June.

School is officially done for the year and it flew by. We would normally have summer bucket lists taped to the wall, activities planned, and full days. I am trading all of that in this year for spontaneity and rest. As a recovering Type A person, I am finding immense peace in letting go. Having a wide age range (17-3) means I no longer have complete control over our schedules. We have kids with summer jobs and their own plans for the summer. And while it looks different, I am thankful for the opportunity to experience this new season of life.

June Looks Like:

• picnics wherever, whenever

• backyard bbqs, blow-up pools, sprinklers, and lounging

• early mornings of prayer & coffee in the Lookout

• dinner parties with new recipes

• evening neighborhood walks

• book baskets (see this post)

• spontaneous outings

• reading the stack of books I have accumulated the last two months

I had big plans to read during May, which did not go as planned. I listened to one juicy memoir on Audible and read one book: American Fantasy- which while good, was not quite as good as I had hoped. First up this month:

Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monoghan- Her book, Nora Goes Off Script is one of my all-time favorite easy, breezy reads and I have high hopes for this new one!

It's Not Her by Mary Kubica has been waiting for me. If you have not read Mary’s books, you are missing out. Her stories often take place in Chicago, specifically the Chicago North Shore and suburbs, which is always fun. My two favorites of hers are The Good Girl and Every Last Lie which still haunts me every time I send Tim to pickup carryout for me.

My goal is to read those two this month, low-bar hopefully means I will surprise myself and get to a few more.

We are really enjoying Widow's Bay on Apple TV. It has been awhile since Tim and I have been this wrapped up in a show (not since Severance). Widow’s Bay is very quirky and may not be for everyone. It is about the mayor small New England town who is trying to make it the next Martha’s Vineyard, though it appears to be cursed. It is campy, extremely well-written, and boasts Twin Peaks character development. There are so many nods to famous thriller/horror films and books throughout and you feel really smart when you catch them, wink wink.

#makeingdinnerandashow is still going strong. I finished binging a popular high school show on Prime that I will never admit to watching in writing. If you know, talk to me because it was… something. On my list for June:

• Beef Season 2- I did not like season 1 and stopped watching it but this one looks right up my alley.

• The Boroughs ,which is the new Duffer brothers series, looks so good.

On the Menu…

The grill will be the star of the show this month. I checked out What's Gaby Grilling from the library and have practically the whole cookbook dog-eared. What's Gaby Cooking is one of my go-to sites for recipes. Her food has not disappointed and it is often easy, flavorful, and healthy.

Enjoy my summer backyard playlist which will be on repeat this whole month:) I hope all of you have a peaceful, relaxing, and memorable June!

Books for the “Yet-To-Readers” AKA my non-reading kids:

• Arthur's Family Treasury

• Curious George Seek-and-Find

• Minions Seek-and-Find Collection

• Little Blue Truck, What Do You Say Sound Book

• Good Night, Curious George

• The 20th-Century Children's Book Treasury

• Also included: a coloring kit with crayons & mini coloring books

Books for the Elementary Readers

• Animal Zombies! (National Geographic Kids)

• The Black Hole Report

• California Wildfires (Survival Stories Series)

• The Handbook to UFO's, Crop Circles, and Alien Encounters

• I Survived the Joplin Tornado, 2011 - I was able to snag this one as an audiobook on a Playaway at our local library

• LEGO Marvel Visual Dictionary

• Sideways Stories From Wayside School (Book 1)

• Star Wars: Where's the Wookiee? Seek and Find

• Holy Mysteries: 12 Investigations into Extraordinary Cases

• Also included: Star Wars MadLibs and Brain Quest ( Grades 2 & 5)

Books for Middle & High School Readers

• The Art of Star Wars, The Mandalorian

• The Big Book of W.O.W. (National Geographic Kids)

• Foxtrotius Maximus: A FoxTrot Treasury

• J.R.R. Tolkien: The Father of Modern Fantasy (Pocket Portraits)

• The Lord of the Rings Location Guidebook

• Unsolved Mysteries of American History

• Mythbusters: The Explosive Truth Behind 30 of the Most Perplexing Urban Legends of All Time

• Star Wars The Mandalorian: Guide to Season One

• The Dark Tower & Other Short Stores (C.S. Lewis)

• Eucharistic Fire: A Retreat with St. Carlo Actutis

• Why Believe: Answers to Life's Questions

• Also included: Kanoodle, this puzzle ball, and this slide puzzle

Cosmic Brownies are the junk-food treat of the week, so I tossed those in. I also put some rosaries and prayer cards in everyone’s baskets. For the littles, we love Gather & Pray's Rosary Popper. Here’s to hoping it inspires some family rosaries this week!

A final note: as with everything, your discretion is advised. What works for my family may not work for yours. I typically look through all of the books I give my children and they are age-and child appropriate for my kids. Every family, every house is different. Sharing here what works for our home.

That’s a wrap on week one… and update: the kids are still completely engrossed in the baskets and have not interrupted me once while writing this!

Summer book baskets (happening June-July) started many, many years ago as a way to encourage quite afternoons in our home. We have always been a summer reading challenge family. My kids have participated in local library challenges, as well as personalized at-home challenges. We have tried all kinds of methods, but book baskets have been the biggest success, by far.

The goal has always been encouraging reading, not assigning reading or making it feel like homework. In this spirit, I created Summer Book Baskets. Each child has their own basket and the items are swapped weekly. Each basket contains 4-5 “fun” reads, a quite activity (logic games, puzzles, rosary/prayer card), and a treat to eat. They all look forward to this every week. Even their friends enjoy coming by on Tuesdays and sitting with them to go through the baskets!

How I Make These:

I will be quite honest and share that our library has a home delivery service (maybe yours does, too?) which makes it a lot easier for me. You can also put things on hold and schedule a weekly pick-up day. The baskets contain 90% library finds and 10% things I pull from our house. When I started this, I invested in several wonderful logic games and puzzles, which has paid off over the years. I store these in a bin and they are only pulled out for use in these baskets. I will share our favorites at the bottom of the page:)

Next up, I choose themes, which makes it easier for me to curate the baskets. I have a master list of themes and I reuse them each year. Here are some of our favorites:

• Survival Stories

• Extreme Weather

• Aliens & Space

• How It’s Made

• Facts & Data

• How To

• Biographies

• Sunday Comics

• Movie Magic

• Life Skills

• Oddities (Ripley’s Believe It or Not, random books on random weird topics)

• Wild Card (topics that they have shown interest in over the last year)

Based on these, I can easily search the library catalogue and make our selections. I typically plan two weeks ahead of time which helps ensure the holds arrive in time. Sometimes the baskets have a singular theme, but most of the time it is just a hodge-podge collection of fun.

Contents Based On Age:

Non-Readers: For the kids who do not know how to read, I choose a lot of picture books with limited words (board books, colorful illustrations). Seek and Find books are always a hit, as are treasuries like THIS ONE.

Emerging Readers: Again, it is picture book heavy, but I do include some level-appropriate readers. My kids have always loved “easy readers” like Fly Guy Series. Again, my goal has always been instilling a deep love of reading and at this level, confidence-building. Due to this, I always choose books that they will enjoy and that will boost their confidence.

Readers (upper elementary): While I still include picture books, these baskets contain a much broader range of books. Short chapter books, graphic novels, visual encyclopedias, collected works, sometimes an audiobook of a longer text. I utilize audiobooks at this age because I find it is easier to get them to do their chores if they can listen to a book. It is a win-win in our house!

Middle Schoolers & High Schoolers: Baskets for my middle school/high school crowd contain a wild and wide variety of materials. I have put text books (car maintenance, finance, coding), old comics (Dilbert, Foxtrot, Family Circus), biographies, weird true crime stories, urban legend collections, cookbooks, etc. Once they hit high school, I assumed they would no longer be interested… the opposite occurred and they were insulted that I thought they didn’t want them anymore. Sometimes, they request to have fewer and sometimes they are content to just trade items rather than get new ones weekly. This year, I am downloading some audiobooks and printing the covers onto some notecards that I will stick in their baskets. These will come in handy when I ask them to do some landscaping, haha!

Tips For Starting:

1. Make sure your reading history is activated on your library account! This helps when you want to reuse books in the future!

2. Copy your weekly lists and save them. I have a notebook, because I am a pen and paper gal, but consider using a folder or printing your weekly lists. My notebook holds a record of what I put in each kid’s basket. At the end of the week, I highlight the books that are winners. I will use these when making birthday or Christmas gift lists! They are also helpful because many a time a kid has come to me asking about a specific book they loved and I can easily track it down.

3. Start SMALL. Maybe weekly is too much. Schedule what is manageable for you!

4. Set a time. When we started, baskets were set out every Tuesday at 1pm. Tuesday because it is our library day. 1pm because it was during naptime and this mama needed QUIET.

5. Pick a treat you never buy. I buy novelties to make it fun- pop in a glass bottle, a Little Debbie snack, fun ice cream bars, weird snacks, processed junk not normally allowed in the house… this kind of thing.

6. Keep them in a designated area. Baskets are not to leave the main floor of our house (unless authorized). We had too many lost library items and due to this, all basket items must stay in the basket and put away when not in use. It is easier for me to keep tabs on them this way. That master list also helps!

7. Put more on hold than you think you need. Sometimes, you get a book and it is a dud. I always have extras and will return the ones that don’t work.

Logic Games & Activities.

Logic games and puzzles have also been nice to include. It is by no means necessary, but for us it has been an added bonus. My kids get overwhelmed when I tell them to “pick out a game” or “find something to do” and end up doing nothing. Giving them specific items (especially the younger crowd) has helped them focus and adds an activity element to the afternoons. Here are some of our favorites:

Littles:

Sticker Books

Wikki Stix

Sticker Wow

Funny Faces Magnets

Animal Magnet Box

Water Wow

Bigs:

Rush Hour

Kanoodle

Gridlock

Puzzle Ball

OK Play

Mad Libs

Brain Quest Cards

I will be sharing the weekly book baskets in my stories over on my Instagram, and will save to the highlight “book baskets” in my profile. Follow for some inspiration:)

This has been one of the most fruitful and most loved summer traditions in our home. My children count down until this begins and are sad every year it ends. I hope your family enjoys it as much as ours does!

PS- If you are a reading log family, my boys all love this reading log and it has helped motivate them. I print it and keep it on a clipboard inside their baskets:) When completed, they get a special prize. Enjoy!

I cannot believe May is here… May is one of the most insane (and wonderful) months of the year. I love these warm spring weeks of May- I met my husband in May and it will forever be a nostalgic and romantic month around here.

May Looks Like:

• fresh flowers picked by little hands sitting on the windowsill

• new playlist perfect for backyard evenings

• school awards ceremonies

• Plan Your Own School week tradition

• the spring play

• kitchen painting

• end of the school year shennangans

I did not finish my lofty April reading goals… in fact, I only read 1/4 on my list and a bonus one that I was really looking forward to: “Once and Again” buy Rebecca Serle. I adore her other books but this one fell flat. That or it was just too busy around here to keep my attention. I am setting a really low bar this month and hope to read ONE new fiction book and listen to an audiobook while tackling some spring cleaning and gardening. Any recommendations?

#makingdinnerandashow continues! I have some new shows on my radar after finishing Apple TV’s Imperfect Women (snore to me) and The Pitt (I could not believe the ending). The following look good:

• Rooster (HBO) Steve Carell plays a newly divorced author who becomes the “writer in residence” at a college where his daughter and her husband work. I have heard it is funny, light-hearted, and well-written. I’m going to give it a try.

• Parenthood (Prime)I watched this years and years ago. Considering re-watching it, as it seems a lot less of a risk watching out in the open of my kitchen.

I love a seasonal menu… I am dusting off all of my summer recipes and planning for lots of marinated chicken to grill, refreshing salads, and easy dinners. There will be a lot of activities this month, so I am trying to plan extra hard plan for success. I will be sharing some of my favorite marinades over on Instagram this month, join me!

This is a beautiful month, the month of the Blessed Mother! We will have a very special May Crowning and I hope to get a Mary Garden planted by the end of the month. Hoping my black thumb doesn’t let Mary down.

Have a marvelous May, friends!

I started time blocking before I knew it was a thing. I have vivid memories of using timers to manage my heavy course load during college. I carried this practice over into managing my home and it has been the gift that keeps on giving.

If you are like me and have many plates spinning at all times and consider yourself to be a proficient multitasker, time blocking is an adjustment. Time blocking demands that you set a timer and maintain a single focused task (as much as any mom can be single-task oriented). Whether that task is assigned 5 minutes or 3 hours… it is less about time as it is about focus and the ability to bite off small chunks at a time. There are a great many studies on this and why it works- the most appealing to me is emotional regulation. Implementing time blocking actually reduces anxiety and helps reduce stress. Knowing there is an end time greatly improves not only the quality of your work, but the outcome. When facing huge tasks (like deep cleaning, sorting paperwork, organizing) it is easy to find yourself distracted and overwhelmed. Telling yourself you will dedicate 45 minutes to ____________ for the next 3 days eliminates some of the dread… not all, but some. Endpoints matter.

What does time blocking look like in my life?

I am an early riser. I was not always this way, but have come to love waking up early. My older kids get up at 6am. I give myself 30 minutes to pray, drink a cup of coffee, and review my day. I know it will take my older kids and husband 30-40 minutes to eat breakfast and leave for the day. My other children wake up anywhere between 6:30-7am. I use the time to do quick chores (putting away clean dishes, opening curtains, etc.).

We have a pretty set school schedule which begins at 8:15am. I know that I have anywhere from 45-60 minutes between breakfast and school, so I use 30 minutes to exercise, 45 if I am lucky. Afterwards, I will eat my own breakfast and prep for school.

I block out 2 hours in the afternoon to work- I write, prep for my classes, grade, take virtual meetings, and answer emails/calls. Some days, it is more like an hour due to therapies or the kids needing help- time blocking is flexible this way. Other days, I may be gifted additional time. I will break this time into chucks based on what I need to get done. Lesson plans: 20 minutes. Grading: 15 minutes. Emails: 15 minutes… you get the idea. I set a timer on my phone and when it goes off, I stop and move on to the next task. Every day, I am biting a little chunk out of the constant and ongoing load.

When I was in a season of babies, time blocking looked different and heavily revolved around naps. I still have a napping toddler, so I am aware that each season brings changes. The beauty of time blocking is that it is flexible and can be incorporated into any and all seasons of life.

There are many apps for this (Monday, Clockwise, Notion to name a few)… but good ol’ Google Calendar works just fine for me. And also my regular paper calendar. I am a big pen and paper gal, so typically Google Calendar and Google Sheets is about as techy as I get.

Start small… and by that I mean pick 3-4 things you’d like to get done this week. Maybe it’s making the bed. Maybe it’s washing the dishes and actually putting them away. Maybe it’s putting laundry away. Set a realistic time to block- maybe it is 15 minutes. Starting small and building will not only help you and your family ease into this, but it will help you set realistic expectations for yourself.

I hope this was helpful. This truly is why it seems I get so much done in a day. Once mastered, this skill will serve you for the rest of your life.

I received so many questions regarding my Meal Planning & Prep article. I am more than happy to share my go-to recipes for my weekend meal prepping!

To Recap:

What I am prepping each week for easy breakfasts and lunches for my family of 9:

1. Protein- I choose 1-2 types of meat (shredded rotisserie/baked/grilled chicken, steak, salmon, and even cans of tuna)

2. Fruits & veggies- washed, cut, and ready to go.

3. Roasted veggies- I roast a large sheet pan of whatever seasonal veggies I can get my hands on.

4. Bulk breakfasts: I choose 2-3 types of breakfast. Breakfast sandwiches or burritos, muffins or a sweet bread, scones (savory or sweet) and 1-2 pounds bacon or sausage. We typically also always have a dozen hard-boiled eggs for easy grab & go.

5. Seasonal staple- Spring/summer you will always find a basic salad in our fridge. Fall/winter you will find a big pot of soup. It is easy to add to these to make a fast meal when needed.

6. We typically also always have brown rice or quinoa and a protein pasta made and stashed in the fridge.

The goal here is to work smarter, not harder. By taking 2 hours to pound this out, we save time and money during the week! Without further ado, here are the recipes I use:

Breakfasts

Blueberry Scones

Sausage & Cheddar Scones

Breakfast Burritos- we skip the avocado which doesn’t last when prepped ahead of time.

Make Ahead Breakfast Sandwiches- Makes 12 and is a FAMILY FAVORITE!

Pumpkin Bread

Orange Cranberry Bread

Lunches:

The Viral Jennifer Aniston Salad

Greek Salad

Mason Jar Salad #1

Mason Jar Salad #2

My Favorite Lentil Soup

Greek Chicken Salad Stuffed Pitas- I will skip the pita and scoop into a bowl or on top of my salad!

Lunches can be easily thrown together with you have protein and veggies ready to go! Here’s to an easier and healthier week, friends!

xoxo,

Tatiana

I love a fresh month! And there’s something special about the first real “spring” month of the year. You’ll find our windows open, lots of baked goods, and (hopefully) some clean windows.

April Looks Like:

• Weekly adoration

• Outdoor refresh

• Fresh flowers

• New Spotify playlist on full volume

• Spring wardrobe swap

• Long walks with Cortisol Cocktails

• Return of Supper Club

With my teaching semester completed, I am really looking forward to getting back into my stack of books. Here’s what I’ll be reading:

1. Mistakes Were Made by Lucy Score. I really cannot believe I got this after how I felt about Book 1 ( see my JUNE BOOK CLUB review post on my Instagram). I skipped a lot of the first one but am hoping she’s dialed in the characters more in book 2.

2. American Fantasy by Emma Straub. This looks so fun! “A woman reluctantly takes her injured sister’s place on the 4-day, 90’s themed ‘American Fantasy’ cruise, featuring a popular boy band.” You know I will be lounging up in The Lookout, sipping my Watermelon Berry, devouring this one.

3. This Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crum. I have been waiting to read this one about two popular survival podcast hosts that find themselves in a survival situation of their own when one goes missing and her husband is found dead.

4. 10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High-Tech World by Jean Twenge, PhD. This was recommended by one of my all-time favorite parenting authors, Dr. Leonard Sax. We attended a lecture he gave last month and he praised this book.

You know I will still be #makingdinnerandashow, where I cook and half-pay attention to a show. I am still committed to The Pitt in the most unhealthy borderline toxic way ever. I am actually worried my eyes will get stuck in the back of my head due to the constant rolling. Anyway- I am seeing it through and kind of hoping Robby gets killed off on his motorcycle trip, but that could just be me. Also up this month is:

• Imperfect Women (Apple TV)

• Your Friends & Neighbors (Apple TV)

• Rooster (HBO)

• Seinfeld (always and forever)

And what would #makingdinnerandashow be without the dinner. I am pumped about firing up the grill this month. I am a huge believer in seasonal eating and cannot wait to try these new recipes:

• Marry Me Chicken

• Greek Chicken Stuffed Pitas

• Cheeseburger Sliders

• Garlic Butter Steak Bites

• Beef Empanadas

• Oven Pulled Pork

• Copycat BF Chang's Lettuce Wraps

• Caprese Pasta

• Arroz Con Pollo

• Shrimp Tacos

We have a lot going on this month, a million reasons to celebrate including Easter and a birthday. I am excited about the return of The Supper Club (themed dinner parties) and the return of backyard bocce. Which, of course, means I need the perfect playlist. Getting on that…. I will need it as I swap out everyone’s winter wardrobe for spring.

Speaking of… I am pulling out all of my colorful skirts, linen, and statement pieces. I have been living in my Old Navy Oversized Denim Shirt and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. I cannot wait to wear this seashell necklace with some white linen pants, a white button-down, and a slim gold belt. My Anthropologie Jelly Flats finally arrived after being on backorder- and may I say, they are even more stunning in person. They are making my 5 year old self extremely happy and I am hoping they do not give the same blisters as the Jellies of olden days.

Wishing you the most magical, springiest April possible, filled with color, delicious treats, and fresh flowers:)

I have tried dozens of methods to meal plan for my family of 9. Apps, planners, weekly planning, daily planning, and eventually MONTHLY meal planning has been the right fit. It has allowed for flexibility, budgeting, and consistency.

How I do it…

Google Sheets has worked best for me. I create a month-long Sheet that looks like this:

Why it works: I can easily add recipes I want to try and copy/paste them into the monthly meals. It allows me to make notes for myself, change things around as-needed, and see the “big picture.” Meaning, it allows me to see if I have too much of the same type of dinner planned.

I like to make a running list of meals and I am a big fan of seasonal eating. Keeping a list allows me to easily figure out “what sounds good” and choose meals based on what is on sale at the grocery store. It also allows me to balance trying new recipes with sticking to the family favorites.

Grocery Shopping

I plan one very large monthly trip where I stock up on the basics and specialty items needed for the month’s recipes. We still end up going to the grocery store weekly, but these trips are far less overwhelming. I purchase produce and dairy weekly. I will also watch for meat sales and pick those up whenever they pop up. I have found that if I have my pantry stocked based on what recipes I will be making that month, it is much easier to follow-through with the plan.

Meal Prep

I typically prep our other meals on the weekend (this works for my schedule). I get everything ready for breakfasts and lunches so that during the week, it is “easy.” Every week I prep/make the following:

• Breakfast sandwiches, savory scones, or burritos

• Hard-boiled eggs

• Prep “fast” meat options: shredded chicken, baked/grilled chicken, steak, salmon

• Cut veggies/fruit

• Bake bread or muffins

• Roast a large pan of veggies

• Seasonally: make a soup or a large salad

This has helped us the most. Having a good plan in place and ready-to-eat foods saves money and time during the week. Knocking the prep work out in a couple of hours has been the key to success for us. I will catch up on my shows, listen to a podcast, or chat with the kids while I cook and it doesn’t seem like a chore.

This is what works for us. There is still always a kid who is crying or upset about a meal. People still complain. But for the most part, this has streamlined everything. I print & post the week’s menu in the kitchen, which helps me stay accountable and has stopped the dreaded “what’s for dinner” question.

If you know me in real life, you know that I love cookbooks and Pinterest to find meals. Here are some of my “tried and true” favorites:

Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook- she knocks it out of the park 9/10 times and my kids LOVE her recipes. She has a blog as well, but I really love this cookbook and after checking it out of the library numerous times, finally bought a copy.

What's Gaby Cooking? Celebrity California chef Gaby Dalkin can do no wrong in my book. I own every single one of her cookbooks and use them constantly. Simple, healthy, delicious recipes that are easy! What's Gaby Cooking: Take It Easy, What's Gaby Cooking: Eat What You Want, and What's Gaby Cooking: Grilling All The Things

Jennifer Segal (Once Upon a Chef) is another one of my go-to chefs. I own both of her books and consistently get asked for the recipes I make from them. If you have had my Brown Butter Golden Graham Rice Krispies… they are a twist on hers. I make her cheesecake every Christmas, her quiches every Easter, and her Caesar dressing is one of my favorites. When we are hosting, these are the first cookbooks I reach for: Once Upon a Chef: 100 Tested, Perfected, and Family Approved Recipes and Once Upon a Chef: Weeknight/Weekend.

My other two staples are Joy of Cooking and America's Test Kitchen Cookbook.

My favorite cooking blogs are Iowa Girl Eats, Oh She Glows, Damn Delicious, and Sally's Baking Addiction

And no… Half Baked Harvest is not located anywhere in my Top 10. You know my feelings.

I am putting my professional hat back on for a hot minute… bringing to you my top makeup/skincare picks this spring. You all know how much I love trying new products and helping women look amazing (while staying in a reasonable budget).

Let’s chat about SKINCARE.

Hey you. Gal over 40… these are for you. My over 40 clients know there is no amount of makeup that will help aging skin. It is all about skincare. You have to give your skin a little more love than you used to. And that doesn’t mean buying all the expensive creams, lotions, tonics, anti-aging gels. It means a common sense routine and constancy.

Moisturizer is your BFF. La Roche-Posay Triple Repair is the GOAT. I have tried hundreds of moisturizers and this is the Holy Grail of moisturizer. It is gentle and truly repairs the skin. I put it on before bed and will reapply a thin coat in the morning. Be sure to give yourself at least 30 minutes before applying any makeup, as it needs time to be absorbed. If you try to apply your makeup over it too soon, the makeup will slide around and look awful.

I prefer gentle foaming facewash over basically every other kind. I do not use any kind of anti-aging products (don’t get me started…). Washing your face, moisturizing, wearing an SPF is enough. Eating a clean diet, staying hydrated, and taking quality supplements will do far more for your skin than any product- don’t be fooled.

High Quality Collagen is a game changer. Stop the Botox. Stop buying a ton of products. This is all you need. As someone who has been taking collagen peptides for the better part of a decade… none have worked like this. I have 3 clients who have completely stopped getting Botox and are thrilled with these results. Hair thinning and loss? This is what you need to buy. There are so many options online and I have tried many- nothing works like this. For fastest results, I recommend you double dose the first month (two bottles)- you will see results within weeks. And you can feel good about the ingredients;)

Makeup Remover. Trust me on this one. Plant-Based Nourishing Makeup Remover is my new obsession. I have been a coconut oil gal for a long time- you won’t see using or recommending chemical-laden wipes or creams. And while I love coconut oil, this stuff works even better and doesn’t clog your pores.

But what about Makeup?

My latest obsessions…

Eyebrows. Want a perfect brow? These two products will do it for you. I have strangers stopping me on the street asking who I see for my eyebrows. You should see the jaws drop when I tell them it’s two cheap products. ELF EYEBROW LIFT and the EXPRESS BROW PENCIL. I also keep a stash of these DISPOSABLE WANDS to apply the Eyebrow Lift with- easy cleanup and the size is easier to manipulate.

Mascara. When I die, they better put Lancome MONSIEUR BIG on me. It is my #1 mascara of all time. And when I don’t feel like I want attention, I wear Benefit ROLLER LASH which is so pretty and natural. It is great for everyday wear. My clean mascara choice lately is Merit LASH LENGTHENING mascara.

Lips. Dry lips are awful and the LANEIGE LIP MASK is worth the viral hype. Beware, it is thick and scented. I like it but this is one you may want to see in person before buying if you don’t like fruity smelling products.

I am still always rocking a red lip. You guys ask me all the time about it and often say you can’t wear red. Rubbish. Everyone can wear red… you just need to find the right shade. If you have cool tones (like me), pick a red with blue undertones. Like my SIGNATURE RED. If you have warm tones, you need a warmer red like MAC RED ROCK.

My latest favorite foundations are NARS LIGHT REFLECTING foundation and JONES ROAD WHAT THE FOUNDATION. A note on WTFoundation… it is a hybrid skincare/makeup product. It is THICK, a thick whipped cream style foundation and there is a strong smell- it smells natural, organic. That being said, it is gorgeous, especially for aging skin, dry skin, or women who are dealing with cakey looking makeup. This was designed by Bobbi Brown who is one of the greatest makeup artists of all time.

I have a few products coming soon including Merit & Crunchi, which I am eager to try.

As always, I am available for virtual makeup consultations & product recommendations. CONTACT ME HERE for pricing & scheduling.

I am 100% not the most qualified person to write this… but seeing as I have been at this game for awhile and don’t like buying junk, I guess I am some street cred.

Baskets for Littles, Tweens, & Teens

We do not go hog wild with the Easter baskets for anyone, however, we do love to get a handful of meaningful items. I wish I had splurged on nice monogramed baskets, but I did not. And my kids get whatever basket fits their haul that year, so I lack a basket tradition. No one is complaining about it but me.

For babies, I have typically gotten a small stuffed animal (JellyCat is a favorite), a board book, and a small toy. Tried and True baby toys:

Pull String Toy

Rainmaker Rattle

Tissue Toy

The toddlers get a little more… here are some of my favorites:

Jesus is Here: My Lift-The-Flap Mass Book- the sweetest, though I don’t bring ANY toys or books to Mass (a topic for another day…) this is just a sweet book to own.

Rosary Popper- This thing is a genius and has allowed us to get through many a family rosary.

Sticker Stamp Book- I get asked how I can homeschool with littles or get work done… this is how. I love all of Melissa and Doug’s sticker sets and activity mats.

Magna-Tiles Micro Travel Pack- Magna Tiles are in our Top 3 favorite toys and this travel pack has been a huge hit.

Moon Torch Flashlight- Another huge hit in our house! Ages 5+ due to small parts.

Guess In 10 Junior- We own most of the Guess In 10 card games and this one has been wonderful for the younger kids.

TOOB Animals- We have yet to find a TOOB we don’t love in this house. These are great little toys that my kids play with over and over again. If you are a sensory bin family, these are a must have. If you aren’t a TOOB and some Magna Tiles are hours worth of playtime.

Yoto Mini- Our Yoto is also in the Top 3 in our house. My kids bring it everywhere. Every Easter and Christmas they receive new cards. THIS collection is a family favorite.

We always throw in some Annie's Bunny Fruit Snacks, Yum Earth Pops, and Peeps.

For the Bigs

Tween and teen boys are not easy to shop for. Here are some of the gifts we have given them that they actually love:

Reading Lamp- Everyone is our house has one and it is the gift that keeps on giving.

Logic Game- There are many great ones, but Rush Hour is supreme in our house.

Crazy Aaron's Thinking Putty - This magnetic one is a fan favorite.

THE Best Water Bottle - These are the GOAT.

Novelty Socks- My boys look forward to a pair of silly socks every year.

Multitool Pen- Another well-used gift has been this multipen.

Rechargeable Headlamp- Something every guy needs.

Saint Graphic Novels- All of my guys love this series.

MOST READ Faith-based Book -This has been read so many times it is time for a new copy. And THIS is a close second.

** This post contains affiliate links.

Congratulations! After hearing everyone’s comments & advice on your pregnancy, welcome to the real show: motherhood. People started giving me advice when I was pregnant with my first: Don’t use pacifiers, pacifiers are the best thing you will ever buy. I hope you are co-sleeping, I hope you’re using a crib because you could smother the baby if he sleeps with you. You’re breastfeeding right? The baby won’t form a bond, will be sick all the time, and formula is full of crap. You’re not going to breastfeed for long, right? It sucks and you will make yourself crazy. The list goes on and on and on.

And it isn’t going to stop. I like to think of pregnancy as a time not only to grow a baby, but a time to grow a thicker skin.

After 7 children, 6 miscarriages, I have almost heard it all. If you want to know my advice, read on. If not… close the window, no hard feelings, form your own opinions. I am sharing what I know to be true, what has helped me, what I wish I had known as a new mother. Take it, leave it, or take pieces of it….

#1. Let people help you. And that help is not someone else holding your baby. That help is with laundry, food, taking the dog for a walk, cleaning your house, getting you groceries. Everyone shows up and wants to hold the baby while you lay down or take a shower- which is great! But the real help is in taking care of you. It is really hard to let others do things that you feel are your job- I learned way too late to just accept the help and wish I had say yes far sooner.

#2. Breastfeeding is harder than anyone will ever tell you. I have exclusively breastfed 5/7 children. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done. Breast is absolutely best but so is a healthy baby and mama. The guilt that surrounds this topic is rarely given the attention it should- or at least in my circles. I had to supplement with my 6th baby when he was 8 months old and people were so awful about it. I felt dismissed, rejected, and overwhelmed by all of the comments I was receiving. When I had baby #7, he had a severe tongue tie and could not latch properly. Since it was not my first rodeo, I was able to work with him, but he needed a bottle to get enough milk. My supply never recovered, despite doing everything I possibly could. By the time he was 4 months, he was on formula. “You really should be getting donor milk.” “Aren’t you worried that he will have issues later in life?” “How could you give up on him?” This are real things people said to me. Words I cried over and replayed again and again. All this to say: breastfeeding is hard. Every baby is different. Trust your instincts and your baby. Breastfeeding is amazing and worth fighting for… truly, I would choose it over a bottle every single time. And yet, sometimes it just isn’t possible. And that is okay.

#3. Consistency. The greatest gift you can ever give yourself as a mother is to be consistent with your first child. Set the standard and tone you want for your home. You do not need to read every parenting book, article, or thread. Use your own common sense here. What kind of human do you want to raise? I recommend making a list of traits you want for your children as adults. Prioritize that list and from that you will have a standard. Creating that character starts sooner than you think. Consistency is something everyone fails at- and yet, to be successful it demands you never give up. Follow through with your word. It is hard work when they are little but far less work when they are teenagers and you will thank yourself. Trust me. Being consistent with my eldest set the tone for all of our other children. Do they still complain, bicker, and throw tantrums? You better believe it- but at least my house is clean, my kids have outstanding manners, and they are responsible kind people.

#4. Toilet training is the worst. I mean this. IT. IS. THE. WORST. I have no real advice other than brace yourself. I do not buy larger diapers for kids who should be in underwear… they can be uncomfortable in a too-small diaper. Also- if they poop their underwear, it is going in the trash in my house. Long gone are the days of cleaning that by hand… Target and Walmart underwear is less expensive than my time.

#5. Say “no” to more. I spent years driving myself slowly insane being a “yes” person. the 7pm dinner invitation? Yes, we will be there. The girls weekend away? “Of course I am coming.” The Christmas Day house hopping? “See you then!” All the while, I was running in circles trying to accommodate everyone else. I am not saying to decline every offer that is inconvenient or doesn’t work with your schedule. What I am saying, is to be discerning. 7pm dinner invitation? Maybe you swing by after the baby is asleep and have dessert, maybe you don’t go this time and invite them at 5pm the next weekend. Girls weekend away? Maybe you skip this year. Maybe you bring the baby. Christmas Day house hopping? Maybe this is the year you start your own traditions. Maybe you alternate the years you see family… maybe you embrace the chaos for a day. Only you can decide! But whatever you decide, know “no” is a perfectly reasonable answer.

This week:

Chicken and dumplings is a family favorite. And since we woke up to fresh snow Monday morning, it was a great meal for the day. I use an OLD recipe from Martha Stewart Living that has been around our house for the last 12 years.

Tuesday we celebrated Saint Patrick’s Day, which is always a fun one around our house. We love making a rainbow charcuterie and typically avoid boiled anything. For several years, we have been making Shepherd’s Pie and my family’s Irish soda bread recipe. Willing to share the soda bread recipe, just ask!

Easy Shepherd's Pie

Wednesday we tried a new meal, calzones. I made a Caesar salad to go along with it and confirmed we are, in fact, obsessed with the homemade dressing. Even my “non salad” kids enjoyed it. I am a HUGE fan of Jenn Segal- we love so many of her recipes. I highly recommend Once Upon a Chef and always get recipes requests when I share her meals.

THE Best Homemade Caesar Dressing

Easy Calzones

Thursday is typically leftover night, which is one of my favorite nights. We call it “low key dinner” and it is typically relaxed and helps me clean out the fridge before getting next week’s groceries. This is also the day of the week I finalize next week’s meals and make my grocery lists.

Friday in Lent… this week is pizza! We are known to always have a cheese Home Run Inn (or 5) on hand. Paper plates, fruit or a salad, and a break for me!

Saturday I am making more comfort food… meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and corn. While it is not my favorite, everyone else love it! I use my mother-in-law’s recipe. I still remember her sharing it with me while I was dating Tim. I was so excited to make it for him, knowing it was one of his favorites. I did not know it had to be a “loaf” and pressed the meat into an 8x8 glass Pyrex. It did not go well and I remember calling my mother-in-law from a closet crying, asking what I did wrong. Tim affectionately named that dish “meat swamp.” I am happy to share the REAL recipe… loaf shape is a must.

And finally, Sunday I am trying a new recipe. Another one of my favorites is Natasha’s Kitchen. I am excited to try her chicken scampi recipe. I will be adding some crusty garlic bread and likely more Caesar salad. Will report back!

Chicken Scampi from Natasha's Kitchen