Relationships Archives - Busy Moms Helper

American Girl Doll: Bringing Sisters Together

March 9, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

Thank you American Girl for sponsoring our special visit to your Dallas location! #CharacterCounts #AGDallas

As many of you know, we adopted one of my girls last year – it’s been a whirlwind, that’s for sure, but has been wonderful completing our family. One thing that’s been a bit challenging is for my two girls to really bond. They’re only about 9 months apart, but having not grown up together or even known each other for that long, the whole sister thing is a work in progress. Remembering how special it was to bond with my best friend growing up with American Girl Doll, I thought it’d be perfect for bringing sisters together – and the results were everything I hoped!

Songbird (my new daughter) has told us before that she did have an American Girl doll before she came to us, but sadly it was lost quite some time ago. So many things she had when younger are no longer here, and it seemed that doll was truly missed. Black Widow (my other daughter) has always asked for a doll of her own, getting all bright eyed when we’d go to one of their stores just to look around.

A bit ago we had a ‘girl date’ with just the two of them and me, and we went to the Galleria Dallas mall – first browsing around, grabbing a treat, and letting them look through clothes. The plan was to then go ‘window shop’ at the American Girl Doll store, but when we got there I surprised them by letting them know they’d each get to pick out their own, special doll. They were THRILLED, to say the least! Black Widow was about to cry, she was so excited 🙂

When my friend, Val, and I were about my daughters’ ages, we loved playing with our American Girl Dolls – I had Samantha and she had Josefina. We would have fun switching their outfits, doing their hair in various styles, and not only enjoying their individual stories but also combining them a bit to create a new world. My thought was, if that was a good way to bond with my friend, why couldn’t it do the same for my girls?

Since there’s a LOT more options than when I was younger, one of their awesome staff, Tiffany, was extremely helpful with showing us all the different dolls, telling us their stories, and showing us around the store – including the fun cafe and salon upstairs! Just the browsing and learning starting making connections for the girls – what they both liked, the excitement in seeing the accessories and clothes, and just spending that quality time over a shared interest.

After considering their many beautiful and fun choices – and coming close to selecting the Girl of the Year (Luciana Vega, who’s brilliant and aspires to be an astronaut) or Tenney Grant (a talented musician) – the both finally decided that their own Truly Me doll.

Here’s what was really special – they both picked one that looked similar to them, and just like my girls, the dolls may not be exactly the same, but definitely look like sisters. It was such a fun connection for them to make, celebrating their differences but also appreciating their similarities!

Once we got home with their new special friends, they both had a great time dressing their dolls, brushing their hair, and even sharing with each other the different outfits the picked out. I’ll admit, they don’t often play well together yet – but that day was amazing and started growing not only a FRIENDSHIP between my girls, but growing that sisterly bond. It made my mommy heart so grateful and happy!

They’ve since been talking about going in on different outfits, play sets or accessories together for their dolls, so I know that it’s truly been a great way to bring them closer together. They also want to save up to visit the American Girl Doll salon and cafe one time as another ‘girl date’, which will be yet another opportunity for them to make happy memories together as sisters. I love it!

If you or your child had/has an American Girl, which one is it?

Ideas for Affordable Date Nights

February 1, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

We received a vehicle to try out for the week, but all opinions are ours alone.

It’s happened so many times during my marriage – we *finally* get a night without the kiddos, but the budget just isn’t large enough to something big or fancy. Not that we mind, because we can still have an incredible time together. If you’re not sure what to do for wallet-friendly adult time, these great Ideas for Affordable Date Nights should help. After all, spending time with your special someone doesn’t have to cost a fortune, and you can spend nothing while still having adventures and making memories together!

Check for Local Deals

Restaurants, movie theaters, local entertainment venues – they often have deals or specials that can save you some money. While the 20% off may not save much, sometimes you can find the Buy 1 Get 1 Free promotion at a great place for dinner or other activity. If you get the Valpak, Weekly Newspaper Ads, or just check online at the venue you’re interested in going to, be sure to check for savings.

Squeeze in ‘Mini’ Dates

You can still do a ‘date’ without spending enough time for a full meal or movie. Sometimes it can save you tons to just do a 30-minute trip to get drinks or frozen yogurt together! Hubby and I sometimes do this right after school drop off in the morning – driving nearby to grab drinks (enjoying the heated seats in the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport during the cold months, plus the smooth ride for our drinks!) and listening to music WE want to hear for a change. It doesn’t take long, doesn’t require a babysitter or extra planning – it’s just a short chunk between morning drop off and heading to work that we can spend some time.

Don’t Go the ‘Normal’ Times

It’s definitely more convenient for the majority of people to go on their dates in the evenings and weekends. If you’re able, try to fit in a lunch on a weekday instead. Maybe take a shorter lunch at work one day so you can go longer the next with your significant other. This way, meals are often less expensive, wait times are shorter, you avoid most crowds – and if all your kids are in school, you skip the cost of a sitter. This goes along really well with our first idea of searching for deals – many more options are available at the less popular times. This also works great to catch an early matinee instead of a full-price evening movie. As an added bonus – usually less traffic!

Bring Your Date From Home

You can still ‘go out’ without paying for restaurant foods or entertainment. Whip up something tasty at home and bring it along for a picnic, or pack a comfy and large blanket to snuggle in the back seat while reading a book together. A hike is another fun activity – plus exercise, so I guess there’s that bonus. Heck, you could even pull up a movie on Netflix on your phone if you wanted to!

Enjoy a Nice Ride, Music & Conversation

One of the very first dates hubby and I had, I went to meet him late at night when he got off work at a local restaurant. Not many places were still open, so we drove to a park and sat in the car listening to fun music and comedians, and enjoying some great conversation. It’s one of my favorite dates, actually!

We still do this occasionally, like recently when we got to use the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport for a week. The sound system was AMAZING, and we loved the ability to hook up our phones via bluetooth so we could turn on OUR music. It was plenty roomy for snuggles, and had USB plugs for when the battery on our phones got low. It was also neat having a moon/sun roof – a feature which the kids especially loved when they got to ride in it!

Make Running Errands a Couple’s Chore

I know, doing your grocery shopping for date night doesn’t sound especially amazing – but it can still be quality time together AND you’re saving money by saving time. While you’re at it, pick out a special dinner, dessert and/or drink to share later when you get home, so then it’s even like a double date! Plus, when hubby goes to the store with me, he appreciates me more because he realizes how hard I work to fit shopping into my schedule AND to keep our budget costs down. And don’t forget to take out the car seats ahead of time if you’ll be picking up a LOT of things – like us picking up several bags of salt for our home water filter.

Luckily, the Mitsubishi Outlander had plenty of trunk space – plus a cover so you can’t see that there’s stuff inside when you close the trunk (so we didn’t have to unload it right away)!

Service Projects

This is one on my list for when our lives aren’t QUITE so hectic – volunteering at our local animal shelter together! It’s fun times and memories, plus you’re doing good service for others. Go rake someones leaves, serve food at a homeless shelter, or put together kits to send to troops or those in need. A date doesn’t HAVE to be focused solely on you two, it can be you two also doing good for others.

Hit the Gym

If you go to the gym – or want to start – make it a good time TOGETHER. You can help support and encourage each other, plus maybe have a few laughs at your honey in aerobics class or you attempting a new piece of equipment in the weight room. Friendly competition doesn’t hurt, either.

Have a Date Night ‘In’

This happens the most for us – we just can’t afford/find a sitter, so we get the kids to bed then have a date night at home. We aim to do this at least 1-2 times a week, because it’s quality time together that doesn’t have to cost a single penny extra! We enjoy watching shows together, playing video games, even doing some housework while chatting. What matters is having that time with your special someone, to strengthen your friendship and love together and keep the memories alive.

Babysitter Swap

By the way, an AMAZING way to save money on dates is to take turns with other parents (who you trust, obviously). One night you take your kids AND theirs while they go out, then swap another night. It’s really great if you can get 3-4 (depending on how many kids that would entail) so you rotate more with less of YOUR turns, and then you can even double date!

What’s YOUR favorite affordable date night?

Hubby Date Night Gift Basket with Free Printable

December 11, 2017 by Danielle 2 Comments

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. Product was provided by the client for review; however, all opinions are mine alone. #WorldsSmartestToothbrush #PhilipsSonicare #OprahsFavoriteThings #CollectiveBias

I don’t know about you, but I love choosing gifts for my family and friends, but have to admit that there’s a few that are always difficult to buy for – and often it’s the men! Since it can often be the best idea to give activities or experiences, I thought it’d be fun to make a Hubby Date Night Gift Basket – with Free Printable, of course. With this, you can include plenty of neat gifts into a creative basket, plus YOU get a date out of it, as well! You’re welcome 🙂

Click the little tag in the image below for easy shopping & to nab your own Philips® Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9300 Rechargeable Toothbrush!

When choosing what to include in your date night gift basket, keep in mind things that not only would be useful during your date – like a blanket, sparkling cider, gift card to a restaurant or movie passes, but also things to help your significant other get ready for your special night. I put some new shave stuff in for my hubby, knowing how he likes to have a clean shave before we get to go out (and he knows I love it, too!). He’s also really careful with his oral care, so I was thrilled to give him the Philips® Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9300 Rechargeable Toothbrush. The Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9500 Rechargeable Toothbrush was named one of Oprah’s Favorite things in 2017, so I was sure this one would be perfect, as well! I love seeing the items she includes each year, and know this will be a great gift for anyone on your holiday shopping list. You can even nab it off Amazon, so no need to go to the store!

I got my first Philips Sonicare for Mother’s Day a couple years ago, so have learned that they’re a great brand that I trust to follow there’s saying ‘There’s Always a Way to Make Life Better’. I can see why it’d be included on this year’s list, because the Philips Sonicare DiamondClean has 4 modes plus 3 intensities to let you focus on each aspect of your oral health, with the premium brush heads giving you exceptional results. We all have different needs, right? With this, the sensors and app help you perfect YOUR technique, giving you a complete clean. The Sonicare app even gives you real-time feedback and personalized coaching – that alone can be the perfect holiday gift!

Other ideas could be their favorite candies, a new shirt to wear on the date, a favorite cologne, or maybe a CD with music from when you started dating. There’s so many different things you could do, so feel free to customize it to your significant other – just like Philips Sonicare DiamondClean helps you customize your oral health care!

After you’ve decided on the gifts you’ll include in your date night gift basket, be sure to get a box, basket, or container that will FIT it nicely. I did a smaller basket inside a larger one to add some dimension – I’ve always been a fan of attractive gifting and wrapping!

Next, download and print off your Date Night Gift Basket Tag HERE

Don’t forget to sign your name at the bottom! For some extra fine, you can even write a sweet, thoughtful or funny message on the back of it! Sorry, not sharing a photo of my message to hubby 😉 Then get a ribbon and attach the tag to your date night gift basket.

That’s all it takes, and you’ve got SEVERAL gifts for your honey – plus the promise of a date night for you BOTH!

If you want to wrap it all up as a surprise under the tree, you could also do colored tissue paper inside cellophane wrap around it – making it one big, carefully wrapped gift to sit there and tease your hubby as to what’s inside! I didn’t wait until Christmas for ours, but love the idea of wrapping it up like that so he has no clue what it is. Oh – and don’t forget to line up a babysitter, if needed, so there’s no obstacles in your way for a wonderful date night this holiday!

Give the gift of superior sonic technology and even treat yourself to a great date night!

Learn more from Philips Sonicare on their Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram or even Youtube!

Bring your Family Closer with 23andMe DNA Kit

November 30, 2017 by Danielle Leave a Comment

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com on behalf of 23andMe. All opinions are mine alone. #23andMeGifting

I absolutely love the holidays – the food, the music, the lights and decor, but especially the family time and memories. This year is even more special for us because it’s the first Christmas our new sweet daughter is here with us as ‘officially’ ours. She first came to our home just days before Christmas last year, so it was still new, and everyone was still nervous and shy and getting to know each other. She didn’t share our name, didn’t know any of our traditions, and wasn’t sure if it would really ‘last’. This year, that’s all changed – she’s as much a part of the family as any of our children, is legally ours even in name, and knows she’s not going to be taken away. We can really enjoy the holiday together, making new memories together! She does still wonder sometimes at having different DNA than all of us, so I thought I would bring the family closer with the 23andMe DNA Kit.

I want to have hubby and I tested, as well as her, so we can show her things that we have in common. Things in our DNA that are the SAME, despite her being born to different parents. Of all the gifts this season, this is the one I’m the most excited about! At 23and Me, they really believe that your genetic information has the power to bring you closer to the ones you love. I agree, wholeheartedly!

So how does it work, you may be asking? Well, 23andM3 offers two Personal Genetic Services for you to choose from:

Ancestry Service
Health + Ancestry Service
- This service provides insights on your genetic ancestry, health, traits and more. Information extracted from your DNA is analyzed, compiled and distilled into 75+ reports that you can access online, and even share with family and friends.

There’s no need to worry, because it’s also SUPER simple and quick on your part!

It just takes 3 Simple Steps

Order your 23andMe DNA kit
Follow the instructions to spit into the tube and register your sample. Then mail it back to their lab in the prepaid package.
In 6-8 weeks, they’ll send you an email to let you know your reports are ready in your online account.

That’s all it takes, and I’m so eager to see what information we find out! This is one holiday gift that’s truly personal, and will give us the opportunity to learn more about what makes us unique, but also help us form a deeper connection with our family.

What’s also great is that 23andMe has special holiday offers now through December 26th, so visit their site to check out offers and get kits for yourself or your family today!

Follow 23and Me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram for more!

What’s YOUR Meaning of Life?

November 13, 2017 by Danielle Leave a Comment

I’m being compensated for this sponsored post as part of the Mom It Forward Influencer Network. All opinions are mine alone. #MeaningOfLife

This probably gives away my age, but who else remembers when Kelly Clarkson won American Idol clear back in 2002? I still remember her song ‘Because of You’ playing, and her so emotional and crying with such joy that she could barely sing after hearing her triumph. I’ve enjoyed her songs ever since, and now my daughters love listening to them with me as well. One thing I appreciate about much of her music is that her songs have a meaning, and in her new album ‘Meaning of Life’, there’s a couple that particularly stand out to me – maybe because of where my life is at right now, or maybe because it was written and presented so well in the music. Whatever the reason, today I wanted to ask you – What’s YOUR Meaning of Life?

As moms, I think our first response would often be ‘our family’. It makes total sense, since practically everything we do is for them. Now, don’t get me wrong that I think this is a WONDERFUL answer, but as I got thinking about it, I think there needs to be MORE to the answer. What about making yourself the best person you can be, and be happy? I think mixing family and that, and you’ve got what I personally believe the meaning of life is. To be happy, to continually work to becoming the best person I can, and my family. That, to me, is my meaning for life. Some days I may feel like the only meaning to my life is dishes or laundry, but you get the idea 🙂 Each of us may have a different answer, none of them wrong or better than others, but each special to us and our own lives.

Along those lines, one of Kelly’s new songs really sticks out to me – ‘Move You’. I listened to this several times in a row, really taking in the lyrics and enjoying the beautiful melody. First off, you can find and listen to it HERE so you know what I’m talking about. As the song goes on, as she’s giving examples of things that really do move people – “Like the thrill of Christmas morning”, “Like a soldier who is falling as he holds his country’s flag”, “Like a sunrise on a mountain” or (very fitting for this discussion) “When a lyric really gets you and it breaks you down inside” – think about times you may have experienced these different things, the emotions you had.

From small things (like a sunrise) to things so big we can’t begin to measure their impact (like the soldier), there’s so much in life to move us – and like Kelly says, I want to move you, too. Maybe not you individually (thought that would be great, too!) but I want to make an impact, and mostly in my own home for my family.

I want to move my children to be good people, want to move my husband by words and acts of love, and want to move those around me with service. I want to be a difference in the world, despite all the hate and anger and bad that seems to be filling it, I want to fill it with love. That’s what this song means to me, what the lyrics make me think and feel. That I want to move the world towards good and towards love and towards kindness and service to each other. To me, THAT is the meaning of life.

Going in a little different direction now, have you heard her new song “Love So Soft“? I’d heard this on the radio a bit with my girls, and not only loved the fun beat and tune to it, but was curious what my girls would think of this song. Lately, it seems like a LOT of songs on the radio are about heart break or sex or rough relationships. I asked my girls what they thought of the song, and they said they liked dancing and ‘rocking out’ to it. When I asked them what they thought it meant, their response was a pleasant surprise – ‘that love should be nice and not mean’. They’re 11, so this hit me hard and made me realize just how much they’re exposed to – because if this song helps them see love in a good, truly loving light, how many other things are making them not see it that way?

I agreed with them, and am grateful that Kelly’s sharing a song that – while not discussing directly loving kindly or gently – does convey that message through lines like “You gotta be careful with it” and especially “Will you protect me, respect me if I let you close?” We NEED more songs that make respect and loving protection the norm! This is part of what can help the world be better, in my opinion.

You can listen to Kelly’s new album here to enjoy not only these couple amazing songs, but the entire album! Now that I’ve shared with you my thoughts on two of Kelly’s new songs, I want to know…

What’s YOUR Meaning of Life?

5 Reasons Moms Need Their Own Hobby

June 30, 2017 by Danielle 4 Comments

As moms, it’s kind of our natural instinct to put our families first – but with so many demands on our time and energy, there’s not much left to focus on ourselves. While it’s perfectly great to serve your family well, it’s super important that you aren’t neglecting your own needs along the way – and one way to make sure your own happiness is being taken care of is to take up a hobby. Not sure? Here’s 5 Reasons Moms Need Their Own Hobby.

As a mom, you wear many hats. You’re probably very busy as it is with all the things you have to do to take care of your kids. That said, it’s important you have your own hobbies. While you might feel like your life revolves around your children and what they need, there will come a time when they will move on with their lives as adults and you don’t want to feel lonely and empty, which leads us into our reasons that moms need their own hobby.

1. It can help prevent depression – A hobby can help fill out the negative space in your mind and give you something constructive to do. It also gives you something positive to look forward to, reducing depression.

2. It relieves stress – Having a hobby is a great way to reduce your stress and tension in your life. It’s a way to unwind after all of your mom duties.

3. It helps you grow as a person – When you participate in your own hobbies, it helps you grow as a person. This will help you be a better mom, too.

4. It helps you meet mom friends – It’s important that moms have a good support system and people they can hang out with when the children aren’t around. Having your own hobbies will help you make more mom friends.

5. It prevents empty nest syndrome – When all of your kids are grown and moved out, you need something to keep you busy. It’s important to have your own hobbies and activities to fall back on.

With these ideas in mind, are you ready to start your own hobbies or expand upon the ones you already have? Maybe you’ve given up your hobbies after becoming a mom and now it’s time to get back to them.

What hobby will you pick?

Valentine’s Day Gift Basket: Guess the Gift

February 2, 2017 by Danielle

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MyTuesdayValentine #CollectiveBias

I’m a big fan of gift baskets, especially for the holidays. For Valentine’s this year, I wanted to take it up a notch and make a game of it, so hubby doesn’t just get awesome gifts, but a fun activity together. Here’s how you can make your own Valentine’s Day Gift Basket: Guess the Gift game, then enjoy gifting it to a special someone!

Hubby’s really use to getting gift baskets – like the Superhero one we did for Father’s Day one year. This year, he’s got a whole different type of surprise – I’m making him guess what each gift in the basket is before opening them! And here’s the fun – things aren’t quite as they appear 😉 To start off, make sure you have all your gifts and wrapping/basket supplies together. I always grab some American Greetings tissue paper, gift wrap and stickers to make the gift look festive. And call me crazy, but I usually grab a couple of American Greetings cards to give hubby – there’s so many that are just perfect, in different ways, that I can’t choose!

This Valentine’s Day, I selected THREE cards to give him – a romantic, sweet one, a more playful one, and then a pop-up one because, guys, it’s a POP-UP! This year is extra special, as our 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY is right before Valentine’s Day. Yup, I’ve been married to this amazing man for 10 years, and he’s still my best friend & fellow partner in crime. After all he does for me, I want to show him how much I love him, and that he means more to me every year we spend together!

Now that you’ve got the perfect gifts and supplies, here’s where the fun comes in – find a variety of shapes and sizes of containers. Get creative – use things like pieces from a lunch box…

…..or empty chocolate box. Put things inside that wouldn’t normally be in that shape or size of package, making it more challenging for the recipient to guess what their gift is.

Since I love giving ‘date night’, I stuck money in a bunch of these packages – but I doubt he’ll ever guess this ‘boxed chocolates’ shaped box is a $5 bill!

For larger or awkward items, use your imagination. To give him this fun mug, I tied a bunch of socks around it first. It looks and feels JUST like a package of socks!

My favorite is that gift in the basket to the right…

…it may LOOK like a bottle of sparkling cider, but it’s really a new t-shirt! Here’s how to wrap it up….

The trick is just making sure the top is thinner than the long bottom – just like a bottle. After all this creative wrapping, you’ve got everything you need for a Valentine’s Day Gift Basket that will leave them guessing!

If you want, you can download and print off some fabulously festive printables from American Greetings, like this cute mobile/desktop wallpaper calendar that I printed off for my daughter’s locker, or the shopping list complete with tear-off ‘love notes’, or even the 8×10 Valentine’s Day frame-worthy quote to add a little decor to your home. And don’t forget the February calendar!

Since my folks will be visiting soon, I found an American Greetings card for my kiddos’ to give them – it’s the perfect combo of sweet, thoughtful and fun. It even comes with a magnet they can stick on their fridge to think of their grandkids!

And if you need some ideas for what to write in a Valentine’s Day Card, American Greetings has a great post here, so check it out. Be sure to check them out on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest – as well as their own blog!

Merry Christmas from Busy Mom’s Helper

December 24, 2015 by Danielle

We wanted to take this chance to say Merry Christmas, from Busy Mom’s Helper! We love and appreciate every one of you who help our family by supporting this blog. We have big plans for the 2016 year, and can’t wait to share with all of you!

We’re taking some extra time this week to spend with the most important people in our lives – our family! We hope you don’t mind a few less recipes, crafts, and tutorials for the next week. We also hope that YOU are having a wonderful, memorable holiday and are surrounded by those you love!

BUT – check back soon because we’ve not only got more AMAZING posts filled with creativity and fun to share with you, but also a SITE REDESIGN!!! Woot woot!

XOXOXOXO

The Busy Mom’s Helper Family

Disneyland Just for Kids? Think Again!

December 11, 2015 by Nikki Cole

Is Disneyland just for kids? You may have heard that all around, but think again!

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Is Disneyland just a vacation spot to take kids? My husband and I had the great opportunity of visiting Disneyland and California Adventures in October and we think it was the best vacation we have taken in the four years of being married. So think again if you think Disneyland is just for kids.

We absolutely loved this vacation because there was so much we could do but also nothing we had to do. The rides we went on, the treats, shows, characters all of it was exciting and fun and brought us closer as a couple while we enjoyed each other’s company through the parks.

What can you do there that is so amazing?

Rides (uh duh!)
Hidden Mickeys
Pressed Pennies
Food
Characters
Parades
World of color
Fireworks
Mad hatter’s Tea Party

Some rides may not be as enjoyable if you are prone to motion sickness like the Californian Screamin’.It is a very fast paced and intense roller coaster with many drops and a big loop-de-loop that gives you and upside down view of Paradise Pier. If you like more mellow rides try Peter Pan, Splash Mountain, Snow White, or Pirates of the Caribbean. One of my personal favorites is Toy Story’s Midway Mania which is a 3-D style arcade shooter game breaking plates and popping balloons. My husband and I have competitions on Midway Mania to see who will win and the winner either picks the next ride or the loser has to buy treats. Yes I ended up losing quite a few of the games but it was worth the fun we had together. If you’re looking for some tips or pointers to make your trip more enjoyable try getting fast passes for rides with long lines, download mouse waits or the Disneyland app to check wait times and hit the ones with shorter wait times. No fast pass and you really want to go on it? Find some games on your phone to play together or get a hidden mickey book.

Hidden Mickeys are all over both of the parks! In several stores there is a book you can get that goes through all of the hidden Mickey’s throughout the parks. Some are difficult to spot and some are so easy you’ll wonder why you didn’t see it before. This is great while you’re waiting in line. Check the book and get ready to see the Mickey’s in the lines and on the rides. The book isn’t very expensive and we found that it was less expensive in the park rather than online at Amazon or Ebay.

Another fun activity to do is trying to collect the parks souvenir pressed pennies. I included the paper that my husband and I followed showed us where they were all located. While we looked for the machines, we went into shops and locations that we never knew existed. At several of the shops there were souvenir books to keep all your pressed coins nice and neat. It was about $9 and again don’t buy it online were we found them for $30! So don’t waste your money and just wait until you get to the park.

Food! Ok who doesn’t love food? Well for those of you that aren’t rich (like us) here are some tips on not breaking the bank on food. First, bring a bag with a water bottle that you can keep filling at water fountains throughout the day. Second, don’t be afraid of leaving the park to get food. Just outside of Disneyland in a very short walking distance there are several restaurants that will fill you up and not empty your wallet. We ate at Denny’s multiple times during our stay. We loved how we could sit down, relax in a cool place on a hot day and order some really great food and not stress about the bill. The service we got there was great and we ended up eating just two main meals and little snacks in between rides that we took into the park ourselves.

Now that I said leave the park for food, there are a few things that are worth the little extra money because the memories you and your partner will get from them are priceless. Turkey legs! Yes I am serious, a huge turkey leg. Now these are a little expensive so we shared one together, trust me they’re massive and one can easily feed two people. So grab one, get a bench and attempt to eat somewhat politely a turkey leg. My husband and I were a mess after but it was so fun eating it, oh and don’t use a fork, have some fun just eating it without utensils.

Churros are another great treat you should get at least once. We stayed late in the parks several of the nights we were there, a Churro made a perfect late night snack. Another fun treat to get right before the night time shows are ice cream sundaes. There are several ice cream stores that offer a variety of Disney themed novelties. My favorite was a Mickey Mouse shaped sundae that we got at one of the several carts throughout the parks.

Character dining is a great way to meet Disney’s beloved characters instead of waiting in often long lines to meet your favorite characters. This provides great entertainment and great food for all meals of the day. Both Story tellers Café and Goofy’s Kitchen offer a buffet and a meet-n-greet where the characters walk around and come say hi.

The nightly entertainment with parades, shows, firework are often crowed but are they worth it? Absolutely! I love my husband so much and us being there and watching incredible shows was magical. The Paint the night parade followed by the Disneyland Forever fireworks was my absolute favorite thing we did. By far the best parade and fireworks we have ever seen. The fireworks were breathtaking over the incredible castle and made for a perfect night to spend with my best friend.

World of Color is also another very cool show that had images projected on water, with fire, music, and lots color. The light up Mickey Mouse ears actually sync with the show to give it a little more added color. The Mad T Party was another show that involved a live band, dancers, and performers the played a variety of well-known songs.

Disneyland is one of my favorite places to go and all the memories and amazing times we had was magical and will live with us forever. So grab your partner and head to Disneyland because it’s not just for kids it is for anyone and everyone of all ages.

Head over to Get Away Today and reserve your magical vacation for just $125! Use Promo Code: BMHDisney for $10 off your package!

Christmas Memory Gift Box with Free Printables

December 2, 2015 by Danielle

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SendHallmark #CollectiveBias

You know how the holidays bring back so many simple-yet-wonderful memories? Mine include shopping at Hallmark – growing up my mom, sisters and I loved browsing their items, especially during the holidays when their special items came out! We may or may not have returned with more bags than the men were happy with 😉 Since we’ve moved away from all of our family now – as in states away – we try to make the holidays extra special. This year we’re sending a Christmas Memory Gift Box with Free Printables!

We knew we wanted to include a Hallmark greeting card to add some cheer this holiday season with the perfect one. But guess what? We couldn’t decide, so we’re including TWO in our memory box! We also grabbed some supplies for the rest of our memory box while at Walmart…..they’ve got all you need!

We also found the perfect Hallmark greeting card for my in-laws….Star Wars seems to be a common love in our families! My family’s getting the sweet Family Christmas card with a sincere note inside from us, as well as the Wookie singing a holiday song! Can’t wait until my Dad opens that – they better record his reaction. My in-laws will love the dramatic music that plays when they open the other Star Wars card.

Don’t forget to crab some Hallmark Ornaments while you’re shopping – there’s even 16 Walmart exclusives, resign figures, new deco figurines and more! You’re bound to find something that will help with the whole ‘memory’ thing. For us, we couldn’t resist Olaf because my family is all big into Disney, and of course a Yoda – partially for Disney, part for Star Wars that I grew up watching often with my Dad, and part because I was ‘Yoda ears’ growing up. Ya, lots of memories there!

Click here to save $1.00 off of a two Hallmark Greeting Card purchase at Walmart, minimum $1.00 purchase required. Take advantage of the savings and #SendHallmark this holiday season!

Remember, the main thing to look for when choosing what gift items to include is that it’s a MEMORY box – what’s important to your family/loved one? What will spark fun memories and stories of you together?

Supplies

Box that fits it all
Tissue paper
Wrapping paper/bow
Hallmark Greeting Card(s) of choice
Hallmark Ornament(s) of choice
Printable tags – either in Color or Black/White (to color yourself)
Money/Candy Bar and Free Printable Candy Bar Wrappers (or Money wrappers)
Other fun gifts/items to spark memories (photos, etc.)

Assemble your Memory Box

Line your box with tissue paper – it makes it look much nicer!
Add your items:
1. Have fun with each ornament – wrap them in cheap red fabric and tie with a bow for a cute little ‘gift bag’.
2. Don’t forget to include photos and notes – get them remembering all the Christmas’ past!
3. Include fun things like Fingerprint Snowmen, and candy bars with the Free Printable Wrappers.
If you’re using the plain black-and-white tags, don’t forget to color them. Or for more fun, include some coloring supplies in your gift so the recipient can enjoy coloring them!
Add everything neatly to your box, wrap it up (Hallmark has fun & elegant wrapping papers, too!), then deliver or ship it!

Printable Tags

Let’s Build a Snowman – Only in Plain B&W
Christmas Memory Box – Colored or Plain B&W
Candy Bar/Money Wrappers – Only in Color

Don’t miss out on more fabulous holiday card ideas – and leave a comment letting me know which ornament you can’t wait to get this year!

More gift ideas…

Memories with Portrait Innovations

November 27, 2015 by Danielle

This post is sponsored by Portrait Innovations. All opinions are mine alone.

Guys, I love decorating with photos! Really, I dream of a gallery wall up my stairs, over my fireplace, in the bedrooms, all of it. Not every each – but tasteful and beautiful. My family is my biggest blessing, and I love looking at photographs we’ve taken through the years – how they’ve grown, the funny moments as well as the sad. That’s what life is all about! That all being said, I dread getting family photos taken. What outfits should we wear? Don’t yawn, don’t blink, don’t hit your brother! It’s often a huge stress – but this month I captured AMAZING Memories with Portrait Innovations, and can’t wait to display them all over my home!

Look at those images – they’re BEAUTIFUL! And check out the eyes on Thor – he NEVER looks at cameras. As in, NEVER! I have maybe a handful of images the past few years where he’s looking AT the camera, instead of up, down, to the side, or turning his head all-together. Our photographer at Portrait Innovations, Rayven, was amazing and he looked in 99% of the shots!

We all had a great time – they made it fun for the kids so they were excited to follow instructions and lasted through the different background changes and such. I should point out – they allow an outfit change, but I completely forgot our second outfit set at home. Oh well, at least we wore my favorite!

Not only did we get plenty of pictures for decorating the walls of our new house – but they have some great gift options, too. I had a hard time choosing which holiday cards I wanted out of all the choices, but finally decided on this pretty and festive one…

Of course I had to get some gifts for the grandparents! This mini-photo books made it so I didn’t have to choose just two or three pictures to send, and the Grandma’s have a cute little book to easily carry in their purse!

We’ll definitely be going back to Portrait Innovations for our family photos, and I won’t stress nearly as much as in the past! You can easily schedule your appointment at a studio near you HERE!

Why I Left My Husband

January 27, 2015 by Danielle

Yes, it’s true, I up and left my hubby, kids and dogs this month….for an entire week! Although some friends have asked how I could be so selfish, I want to explain Why I Left My Husband, and You Should, Too! It could make your relationship, and yourself, better than ever!

I find it also ironic that I’m sharing this post on our 8th Wedding Anniversary! Before everyone gets all crazy and relatives start calling my phone non-stop, let me explain. Just before New Year’s I found out that I had a chance to attend Click Caribbean Retreat from January 10th-17th. It was a great opportunity to better my photography and blog, make connections with other bloggers, as well as enjoy some ‘me time’ on a Royal Caribbean cruise for the whole week!

At first, I brought it up with Hubby as a part of normal conversation about something interesting, not really serious about it. He, on the other hand, was all for me ditching the family to attend! The more we talked about it that night, the more I understood his point of view – I’m a stay-at-home mom. Honestly, my personality isn’t made for that, and it’s tough, but I am because it’s what we think is best for our family. It’s a huge challenge, and he knows it takes a toll on me. Between being a wife and mother, plus working on my blog full-time, life has gotten so stressful, and I finally realized I was burnt out. I didn’t FEEL like myself anymore, just like a person who needed to focus on everyone else 24/7. So I left all these cuties….

….and about half-way through the trip I felt completely different! So here’s my Top 5 Reasons that it’s good to have a little time for yourself!

#1: Learn to Make Friends

Hubby and I are best friends, and honestly don’t socialize much beyond each other. So attending an event, for an entire week, without him really forced me out of my comfort zone! After the first few days, I realized that I relied heavily on him, but now I was making friends and connections all on my own. I was the one starting conversations with new people, asking questions during classes, and even feeling confident enough to go on my own instead of with a large group two of the days!

#2: Build Your Own Confidence

Self-confidence is something I’ve struggled with my whole life. This time away from my ‘security person’ was a huge changer for me, though! I was noticing myself improve in my photography skills, realized people WANTED to talk with me, and felt proud in the progress I was making not only for my blog, but for me as an individual.

#3: Recharge and Renew

Motherhood is exhausting! Raising the kids, playing, cleaning, plus add on all the work of managing my business and it was just SO MUCH! This time away gave me some much needed recharging time (I won’t say ‘rest’ because, honestly, we didn’t sleep much!). I spent time getting MYSELF ready each day, instead of being too busy focusing on the kids’ clothes and me sticking with the usual yoga pants. I took time to read for fun, went dancing with the gals, explored the ship for the heck of it, and did what I wanted to do. This was ‘me’ time, and it was long overdo!

#4: Let Your Mind Explore

Women tend to have a lot on their mind, constantly. Toss in all our roles like parenting, church stuff, neighborhood happenings, work, household agenda and menus….our brains to really have room to just wander much. When I didn’t have to focus on all my normal family and home duties, I was able to really think about some things that I just flat out didn’t have the time for before. Because of this, I’ve got some MAJOR ideas that I’m super excited about in the coming year or two!

#5: Stronger Relationships with Your Family

When the week was over, and I made it home, everything was wonderful. The kids were still perfectly fine, the house hadn’t burned down, and they were just as excited to tell me about THEIR week as I was to tell them about MINE! While I was away having a whole new experience, Hubby and the kids were having their own little ‘adventure’ here without me, helping them grow in other ways to something out of the norm. Since I’m in a better position mentally and emotionally, I’m more fun to be around. Hubby loves how excited I am about my ideas I got while away, and we’re closer than ever because I truly feel like ME again!

My relationship with Hubby wasn’t the only one that got better! My kids have noticed I feel more energized because of my renewed love of life and my goals. Having that time away made me appreciate each of them more, and they seem to recognize my service in their lives, also.

Overall, the Click Caribbean Retreat was AMAZING for so many reasons like the people, classes and the cruise itself (more to come on all those later!), but the absolute most amazing part of it was MY OWN personal growth and re-energizing! We get so caught up with our roles for OTHERS, we forget about OURSELVES. This quote is the PERFECT way to describe it….

Happy Anniversary to the most amazing, wonderful husband and best friend ever! I love you so much!

Stay Tuned for More Click Caribbean Retreat Recaps, Coming Soon!