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Travel

Wilderness At The Smokies: Your Next Family Vacation Getaway!

November 25, 2019 in Travel
Wilderness at the Smokies aracade and indoor rock climbing Our family was given a two nights complimentary stay at Wilderness at the Smokies in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are 100% our own.  You’ve probably read a ton of blog and travel reviews of Wilderness at the Smokies, so you know already what an amazing place it is! Keep reading to find…
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Wilderness at the Smokies aracade and indoor rock climbing

Wilderness At The Smokies: Your Next Family Vacation Getaway!

in Travel

Our family was given a two nights complimentary stay at Wilderness at the Smokies in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are 100% our own.  You’ve probably read a ton of blog and travel reviews of Wilderness at the Smokies, so you know...

VIEW the POST

Ice Skating in the Smoky Mountains: Why You Should Go & How To Prepare Your Children

November 21, 2019 in Travel

We have always encouraged our kids to step out of their comfort zone. While it’s not always easy, we have only ever asked that they give something a try at least once, before completely writing it off. Whether it is an instrument, hobby, sport,...

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Dealing with Overnight Flight Delays with Children

November 9, 2019 in Travel

After being caught in the American Airlines debacle a few weeks ago at the Charlotte airport, I decided to write about our experience. For some, getting caught in an airport delay can be a nightmare. Especially when you’re on a time crunch. Lucky for...

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La Hacienda Atlanta: Great Food and Fun for the Whole Family

November 3, 2019 in Family & Life, Restaurant Explorers, Travel

During a recent work trip to Atlanta, we stopped by a restaurant we just so happened to pass while looking around. La Hacienda in Atlanta is definitely going to be one of our go-to places when we return later this month. If you have...

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Great Fall South Carolina Hikes For You and Your Dog

November 1, 2019 in #DiscoverSC, South Carolina Travel

Fall is here and boy am I happy! With the unbearable heat of the summer is was nearly impossible to get out and do anything fun towards the end.Now it’s time to turn on our weekend warrior sign and get going with these great...

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Reconnecting As A Family With A Tech-Free Weekend Getaway

October 15, 2019 in Travel

An unplugged weekend getaway was just what the doctor ordered for my family. Since school has started back, we have once again been on our daily grind of hustling and bustling to and from everywhere starting at 5 am and going as late as...

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The Varsity Atlanta

October 11, 2019 in Restaurant Explorers, Travel

The Varsity is one of Atlanta’s most popular spots. This is one of our favorite places, every time we go you can always bet that we will stop here.  The Varsity is a downtown Atlanta institution and The World’s Largest Drive-in Restaurant. The decor...

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Why You Owe Yourself At Least One Childfree Vacation

October 7, 2019 in Adventures At Disney, Motherhood, Self-Care, Travel

I have said it before, and I will say it again: Motherhood is not about making yourself a martyr. We are still individuals outside of the tiny humans that we helped create and bring into this world.  So often I see women wearing the...

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South Carolina State Fair

October 4, 2019 in #DiscoverSC, South Carolina Travel

ne of the main reasons I love October (besides our birthdays) is because of the State Fair. I’ve loved going since I was a kid, and I always love taking my children whenever I get the chance. I’m not going to lie, it’s gotten...

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Natasha Brown is a mom of four and head sock finder in her home. Grits & Grace was started as a way to meet other southern moms who love everything from their smock dresses and Lily Pulitzer to sweet tea. Let's connect!

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Instagram

Instagram post 2197516168725821056_4152450831 #ad Do you make giving back a family affair? You can make giving a family affair for your children by including them in the process of deciding how your family can give back during the holidays. It’s also important that kids know why they are doing it and not just going through the motions. Young children may not fully understand, but they will understand that they are helping (and at a young age they always want to be helpful as much as possible). One way we decided to give this holiday season was by supporting the @theuso.

The USO’s mission is to strengthen service members by keeping them connected to family, home and country, throughout their service to the nation.  During the holidays, hundreds of thousands of service members will remain on duty, away from home; this means they are missing precious moments and favorite traditions.

In the spirit of wanting to connect service memebers and their families during the holidays, the USO asks all military supporters to join in as a Force Behind the Forces®. The USO Wishbook helps to deliver care packages that provide comforts of home, prepare warm meals, bring entertainment tours to troops to boost morale and provide technology that enables connections to family and friends. For more information and to find out how, head over to the blog. Link is in my bio! .
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#cameramama #raisingthefuture #documentyourdays #motherly #instamama #momlifestyle #mytinytribe #motherhoodintheraw #mumswhostyle #littlemomentsofhappiness #ohmamamoment #mommystatus #mommaandme #momdotme #mommylifestyle #mommydiaries #momlove
 #bloggermom #mommymode #momliferocks #vsco_mom #ohheymama #toddlerhood #momblog #momswhoblog #wondermom #momsoninstagram #momlyfe
Instagram post 2196590435619930932_4152450831 I solemnly swear I’m up to no good..always 🧙‍♀️🏾🔮✨ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
What plans do you have for the weekend? It’s Wednesday and I’m lookin forward to being able to relax. Tonight I’m trying out @barre3columbia for the first time, so that should be very interesting 😅 Lord help this out of shape body of mine 😩🤣
Instagram post 2196036808068237333_4152450831 #ad Having friends over for a gathering is what the holidays are all about for us! We love celebrating with the ones we love and being able to have them celebrate and show our love is what keeps us going! My husband loves making Swedish Meatballs using Campbell’s® Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup. @Campbell’s is the real ingredient families like ours count on to warm up the moment, whether we are enjoying a cozy night with soup or creating a family favorite recipe! #joynightin #campbells Get the recipe here: http://bit.ly/2Pfvemu
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#foodies #forkyeah #homemade #homecook #foodblog #foodgram #f52grams #buzzfeast #thekitchn #lifeandthyme #vscofood #heresmyfood #yahoofood #huffposttaste #food52
#foodandwine
Instagram post 2194548841638189362_4152450831 I love having people over during the holidays as much as possible. (Ad)The last two months of the year allow us to really catch up with family and friends who are FINALLY able to get time off to visit. 
A plumbing disaster would be worst thing that could happen when company is over; but you know Murphy’s Law; whatever can happen will happen. 
Guess what? Last week sh*t happened, and was nothing short of embarassing! Because I want to save you the same embarrassment I had, I’ve partnered with Mr. Rooter to help ensure that you don’t encounter the same embarrassing plumbing mishap I did! Here are a few DIY plumbing tips to help you during the holidays:

Toilets: Make sure the bathroom is stocked with extra TP, soap, and a candle to eliminate unwanted smells. Make sure your guest know NOT TO flush baby wipes or other items that could clog it. If it does get clogged, make sure you use a quick repetitive motion and watch for water movement to indicate everything is all clear. To clean can mix 1 cup of baking soda with 15 drops of tea tree essential pol and 15 drops of lemon essential oil. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes, scrub then flush. 
What about grease! We all joke about the coffee can under or next to the sink. Well it’s there for a reason! Make sure you always pour fats, oils and grease into a grease holder after cooling off. Likewise, never let starchy foods go down the drain, because they can turn pasty and clog it-a sink strainer should be in place to help trap food and debris. 
What are some tips that you use to make sure your plumbing is in tip top shape during the holidays? #MrRooter
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#ABMatHome #MyHouseBeautiful #homeimprovement #diyideas #projectoftheday #pinterestwin
Instagram post 2193692324882421593_4152450831 Burnout is real. At some point we have all experienced it and have probably hated for even allowing ourselves to get to that point. I have been in a constant state of burnout for months and have had to force myself to change my mindset when it comes to my life. "The Year of No Nonsense" by Meredith Atwood. Start living your life for your self. “Exhausted and overworked lawyer, triathlete, wife, and mom Meredith Atwood decided one morning that she'd had it. She didn't take her kids to school. She didn't go to work. She didn't go to the gym. When she pulled herself out of bed hours later than she should have, she found a note from her husband next to two empty bottles of wine and a stack of unpaid bills: You need to get your sh*t together.” Reading this, it felt as if Atwood herself was standing over my shoulder reading my personal journal. She even addresses my biggest issue-time management. Let’s face it, while I (and you) probably will tell yourself there isn’t enough time in the day to get everything done, there really is. You just aren’t using what you have effectively, and neither was I. A month ago I made a commitment to essentially put my needs and wants first, and NOT feel guilty about it.  And much like Atwood started with identifying the nonsense in my life that was holding me back: saying "yes" too much, keeping frenemies around, and more. We are all guilty of it, but many of us don’t take the necessary steps to really cut out the noise. 
If you haven’t 2020 needs to be the year you do so. Thank you @BookSparks and @SwimBikeMom  for helping me get my 2020 off to a great start! .
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#bookstagram #bookstagrammer bookstagrammer #verilymoment #bookcommunity #readmorebooks #bookrecommendations #avidreader #bookalicious #bookflatlay #books📚 #bookishgirl #readingrainbow #librarylover #bookishfeatures #booknerdigans #idratherbereading
Instagram post 2193194824886476228_4152450831 #ad There’s no better way for my husband and me to start the holiday season than by getting our home ready for holiday cheer! The hustle and bustle of our everyday lives, long work hours and five kids have us wanting to have moments like this. We love to decorate our home, and we love anticipating the smiles on our kid’s faces when they walk in the door to see the house is officially ready for Christmas!
Do you know what else we are craving? We’re craving a Joy Night In! 
Campbell’s® Chicken Noodle Soup is just what we need to make this night even better! We can spend a guilt-free evening prepping the house, with a feel-good comforting meal! Another major plus for our evening? Aaryn loves @campbells Chicken Noodle Soup as well! Our Joy Night In just turned into one major parenting win! #joynightin #campbells http://bit.ly/34U9PG6

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Join the Newsletter

Instagram post 2197516168725821056_4152450831 #ad Do you make giving back a family affair? You can make giving a family affair for your children by including them in the process of deciding how your family can give back during the holidays. It’s also important that kids know why they are doing it and not just going through the motions. Young children may not fully understand, but they will understand that they are helping (and at a young age they always want to be helpful as much as possible). One way we decided to give this holiday season was by supporting the @theuso.

The USO’s mission is to strengthen service members by keeping them connected to family, home and country, throughout their service to the nation.  During the holidays, hundreds of thousands of service members will remain on duty, away from home; this means they are missing precious moments and favorite traditions.

In the spirit of wanting to connect service memebers and their families during the holidays, the USO asks all military supporters to join in as a Force Behind the Forces®. The USO Wishbook helps to deliver care packages that provide comforts of home, prepare warm meals, bring entertainment tours to troops to boost morale and provide technology that enables connections to family and friends. For more information and to find out how, head over to the blog. Link is in my bio! .
.
.
.
.

#cameramama #raisingthefuture #documentyourdays #motherly #instamama #momlifestyle #mytinytribe #motherhoodintheraw #mumswhostyle #littlemomentsofhappiness #ohmamamoment #mommystatus #mommaandme #momdotme #mommylifestyle #mommydiaries #momlove
 #bloggermom #mommymode #momliferocks #vsco_mom #ohheymama #toddlerhood #momblog #momswhoblog #wondermom #momsoninstagram #momlyfe
Instagram post 2196590435619930932_4152450831 I solemnly swear I’m up to no good..always 🧙‍♀️🏾🔮✨ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
What plans do you have for the weekend? It’s Wednesday and I’m lookin forward to being able to relax. Tonight I’m trying out @barre3columbia for the first time, so that should be very interesting 😅 Lord help this out of shape body of mine 😩🤣
Instagram post 2196036808068237333_4152450831 #ad Having friends over for a gathering is what the holidays are all about for us! We love celebrating with the ones we love and being able to have them celebrate and show our love is what keeps us going! My husband loves making Swedish Meatballs using Campbell’s® Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup. @Campbell’s is the real ingredient families like ours count on to warm up the moment, whether we are enjoying a cozy night with soup or creating a family favorite recipe! #joynightin #campbells Get the recipe here: http://bit.ly/2Pfvemu
.
.
.
.
.
.
#foodies #forkyeah #homemade #homecook #foodblog #foodgram #f52grams #buzzfeast #thekitchn #lifeandthyme #vscofood #heresmyfood #yahoofood #huffposttaste #food52
#foodandwine
Instagram post 2194548841638189362_4152450831 I love having people over during the holidays as much as possible. (Ad)The last two months of the year allow us to really catch up with family and friends who are FINALLY able to get time off to visit. 
A plumbing disaster would be worst thing that could happen when company is over; but you know Murphy’s Law; whatever can happen will happen. 
Guess what? Last week sh*t happened, and was nothing short of embarassing! Because I want to save you the same embarrassment I had, I’ve partnered with Mr. Rooter to help ensure that you don’t encounter the same embarrassing plumbing mishap I did! Here are a few DIY plumbing tips to help you during the holidays:

Toilets: Make sure the bathroom is stocked with extra TP, soap, and a candle to eliminate unwanted smells. Make sure your guest know NOT TO flush baby wipes or other items that could clog it. If it does get clogged, make sure you use a quick repetitive motion and watch for water movement to indicate everything is all clear. To clean can mix 1 cup of baking soda with 15 drops of tea tree essential pol and 15 drops of lemon essential oil. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes, scrub then flush. 
What about grease! We all joke about the coffee can under or next to the sink. Well it’s there for a reason! Make sure you always pour fats, oils and grease into a grease holder after cooling off. Likewise, never let starchy foods go down the drain, because they can turn pasty and clog it-a sink strainer should be in place to help trap food and debris. 
What are some tips that you use to make sure your plumbing is in tip top shape during the holidays? #MrRooter
.
.
.
.
#ABMatHome #MyHouseBeautiful #homeimprovement #diyideas #projectoftheday #pinterestwin
Instagram post 2193692324882421593_4152450831 Burnout is real. At some point we have all experienced it and have probably hated for even allowing ourselves to get to that point. I have been in a constant state of burnout for months and have had to force myself to change my mindset when it comes to my life. "The Year of No Nonsense" by Meredith Atwood. Start living your life for your self. “Exhausted and overworked lawyer, triathlete, wife, and mom Meredith Atwood decided one morning that she'd had it. She didn't take her kids to school. She didn't go to work. She didn't go to the gym. When she pulled herself out of bed hours later than she should have, she found a note from her husband next to two empty bottles of wine and a stack of unpaid bills: You need to get your sh*t together.” Reading this, it felt as if Atwood herself was standing over my shoulder reading my personal journal. She even addresses my biggest issue-time management. Let’s face it, while I (and you) probably will tell yourself there isn’t enough time in the day to get everything done, there really is. You just aren’t using what you have effectively, and neither was I. A month ago I made a commitment to essentially put my needs and wants first, and NOT feel guilty about it.  And much like Atwood started with identifying the nonsense in my life that was holding me back: saying "yes" too much, keeping frenemies around, and more. We are all guilty of it, but many of us don’t take the necessary steps to really cut out the noise. 
If you haven’t 2020 needs to be the year you do so. Thank you @BookSparks and @SwimBikeMom  for helping me get my 2020 off to a great start! .
.
.
.
.
.
#bookstagram #bookstagrammer bookstagrammer #verilymoment #bookcommunity #readmorebooks #bookrecommendations #avidreader #bookalicious #bookflatlay #books📚 #bookishgirl #readingrainbow #librarylover #bookishfeatures #booknerdigans #idratherbereading
Instagram post 2193194824886476228_4152450831 #ad There’s no better way for my husband and me to start the holiday season than by getting our home ready for holiday cheer! The hustle and bustle of our everyday lives, long work hours and five kids have us wanting to have moments like this. We love to decorate our home, and we love anticipating the smiles on our kid’s faces when they walk in the door to see the house is officially ready for Christmas!
Do you know what else we are craving? We’re craving a Joy Night In! 
Campbell’s® Chicken Noodle Soup is just what we need to make this night even better! We can spend a guilt-free evening prepping the house, with a feel-good comforting meal! Another major plus for our evening? Aaryn loves @campbells Chicken Noodle Soup as well! Our Joy Night In just turned into one major parenting win! #joynightin #campbells http://bit.ly/34U9PG6
Instagram post 2193054120649578714_4152450831 Toys are a rare commodity in our home. With five kids we are very intentional about the products that we buy. We try to limit the amount of plastic toys they receive and the amount of toys they get in general. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
We’ve always asked that when people buy them gifts, buy things they need, like tooth brushes, socks, underwear, clothes. Of course some people give me weird looks; However, I know what my children love to play with and it’s always been my thought that I don’t want anyone to waste money on something they won’t like. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I learned very early on to pay attention to their individual interests throughout the year and make a note about the types of toys excite them and which ones dont. For the last ten years I haven’t missed a beat yet. How do you Handle gift giving/receiving? Do you give people preferences or just accept whatever they buy?
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