friends and family have the beautiful 'Minted' stamped on the back.  They are always the highest quality material and have the most beautiful designs. I'll be honest, Skip and I even contemplated having a 10 year wedding anniversary party this year, just so I could order invitations from Minted 's new collection.  We eventually decided on a trip away instead, but not after I picked out my favorite designs.      Aren't they gorgeous?!  Minted is known for it's exemplary stationary, but did you also know they now carry home decor as well?   Fabric , wall art , and children's room signs .  Both the girls' rooms need a little sprucing up now that they're getting older, so you know a few of these pieces will be making their way in there! So make sure...

Thank you to all free clear for sponsoring today’s post and inspiring me to try all free clear! I believe that I've mentioned on here already that I have finished my first novel and have sent it out into the world to be judged, and hopefully one day published. As I wait, I've begun working on my second novel. Until that happens, this writing thing is essentially just a hobby, but one I am hoping to turn into my next career. Because of that, I have dubbed this summer my time to be #freetobe a writer. Now, finding time to write while raising two little girls, keeping up with my husband's crazy schedule, and somewhat maintaining a household, are proving difficult.  It has been a learning curve for all of us, that's for sure.  And the one thing that always  falls by the wayside, is the laundry.  I will not admit how long clean laundry sits in a basket in our room, And I definitely won't admit how long full our dirty clothes bin gets before I wash the clothes in it. Tha...

Thank you to all free clear for sponsoring today’s post and inspiring me to try all free clear! It's springtime in New Jersey!!   Finally!!  In fact some days recently have felt more like summer than spring...which I have absolutely no problem with.  After the loooooooooooong winter we had, we're spending every free second we have outside.   This past weekend Skip was off and we all trekked out as a family to go fishing.  Rainbow trout fishing to be exact...or maybe it was large mouth bass...I don't remember.  What I do know is that my six year old was attempting to teach me to cast.   Attempting  being the key word.  I might not have been any good, but it was a hot day and Skip found the most beautiful spot for us, so I was happy.   With all that family fun comes lots and lots of dirt.  Who ever said that only boys are messy have never met my girls before.  I swear they came home with half the river bottom caked on their cloth...

It's finally spring here in New Jersey.  And let me tell you, it was a long time coming.  We're all so excited to shed our winter coats, don some sunglasses, and spend some time outside. After such a long winter, we felt like we needed a little reward for surviving the harsh months.  And what better way to celebrate than with a little road trip during Emmy's spring break.  We packed up and hopped in the car, heading down the shore to visit some family. Thankfully I had my new sunglasses from Visionworks with me! As someone who has very sensitive eyes, I need to wear sunglasses year-round, even on days with only a hint of sun.  Because of this, I am very picky about my eye-wear. I can't just throw on any old pair.  The ones I received from Visionworks were of the highest quality I have ever received. Visionworks is a national eye-wear retailer with over 650 locations.  They are committed to supplying their customers with high-quality pieces and excel...