Things I Didn't Realize Were Anxiety Until I Had a Child

When I became a mom, I expected to learn a lot about my daughter. I didn't expect to learn so much about myself. Like many parents, I find myself watching my daughter navigate the world and thinking, "Oh. You got that from me." Sometimes it's the fun stuff. Her sense of humor. Her cr…

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I Thought Being a Good Employee Meant Giving Everything. Then I Became a Mom.

I think the transition into motherhood is one of the biggest identity shifts we experience, and nobody really prepares you for how disorienting it can be. Before I became a mom, I worked for a small, locally owned financial institution. They took a lot of pride in being a small-town business where e…

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I’m pretty sure the common cold hits adults harder than it hits children.

I have no scientific evidence to back this up. I have no peer-reviewed studies. I have nothing except my own personal experience and the fact that I currently feel like I have been hit by a bus. I have a cold. My child, who I am almost positive is the person who lovingly gifted me this cold, seems to…

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A Little Life Update + My Favorite Lazy Mom Meal

I'm sorry I've been a little quiet around here. Last weekend was a whirlwind between celebrating my birthday and throwing my daughter's birthday party. It was such a fun weekend, but if you're a parent, you know the feeling of needing a vacation after all the celebrating. Also lately,…

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What Our First Disney World Trip Actually Cost (And What I'd Do Differently)

My husband and I are professional dreamers. We're always talking about places we want to see, vacations we should take, or experiences we want our daughter to have. The problem is our bank account doesn't always agree with our ideas. A few years ago we signed up for an American Express Gold c…

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Why we celebrate "Birthday Month"

If you have a summer birthday, you know. July is vacation season. Family reunion season. BBQ season. Every weekend seems to belong to someone else's plans. And if you're a parent of a summer birthday kid? You know how hard it can be. My daughter loves birthdays. She loves parties. She loves de…

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What this blog is not

This isn't a blog written by a perfect mom. It's also not written by a crunchy mom, a Pinterest mom, a minimalist mom, a luxury mom, or a camping expert.

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The First Night in Our New-to-Us Camper (and a Reminder That My Little Girl Isn't So Little Anymore)

Every September, our local state park hosts a Harvest Festival. If you're local, you probably know exactly what I'm talking about. Kids dress up in their Halloween costumes and go campsite to campsite trick-or-treating. What started as a campground event has grown into something much bigger. …

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I Finally Became a Reader (Just Not the Way I Expected)

I'm going to admit something that has always felt a little embarrassing to me. I've always wanted to be a reader. You know the kind of person I'm talking about. The woman who curls up with a book and a cup of coffee on a quiet Saturday morning. The person who always has a novel in her bag…

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The Myth of the Put-Together Mom (and Other Lies I Tell Myself at 6:43 AM)

There is a version of me that exists in my head at night. She meal prepped on Sunday. She laid out outfits for the week. She is hydrated, rested, emotionally regulated, and somehow has matching socks for everyone in the house. And then there is 6:43 AM me. She is standing in the kitchen, mentally deci…

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What's In My 6-Year-Old Dancer's Practice Bag?

Well, it's been a little while since I have written here. Life looks a little different these days, but I am excited to start sharing again.  When my daughter first started dance, I assumed all she needed was her dance shoes and a water bottle. I was wrong. After a few years of forgotten hair ties…

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