***Amazon Affiliate links may be included in recommendations.  ​I may earn compensation from qualifying purchases.

As a full-time working mom, I constantly struggle to stay organized.  From the chaos of our laundry/mudroom, to the constant playroom mess, to art/school papers/mail always piling up.... it is never ending and exhausting. 

In this new blog series, I'll offer up some road-tested mom hacks for organizing your life.  I'll focus on key areas in the home with anxiety inducing clutter.  Click on the images above to explore each of my Mom Hacks.

​As a grown-ass lady, I am not doing that nonsense again, ever... but I love nature and want to my kids to have great memories in beautiful parks across America.  A few years ago, my husband and I rented an RV for the first time and had an amazing experience and trip.  I've since learned many lessons to have great trips, an organized set-up, and awesome eats (no matter the weather).  I won't impart all my wisdom on you in this post, but will share the key packing and prepping tips that I've learned (often the hard way).  
​
PACKING TIP #1
If you have little ones in the RV, the best way to organize their outfits and maximize your storage is to roll each kid's outfit (complete with undies, socks, matching bows, etc) and stuff it in an over the door shoe organizer, https://amzn.to/3eMZssH.  This is a game changing move; you can tell when you need to do laundry in a second and don't have dumped bags of kid stuff all over the RV. 

​PACKING TIP #2
Put everything in baskets, bins, and organizers BEFORE packing in the RV's cabinets/drawers.  Things get bumpy on the road and without a containment situation in your storage areas, you're going to have a big mess, promise.  I love using a cutlery caddy, https://amzn.to/2NMyViY, for plastic forks, spoons, knives, paper plates, and napkins; this way your family has everything in front of them (no matter if you're eating on a picnic table or in the RV).  Plus the caddy helps limit all the opening and shutting drawers in cramped spaces in the kitchen (ouch, my knee hurts just thinking about those drawers).  
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​PACKING TIP #3
Pack an Instapot, https://amzn.to/3dPHG6F!  Inclement weather can make dinner camping a major drag.  I always check the forecast but no matter the prediction, I have a couple Instapot "dump and click" meals prepped and packed (future post with recipes - stay tuned).  Also, the Instapot is key to moms actually enjoying nature during your RV trip.  Instead of hiding out in the RV cooking breakfast, I'll drag the Instapot out to the picnic table and make scrambled eggs while the kids play ball or dig in the dirt.  

PREPPING TIP #1
The packing tip on Instapot is the perfect segue to what you'll need to prep.  Most of the prep is meals #sorrymama.  In addition to the "dump and click" meals, I also have a list of usual suspects for all our RV adventures:

• Homemade breakfast burritos (frozen and ready to throw on the camp fire or microwave)
• Hobo foil packs (made with Kielbasa, not ground beef to avoid some previous issues)
• Camp fire brownies in oranges
• Grilled ribeyes & corn
• Loaded potatoes (I usually make a huge pulled pork dinner before the trip, save some pork so that night, I just need to get taters on the fire and have my fixin's all chopped packed)
• Pancakes (If your kids are pancake junkies like mine..... I'll make a monster batch at home, freeze them and nuke them in the RV for the fastest, easiest breakfast -- perfect for early morning fishing days)

PREPPING TIP #2
Drinks are a key component for our RV enjoyment <<CHEERS>> and having some fun vacation drinks is a nice way to feel like we're out of the norm.  In addition to some wonderful bottles of wine (those ribeyes need a bottle of Bonanza Cab), I prep some other lovely elixirs: 

• Sangria after a long hike is your friend - before you hit the road, just freeze your favorite fruits (or those looking sad in the crisper drawer) with a sprinkle of sugar.  Then take a swig out of a bottle of club soda (to make room for a shot or two of Cointreau).  Then at the camp site mix it all and add a cheap bottle of vino (please, not that bottle of Bonanza Cab)
• Ranch water is a sunshine staple - lugging all the ingredients isn't ideal.  Prep another club soda (perhaps pour out a whole cup for this guy) to make room for a splash of Agave, a lot of lime juice, a generous pour of of your favorite Tequila, and another shot of delicious Cointreau.  Don't forget to rim your glass with some spicy Tajin (https://amzn.to/3gi9fab, if you clicked that link, I know you're not in Texas, my friend). 

PREPPING TIP #3
As delicious as that spicy Tajin will be on your ranch water, lugging another item is not reasonable. 
​A big shout out to www.organizedchaosonline.com for this hack I love - repurpose a pill organizer, https://amzn.to/38hMyjR, for your spices in the RV.  So brilliant; I just can't even take credit.  The five minute this prep requires will save so much space and digging around drawers on your camping adventure.  

I'll pull together more RV hacks and tips soon; until then, let me know what awesome ideas I missed.  While you're waiting, check out some other top finds here!

***Amazon Affiliate links may be included in recommendations.  ​I may earn compensation from qualifying purchases.
​COVID-19 is still here (even though we may be bored with him #thingsAmericasays).  I just learned our school district is doing 100% distance learning for a minimum of three weeks... so how can I take the shitshow lessons of this spring and become a wiser homeschool mom?  Here are my hacks (click the image to read the blog tips and tricks).

***Amazon Affiliate links may be included in recommendations.  ​I may earn compensation from qualifying purchases.  
​
​Life in COVID-19.... such fun.  Here are a few hacks I've found to help with our sanity and health during the pandemic.  Let me know what your crew is doing to stay sane as Texas encounters our big spikes this summer. 
 

• Pantry battle busters = muffin tin, https://amzn.to/3ikH1NS.  Hear me out.... kids are home and unsupervised as we try to work remotely.  The amount of processed foods they were snacking on got to be ridiculous.  The muffin tin came to our rescue, esp. during ZOOM calls!  By filling up a tin with healthy fruits, veg, eggs, meats, nuts, etc, we have been able to have an easy snack option that is a bit more healthy

​

• Getting the kids to use their imaginations and enjoy this "home time" has been aided with some cool projects.  Here are some of the best ones we enjoyed:

• Sidewalk chalk, https://amzn.to/2Zmzgyo
  • We've done so many fun projects, but none compare to my amazing sister, Jennifer's front stoop
  • Peg Doll Painting, https://amzn.to/3dMMsSt 
    • These craft paints, https://amzn.to/2ZtxNX2, worked great and were done with super affordable brushes (you'll see my attempt at recreating "Under the Sea" but it looks like this mermaid may have been having too many Coronas by the pool)
  • ​Spirograph Jr., https://amzn.to/3gb9zYv
    • Such a nostalgic toy - this version is great for young kids
      •  My son created insignias for our family and put them on all our desks

• Screen time consumption in our house has gone from "sorta' what I tell the pediatrician" to straight up embarrassing (Bennett may have found the end of the Internet on YouTube #justsaying).  To combat the digital addiction, we've been doing even more board games than usual.  For our family, these are total faves in quarantine:
  • Monopoly Mario Cart Gamer, https://amzn.to/2VyjFKV (faster and more fun with young kids than the original) #teamLuigi 
  • Guess Who, https://amzn.to/3ikRmcC (the best quick turn two person, adult/kid, game ever that aids in skills of deduction)
  • Catan, https://amzn.to/2VwX3dQ (a complex strategy game for grown-ups and a trading/building game for kids)

There are lots of other fun things we've done while staying home: gardening, organizing, checking out "drive thru" exhibits, and enjoying our backyard.  I hope to hear what you've been doing to make the most of these challenging times!

***Amazon Affiliate links may be included in recommendations. 
​I may earn compensation from qualifying purchases.  

I grew up in the 80s and my childhood hairstyle was courtesy of my mother's Friskars.  I always had loopsided, too-short bangs.  Clearly, I'm scarred by the whole ordeal.  Now that I have a daughter of my own, I promise to never cut her hair at home.  
Little did I know how dealing with little girl hair is totally different ball of a wax than my son (wash and go).  The tangle situation can cause major meltdowns.  
With a lot of trial and error, I think I've perfected the hair care regiment to reduce tangles and hopefully keep Brynne from remembering me as some psycho Mommy-Dearest type. 
After shampooing her hair, I've been using this Paul Mitchell Conditioner, https://amzn.to/2Vyy2zc.  I started using it myself to protect my hair color and was amazed how easy it was to brush my hair out after showering.  It works just as well on little Miss.
The other remedy that I swear by is this ​UNITE Detangler with SPF, https://amzn.to/38d8VqG.  I spray her hair each morning and it really cuts down on the snags and tears. Just as important as the products is the instrument; I swear by the Wet Brush, https://amzn.to/2Vx7wpR​.  Even at three years old, she can do an initial pass through with this brush.   

***Amazon Affiliate links may be included in recommendations. 
​​I may earn compensation from qualifying purchases.  

My son recently became obsessed with fish sticks; living in Texas, I've learned you do not turn the oven on in the summer (the end).  I've always heard good things about air fryers and faced with the prospect of microwaving fish all summer (BLECH)... I bit. 
The Tidylife Air Fryer, https://amzn.to/2ZsXwyO, has been way more than I ever expected.   We have found a zillion uses for this dreamboat: from roasted veggies to quesadilla-for-one to elevated grocery store frozen appetizers to the best wings I've ever made at home (big shout out to Stay Snatched for the 5 + 5 + 12 minute approach to get that perfect crisp and juicy wing). 
It has become such a staple of our family cooking that we actually packed it for our recent beach vacation.  Our friends at the beach house rental instantly fell in love. 
The whole term "air frying" is a bit of misnomer; it seems to me like a high powered mini convection oven, but damn, those Ore-Ida waffle fries come out Chick-fil-A caliber.  
It cleans up in the sink super fast with the "cage thing" separating from the "catcher tray thingamajig."   My only gripe is that is is BIG (and kinda' ugly).  It takes up a lot of valuable counter space and resembles a Star Wars knockoff spaceship.  I just hide ours on the floor of the pantry for easy access almost daily.  

***Amazon Affiliate links may be included in recommendations.  ​I may earn compensation from qualifying purchases.

After my second child, Brynne, was born, I discovered the ​ Angelcare Bath Support, https://amzn.to/2YPG8Fp.  This simple baby product is a lifesaver.  It allows two kids (if one's a baby) to bathe together!  Brynne was able to lounge and enjoy the shallow water in her netted hammock while Bennett splashed and had fun.  ​

Washing a  toddler's hair with a newborn in the same zip code is a challenge, let alone in the same tub.  This product gives your new addition a safe haven  from the flailing limbs of an older sibling and doesn't require the neck support and core strength of some sitting bath products.  
​
It's been  a few weeks since we put away the Angelcare Bath Support, and bath time is WHOLE lot crazier.  Brynne now likes sitting, standing and walking around the tub; I wish I could convince her bath time is supposed to be relaxing.  

If you're expecting baby #2, put this on the top of your shopping list.  

Welcome to the first post in my 'Baby Registry Must-Haves' series!  This week, I'm featuring those necessary items for feeding your newborn.  Links to all the products are here.
 
<From the top, left to right, then down - you get the picture>

1.  Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Travel Bottle and Food Warmer Set 

• Waking up in the middle of the night with a crying newborn is rough enough; save yourself the trip to the kitchen (especially if you live in a two-story home).  This handy thermos and cup will keep boiling water darn near boiling all night long.  Just pour a few inches into the cup and voilà, warm bottle!  Also, this is the perfect item for you diaper bag when on-the-go with baby.

2.  Name Bubbles Baby Labels

• If your little bundle of joy will be joining the ranks of daycare in the near future, get these name labels - NOW!  Many daycares (including 'high-end child education and care facilities') require every single item that enters the premise to have baby's first AND last name designated.  Sure a Sharpie marker could do the trick but it looks awful and reduces the ability to re-sell any items at a decent price.  These labels are so adorable and durable.  They have specially designed versions that are dishwasher safe (as well as laundry safe for clothing).  I've washed Bennett's bottles in the dishwasher on super-hot with Name Bubbles on them every day for over five months and not a single label has peeled or faded - amazing.

3.  Boon Grass Drying Rack (with accessories) 

• Having your kitchen counters junked-up with baby bottles, sippy cups, and pacis looks so much nicer with this awesome and attractive drying rack.  Initially, I didn't think I'd need a drying rack for Bennett's things (figuring I could just set them on a kitchen towel to dry), but very soon I learned my lesson.  On the towel, items easily fell over (making a mess) and didn't fully dry inside (making this new mama worry about 'ick' - yes, that's a technical term).  Another use I never imagined: I hang hand-washed food bibs off the 'Stem' and 'Fly' accessories allowing them to drip in the adjacent sink - brilliant.  Also, this drying rack comes apart to easily go in the dishwasher to stay fresh and sanitary. 

4.  Aden + Anais Snap Bibs

• These super soft and darling bibs are made from absorbent muslin cotton.  If the adorable designs (for boys/girls/gender neutral) and tactile quality, don't win you over, the snaps will.  Nearly every bib on the market now has a velcro closure; velcro sticks to everything in the dryer damaging clothing and scratching baby's face once they're old enough to yank it off.  I hate bibs with velcro.  The end.

5.  JJ Cole Bottle Cooler

• Much like other products on my list, this cooler features modern and cute patterns.  The functionality of this cooler is probably pretty similar to others out there (in fact, the freebie bottle cooler Enfamil gave me at the hospital is just as good, but not as nice to look at).  The key with this registry item is ensuring you use it beyond the diaper bag.  Check out my tip in item 1; use a cooler to tote bottles to the nursery (with an ice pack of course) and save yourself countless trips to the kitchen in the wee hours of the night.

6.  Dr Brown's Bottles

• Newborns + gas = HELL.  Watching your tiny baby screaming and wrenching in agony from a gassy tummy is awful.  My little guy had the worst gas.  We tried everything from crazy burping positions to gas drops to bicycle legs, you name it. Dr Brown's bottles made the most impact.  Ensuring your baby inhales the least amount of air during feedings will ensure less gas.  I would recommend mommies-to-be lay off the small bottles. I registered for a bunch of 2 oz bottles only to find after a week and a half, my piggy was gulping down nearly 4 oz at a feeding.  Having mostly 8 oz bottles with some 4 oz as well would be ideal. 

7.  Boon Clutch Dishwasher Basket

• If you've been following the blog, you already know how amazing this dishwasher basket is for keeping all the little bottle parts safe during cleaning.  I tired several other products and was quite disappointed.  The design of this basket holds tons of parts securely and has enough holes to ensure proper cleaning. 

I hope this first post in my 'Baby Registry Must-Haves' series helps build your baby registry!  Stay tuned for more upcoming posts to complete your registry with road-tested, mommy endorsed products! 

If you love it, buy it!


Photo credits:
Boon Grass Drying Rack, image from Babies1st, http://babies1st.com/p-145942-boon-stem-grass-lawn-drying-rack-accessory.aspx
Dr Brown's Bottles http://www.buybuybaby.com/1/1/5150-dr-browns-natural-flow-single-8-ounce-bottle-from-dr-browns.html
Boon Clutch Dishwasher Basket http://www.giggle.com/Boon-Clutch-Dishwasher-Basket/0004099128,default,pd.html
aden + anais snap bib http://www.adenandanais.com/en-us/productlanding/4623/baby/bib-burp-cloths/snap-bibs/classic-snap-bibs/snap+bibs.aspx
Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Travel Bottle and Food Warmer Set http://www.toysrus.com/buy/infant-care/tommee-tippee-closer-to-nature-travel-bottle-food-warmer-set-522010-4361041
JJ Cole Bottle Cooler http://jjcolecollections.com/bottle-cooler
Name Bubbles baby labels http://www.namebubbles.com/Labels-By-Use/Baby-Labels/Baby-Labels-Pack/Product.aspx?ProductID=140&DeptID=12&AdID=282

The first rule of parenting: DO NOT kill the child.

I love my baby.  I love my dogs.  My baby loves dogs (weird).   In fact, Bennett is always all over the dogs (and vice versa).  

As a good dog mother, I always had applied a once-a-month topical flea and tick treatments.  After having my human baby, I did a little research on these treatments.  Many options on the market include  organophosphates and carbamates that work to kill fleas and ticks by interfering with the transmission of nerve signals.  

I learned that I was using one of the 'safer' products on the market, but topical treatments can put children (and the dogs, too) at risk of poisoning and have the potential for long term effects on the brain and nervous system.  In no way did I want to put Benny at risk, especially considering he's spends so much time on the floor and smooching his face into the dogs' fur.  

Upon discovering NexGard, I have a sense of relief in my child's safety and dogs' health.  This amazing little chewy treat kills fleas and ticks.  We've only been using this treatment for a month, but let me tell you... it works!  We live in the Philadelphia suburbs in a wooded neighborhood loaded with ticks; I've yet to find a tick on any of the pooches since giving them the new treatment.  

When using the topical application on the dogs, I was always stressing about the baby touching them (or even my husband or me) and spreading the chemical on our hands.  Now I don't have to worry a bit; I just give them a 'treat' and relax for the next 30 days. Believe me, or just ask your vet for all the details. 

If you love it, buy it! 

 
***Amazon Affiliate links may be included in recommendations.  ​
I may earn compensation from qualifying purchases.  

I've always considered myself pretty good at only having things in my life that I love and actually use.  

When I was single living in Philadelphia, I managed to live in a 400 (ish) square foot apartment with virtually no storage and zero clutter.

Now I have a baby, and the amount of crap this child necessitates is ridiculous!  I was convinced while pregnant that I would never be 'that mom' schlepping around multiple bulging bags just to go run a few errands; but, I am.  The reason I'm 'that mom,' is because babies need stuff, and a lot of it! 

Granted if I'm just running to the supermarket for a quick trip, I'll shove a diaper, wipes and toy in my handbag and call it good.  But if I'll be out of the house for more than 45 minutes with my little one, I need to have an arsenal of supplies to combat the litany of scenarios he's already thrown my way while on the go.

Hauling all this crap is a pain, literally, a pain.  My handbag and his diaper bag are heavy and the straps dig into my shoulder (making it nearly impossible to tote both and carry him).  If I opt to just put both bags in the cart, the basket is half full before I start shopping.  

Initially, I had the Buggygear™ Buggy Heart Stroller Hook, https://amzn.to/2CRtux5.  This hook is pretty good for a mini-outing (accommodating one, maybe two small to medium sized bags pretty easily).  The only issue with this hook is that the heavier items tend to slip the hook to the side of the stroller handle causing the bottom of the bags to end up rubbing on the stroller wheels.   

Being a fan of Buggygear™ products, I stumbled across their Boutique Stroller Hooks, https://amzn.to/2BR1fy7, and figured it was worth a try.  After road testing these bad boys this weekend, I'm thrilled to announce that they are awesome!  

The hooks are a breeze to attach to stroller handles with rubber straps that clasp shut easily.  Also, you can put them anywhere (not just on the top of the handle like most other hooks); this allowed me to put them lower on the stroller braces and helped prevent tipping (this picture was taking without the baby in the stroller and even with my handbag, his diaper bag and a huge Old Navy shopping bag - NO TOPPLING OVER).  The double hook feature accommodated everything and eliminated rubbing on the stroller wheels (just a bit of rubbing from that massive Old Navy bag).  I can't wait to try them out on a shopping cart (oh, the things motherhood makes exciting).