CategorySmall Talk

10 Trader Joe’s Stock the Freezer Recipes For $60

Family meal time is our favorite time of the day. And, thanks to our Trader Joe’s freezer stash we always have the makings of a homemade meal on hand. Cooking dinner for our family has always been a top priority for me. In our early days of marriage I spent tons of time researching and prepping elaborate meals. Once our little guy came along, I simplified the meals and used naptime to prep dinner. Now that our schedule is busier […]

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8 Ways to Lighten the Laundry Load

laundry tips

Of course summer means sunshine, pool days, extra outdoor playtime and heat – but this is the first year I’ve realized it also means SO MUCH MORE LAUNDRY! Between morning walks, speech therapy, swim lessons, afternoon playtime, jammies and unforeseen wardrobe changes, we’re going through 3-4 outfits a day. I’ve never enjoyed laundry, but I’ve recently realized some new habits that have made it not so unbearable.  Here are 8 ways to lighten the laundry load and get you back […]

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Beach Travel with a Baby

The season of beach vacations has arrived! While baby’s first (and second, third and fourth) trip to the beach is a memorable occasion, there are still a few areas where vacation can be more of a nightmare. No matter where you’re traveling, these baby travel gear items are our favorites for keeping kiddos happy and on-schedule on-the-go. This post contains affiliate links. Phil & Ted’s Travel Crib Pack-n-Plays were a no-go for our little guy. He’s a very active sleeper […]

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Tips for Flying with Infants & Toddlers

Summer is on the horizon which means one thing in my mind – VACATION! Traveling with an infant or toddler can be stressful, but it can also be fun. With several easy trips under out belt and a few where everything went awry, I’m sharing 10 Tips for Flying with Infants and Toddlers. 1. Pack light Little ones require a lot of gear – especially when you travel – so saying to “pack light” sounds like an oxymoron. But, taking […]

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Big Lessons from Little Books

kids book review

You learn a lot of things when you become a mom. How to change diapers, how to burp a baby, how to wrangle an toddler, how to coerce said toddler into a carseat, the list goes on. You also discover a lot of skills you never knew you had. Like who knew, my husband was an expert at getting a toddler to enjoy brushing his teeth? I discovered that I have an absolutely incredible memory. Ok, maybe that’s an exaggeration […]

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Finding My Why: The Heart Behind Charleston Homemaker

I am writing this from our kitchen table. The tumble of laundry serenades me in the background along with inter-mitten beeps from the baby monitor that is looking over Emery while he naps. It’s a typical morning. As soon as he goes down to nap, I try to check off as many to-do’s from my list as possible. This morning includes a daunting to-do: Push past the doubts to explain the heart behind Charleston Homemaker and why I’m crafting this […]

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