Easy Fall Mantel Decor (Even if You Don’t Have a Mantel!)

September 25, 2015September 26, 2015 - Mama 1 Comment

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

Looking for the perfect fall decor ideas? See inspiring fall mantels on pinterest but don't know how to recreate them at home? Here are some tips-- even if you don't have a mantel of your own! This uses floating shelves, but you can use these tips for any mantel or shelving this fall! #LoveAmericanHome #ad

Okay, so I have to admit, I’ve had a lot of Pinterest Envy (Pinvy???) when it comes to mantel decorating. It seems like everyone has this gorgeous mantel that they update with the seasons, and I had just about had it. I was about ready to just quit Pinterest so I could stop feeling so desperate for a mantel space when I realized… hey! I have shelving that I could decorate just as easily! So, whether you have a mantel or not, I want to give you a few tips on the best fall decorating ideas for that space– from back to school to Halloween to Thanksgiving, I’ve got an idea that will transition throughout the fall, without a lot of crazy effort.

Monster Mash Pudding Shots

September 23, 2015January 13, 2017 - Mama 15 Comments

Looking for a last minute Halloween Party treat that doesn't require any cooking at all? Try this delicious Monster Mash pudding shot-- it's perfect for Halloween and doesn't take much effort at all to impress! Perfect for entertaining when life is way too busy to cook.

You know what’s great? An impressive dessert that wows pretty much everyone at your party… without any cooking at all. That’s what’s so perfect about these Monster Mash Pudding Shots… they’re so pretty, so spooky, and perfect for your Halloween party, without any actual effort. I promise– if you can use a spoon, you can make these awesome treats for your Halloween bash!

Pulled Pork Bacon Bombs with Farmland

September 21, 2015January 13, 2017 - Mama 23 Comments

This post has been sponsored by Farmland. All opinions are mine alone. Go Chiefs!

Can you believe it’s football season already? Now, I’ve been sharing some of my favorite tailgating recipes this fall, and trust me, this one is one you’ll want to add to the line up. When you’re cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs (or any of the other teams out there, but who’s paying attention to those, anyway? Ha!), you’ll love these Sweet Stuffed Pepper Bacon Bombs, but I also want to share a few of my favorite tailgating recipes from the Farmland Bacon Club, and tell you all about a really awesome sweepstakes from Farmland and the KC Chiefs that I know you’ll want to enter!

Top 10 Kansas City Fall Activities (For Families)

September 18, 2015September 17, 2015 - Mama 1 Comment

Looking for something awesome to do this fall in Kansas City? Here's the full list of the top 10 best things to do in Kansas City during the fall if you have a family or children! These are all family friendly and oh-so-fun, so start tackling your Fall Bucket List now!

It is no secret that I absolutely love Kansas City. Everything about living here is so great– it seems like the best of all worlds with it’s small town feel and big city thrill, the fantastic weather (we are so lucky to experience all four seasons, including this beautiful fall weather that we’ve already gotten a taste of this year)… just everything. So whether you’re from here, or you’re just visiting this fall, there is plenty to do if you have a family– from animals to pumpkins and everything in between, this list has you covered with all of the coolest things to do in KC this fall– both on specific weekends and all autumn long. It’s your ultimate Kansas City Fall Bucket List!

MARVELous Superhero Lunch Ideas

September 16, 2015January 13, 2017 - Mama 2 Comments

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

I’ve been a MARVEL fan for as long as I can remember. Iron Man, Captain America, Black Widow… I love them all. And as MARVEL fever has hit just about everyone, it has only made my passion for the characters and powerful themes even stronger. And, because I know it can be SO hard to think of great lunches now that it’s time for back-to-school, I came up with a few fun MARVEL themed lunch ideas that will help keep your rotation of delicious lunches fun and exciting for your children. I started by picking 3 superheroes I really love– the Hulk, Captain America, and Spiderman.

Why I Realized an End-of-Life Plan is Perfect (At Any Age!)

September 15, 2015September 17, 2015 - Mama Leave a comment

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

So, today, I want to share a little bit about how I made my decision to get life insurance and why I made sure to have a plan in place in case the worst happened, and it’s something that is really important to me, so I hope you’ll keep reading to see why it is on my heart so much right now. I’ve also shared some great resources from Protective Insurance that help you choose what life insurance may be the right fit for you.

Have you planned for the worst? Even though it's scary and sad to think about losing a loved one-- or even passing away yourself-- it's important to have a plan in place in case the worst happens. Do you have a will? Life insurance? A plan? You should-- even if you're young. #iamprotective #ad

We were at a stoplight, going to the store. It was a normal day, a little cloudy, but not raining or anything. And all of a sudden, I heard a screech of tires. I glanced in my rear-view mirror, but there was nothing I could do. I tensed up as a car… hit a car… hit a car… hit me. A random, freak, four car chain reaction that could have been so much worse than it was. I was in a little pain, and while Zach’s 5 point harness car seat protected him, we both saw the doctor anyway. And then, as I met with her, she started asking me questions… “have you thought about a living will? An end of life directive?” As I stared, a little bit in shock (I was only 26, why did I need these things?!) she said “It might be something to think about. Medical plans, a will, maybe some life insurance.”

Pulled Pork Pasta Salad

September 14, 2015January 13, 2017 - Mama 1 Comment

Tailgating season is upon us. Here in Kansas City, that means barbecue season. I mean, a Chiefs game, a Sporting KC game, they’re just not the same without some delicious shredded pork, drizzled with Kansas City style barbecue sauce, and slapped on a bun… thinking about the fall, tailgating season, pulled pork… it makes my mouth water! So when it comes to making the perfect side dish in KC, well, it needs to pair well with barbecue. This pasta salad works because not only does it pair well with barbecue, but it contains delicious, slow cooked pulled pork right there in the recipe. Now, I can’t tell you that this pulled pork pasta salad is a miracle or a lifesaver, but I can tell you that every member of my family went back for a 4th helping, so… well, you do the math.

5 (More) Ways to Pray for Your Community

September 11, 2015September 11, 2015 - Mama Leave a comment

Moms, I get it. A lot of us painstakingly search for that perfect community for our kids to grow up in, and we’re so careful to find the right fit for our children; we want them to have a successful, happy, carefree life, and that starts with a happy, carefree childhood. Some of us don’t have a say in the community we live in, but still want it to be the best possible place to raise our children into kind, compassionate, God-fearing adults. That’s why a little over a year ago, I shared a post about 5 ways to pray for your community, because I know we all want to remember our community in prayer as our children go. But now, I’d really like to share 5 more ways you can raise your community up in prayer.

Mushroom Noodle Bake

September 9, 2015January 13, 2017 - Mama 3 Comments

Ever have those nights where you have the perfect main dish planned out, but can't think of a side to go with it? This easy mushroom noodle bake is the perfect side dish for pretty much any meat, or can be served on it's own for a delightful vegetarian casserole. Plus, since it's only got 5 ingredients, it's a great option for throwing together-- fast!

I love a good side dish. You know, those sides that can take an average dinner of chicken breasts thrown on the George Foreman from good to, well, great. I like a side dish that is hearty, that helps stretch a meal (because come on, guys, you have to eat more than just meat, right?) and, most importantly, takes very little time, effort, and crazy ingredients to make. Luckily, this mushroom noodle bake has only 5 ingredients, takes just a few minutes to throw together before popping it in the oven, and pairs well with literally any meat dish. And hey, if you’re not a carnivore, it actually makes a pretty great vegetarian casserole option, too!

How to Expand your Picky Eater’s Food Horizons (Without Tears)!

September 7, 2015September 7, 2015 - Mama Leave a comment

It seems like every family has a picky eater. For us, the worst part is a picky eater like my brother, who changes his preferences every few months (he hated onions, now he loves them; he loved spaghetti, and now he hates it, for example). It seems like there’s no rhyme or reason to what a lot of kids don’t like, and it starts to make me think that all kids are walking around with a little Disgust from Inside Out in their brains, hoping to prevent them from being poisoned, physically and socially. But here’s the deal… broccoli won’t kill them… but there ARE ways to make sure picky eaters are branching out while still getting the nutrition they need.

Mama Plus One

Making Life Easy So You Can Get Back to What Matters Most