Moments of Musing

One America

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This post is sponsored but all opinions are my own. 

I can not believe this is the last week of June. Or that next week is the 4th of July. It’s a day of celebration and to honor our country—a country founded upon life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

The United States is a country that upholds the ideals of equality and justice for all. It is these things that I will tell my kids about when they ask about our country. We have come a long way but we still have a ways to go because our country isn’t perfect. 
It’s important we remember history and learn from it. It’s important we embrace our differences and continue flourishing in diversity. Most of all, it’s important we look out for one another and remember to be good and kind. After all, we are one nation. 
Those are all things I’ll tell the boys when they’re older. Right now, they’re too little to comprehend it all but this patriotic educational book is a great way to get the conversation started about the United States and its history. One Flag, One America (the story of the American star) by Michelle Hirstius gives kids a quick and simple American history lesson about the flag. Best of all, 10% of proceeds are donated to Veterans. It is available for sale on Amazon and Etsy. 

Social Media Summer Thoughts

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This post is sponsored by Pink Blush but all opinions are my own. 

This past weekend we went on a mini family getaway to the Jersey Shore. I got to sleep in, do brunch, go shopping, AND take a nap. Plus, we didn’t have to spend any days away while my husband had training since we were together. (I also breastfed in a restaurant without flashing any waitstaff, as I had done last week so that’s a win.) 

While shopping was nice, I enjoy the convenience of receiving my online orders from Pink Blush, like this super comfy top. 

It all made me realize how precious family and our time together is — parking lot toddler meltdown while I was baby wearing his newborn brother included. I never want to take ANY moment together for granted. 


So, in an effort to be more consciously present with my family this summer (and always), I am setting times for reading/responding to emails, content creation, engagement + campaign applications… both to maximize my time and to feel less guilt about being on my dang iPhone too much. 

<<Over and out.>>

Have a great and safe MDW! 

The Mom I Want to be

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This post is sponsored by Things Remembered by all opinions are mine. 

Every so often, I reflect on what my mothering style is. I ask myself what i am doing that I want to continue (showing my love), what I would like to practice more of (patience and presence) and what I would like to do less of (putting pressure of myself to be closer to “perfect”).

I also ask myself who—which mom in my life— I would like to be more (or less) like. The answer is easy: My mom. I’d like to be the kind of mom she is. Understanding, compassionate, loving and selfless but also strong and steadfast in her beliefs and ways. Sure, we have disagreements and differing attitudes but if there’s anyone who knows how to be a mom, it’s her. Still to this day, she will iron for us, do our laundry, clean our homes and cook for us if it means helping us out. Simply put, she is always there for us. 

This Mother’s Day, I hope she knows how loved she is by her children and grandchildren. To show her just how much, I’m giving her a few presents from Things Remembered. Things Remembered is the perfect way to showcase your love for your mom this holiday because you can personalize your presents to reflect just how you feel.

If you’re at a loss as to what to gift your mom and other special moms in your our life, here are a few gift ideas from Things Remembered: 


















Hurry! If you order by May 9, you can get in time for Mother’s Day— but you can always buy in the store for a quicker turnover. Also, the 30% Sale ends today at midnight so don’t wait!

8 Spring Cleaning Tips

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This post is sponsored by Premier Surfaces in Buffalo, NY.

With highs in the 70’s today and tomorrow, it feels like Spring is FINALLY in the air, thank goodness! I don’t know about you but the one thing I love to do when the weather becomes warmer is go through a huge deep clean within my house. The room I always need to tackle is my kitchen. It’s the heart of our home but most importantly, it’s the place where so many germs and clutter occurs without me even thinking.

Today I’ll be sharing a few tips and tricks on how to get your kitchen ready for spring, one dirty dish and dust rag at a time:

1. Begin With An Empty Sink– Personally, dirty dishes are yack in my house! Let’s tackle it together! Either put your dirty dishes in the dishwasher, or hand wash them and put them away. By getting rid of that awful thing you hate first, everything will be a bit easier to manage!

2. Get Rid of Clutter and Trash- If there is one thing I hate it’s so many items that I never use anymore or worse, gross and smelly trash everywhere. Put items that belong in other rooms into a box or bag and set it aside. Put items that you’re wanting to donate in a different box or bag. Use a third bag to gather up all the trash and put it outside. Phew! Now doesn’t that look so much better!

3. Let The Light Shine In – Remove all your old curtains and take them into the laundry room for a good washing. Yes that’s right! Those get dusty and even moldy! A good clean wash will always keep them looking their best and you get a bit of natural light while you continue to tackle the kitchen!

4. Clean Cupboards And Drawers- Working one at a time, remove everything and clean the interior. Put expired spices and unwanted gadgets into a trash bag or a donation bag as you work. Once you’ve finished cleaning the inside of the cupboards and drawers, move on to cleaning the exterior including the handles! Be sure to get the hinges as greasy dust collects there too!

Image: Premier Surfaces New York

5. Give Your Countertops A Good Wash – Remove everything from your countertops. I use a warm soapy water and microfiber cloth to give it a good wash because my counter tops are from one of my favorite stores, Premier Surfaces in Buffalo, NY. They offer friendly customer service, amazing variety of various countertops to choose from and easy installation to get the dream kitchen and counters you deserve! Sometimes if my countertops have a big or stubborn food spills, I’m able to use a bit of baking soda and water to get rid of it. Supre easy and durable, it’s the only store I will go too to keep my kitchen looking it’s best!

6. Tackle That Trash Can– Emptying the trash is simple so go ahead and get rid of all that waste by bringing it to a bin outside! Wash the trash can with warm soapy water and rinse it thoroughly. Let the trash can air dry in the sun if possible- the sun helps to deodorize and disinfect it!

7. Clean Out Your Oven And Clean The Refrigerator – Leave the windows in the kitchen open to avoid the overpowering smell that sometimes can happen. Don’t forget to vacuum the coils of your unplugged refrigerator. This is a great time to also sweep and mop under it to if you can find someone to help you move it out. Be careful of scratching your floor but it’ll be worth it getting that dirt and grime out!

8. Sort Through Freezer and Fridge – Throw out any expired food, mostly empty containers ( super guilty of this ) and items that you bought and never used. Put the stuff to keep on the counter. Take out the shelf and drawers and begin carefully washing the glass. Wipe down the entire inside of your fridge and freezer before replacing the shelves and food.  Don’t forget to wipe down and clean the oven according to the directions on the oven cleaner.


Some other tips to cleaning your kitchen? Make sure to gather all your supplies first. Reward yourself by ordering in for dinner! Close the newly cleaned kitchen at least until breakfast the next morning. I always put music on, an audio book or a foreign language tape to get keep my motivation up. This really helps to pass the time a bit more quickly and have a more enjoyable experience.

Enjoy your spring cleaning, friends!

Babies “R” Us Registry is No More… Now What?

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This post is sponsored by MyRegistry.com but all opinions are my own.

When I first heard the news about Toys “R” Us closing, I was heartbroken. I was a total Toys “R” Us kid growing up! I was also worried because that meant Babies “R” Us was shutting down too, along with its coveted baby registry, and a lot of expectant mamas would be scrambling to find a registry alternative.
When I was a first-time mom, Babies “R” Us was my go-to when it was time to create a baby registry. From baby gear and essentials, to adorable baby clothes and toys, they really were the ultimate one-stop baby shop. And you couldn’t beat their perks, like 10% registry rewards, either. My husband and I got hundreds of dollars back due the rewards and were able to get a bunch of baby items, including a crib with the money!
If you grew up with Toys “R” Us like I did, you probably also assumed that they’d be around once you got pregnant. Now that its baby registry is no longer an option, where should you register?
MyRegistry.com has been a savior for those new moms that had their registries shut down. As a universal gift registry service, they’ve been helping former Babies “R” Us registrants transfer their gift list to a MyRegistry.com account and find exact replacements or similar products at other stores—sometimes at even better prices!
They are even working with manufacturers like Graco to be able to offer their members products in colors and patterns that were once exclusive to Babies “R” Us, which is a huge relief for us pickier moms!
Here are some more reasons why I think MyRegistry.com is the perfect alternative to Babies “R” Us:
You can add gifts from literally anywhere
Their browser button (like the Pinterest button) allows you to add any product from any website to your registry. That means you can shop around and get exactly what you want at the best price. If you’re in an actual store, rather than online, their mobile app turns your smartphone into a barcode scanner for an old-school registry experience.
You still get to take advantage of rewards
Retailers have tons of benefits to entice you to create a registry with them. In fact, the Endless Earnings program is what made the Babies “R” Us registry so popular. MyRegistry.com is partnered with popular retailers like Amazon, Target, Pottery Barn Kids, and more, so you can sync your store registries to your universal gift list. This way, you get ALL the store perks while managing your registries in one place. 
Not just for baby registries
One of the things I like most about MyRegistry.com is that it’s not just for baby registries—you can create a wedding registry too. You can also create wish lists for birthdays, holidays, housewarmings, or just because, and it’s all accessible on the same account. Can you say super convenient? 

So head on over and check it out!