This post was sponsored by Kidde Fire Safety as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own. Be Safe: Home Safety Checklist Printable Did you know that October is National Fire Prevention Month? Well it is…and I think it’s an awesome reminder to have these conversations with our families within our homes. Seeing that October is National Fire Prevention Month, it is a great time to shop for Kidde Fire Safety essentials and have them placed in your home. The most important moment in a home emergency could be the moment, like now, that you prepare for the home emergency in the best way possible. Our homes are supposed to be a safe haven and I think, as a parent, I strive to do all that I can to create that atmosphere. No matter where home is for you, it’s important to make sure there are safety measures within your home and around your home. It takes a little time, intentional effort, and being proactive through conversations with one another. As we moved into our new home this past year we made sure that we followed some guidelines and safety measures to ensure […]
29 Best Campfire Songs for Families
This post has been sponsored by Acorn. All thoughts and opinions are my own. As fall is approaching, one of our favorite family times is singing around a campfire. Many times, we don’t even find ourselves at a campground or park. Rather, we enjoy this time right in our own backyard. You’ll find us wearing our new Acorn slouch boot/socks, bundled in warm clothes or wrapped in a blanket…all while singing with the guitar and roasting marshmallows for s’mores! Taking time out of our busy schedule always seems like a task but when we are intentional and take the time, it always pays off and we enjoy our time immensely. Best Campfire Songs for Families Our slouch boots are the perfect combo as they are made for indoor and outdoor with a rubber sole—making it a mid calf slipper with a sock comfort and skid-resistant, long-lasting wear with support. With the stylish appeal, we love these even more—whether we find ourselves outside in the cold or bundled up inside to keep our feet warm. Check out more of their products here. It never fails as we are singing around the campfire that we always get stumped on what songs to […]
7 Tips for Professional Pet Photography
Looking for pet photography tips that will help you with dog photoshoots and cat pictures? Check out these professional pet photography tips. What is Pet Photography? It is a fun and profitable niche business that allows you to combine a love of animals with technical skill in photography. Many families and pet owners are very interested in including professional pet photography of their pets into their own session or within family portraits. Yet a pet photoshoot is totally different than one dealing only with humans! So find reading along with our best tips should help you in capturing those furry friends. Let’s face it, pet photography poses are hard to get…..just like kids sometimes! They don’t like to sit still, they have an itch or just want to go to…oh wait…SQUIRREL! Anyway, most of the time pets are just to distracted or wanting to love up on you or their owners. If I am photographing a family portrait with pets, I always ask if they have a favorite toy or treat and ask them to bring it along to their session. I will explain in detail what I do with these below! Here are some of my tips and tricks to “getting […]
Easy Orange Chicken Recipe
This post has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CollectiveBias #CrispyCreations #CrispiestChicken One of our all time family favorite cuisines at meal time is any kind of Asian cuisine! Orange Chicken happens to be the all time favorite in our house! Of course served with any asian flared side dish! I mean you really can’t go wrong, and at our house it’s hands down a favorite. Easy Orange Chicken Over the years, I’ve tried many many recipes in an attempt to find the perfect orange chicken. Sometimes we ditched the recipe because the flavor wasn’t enough or just lacked…but many times, I ditched the trial recipe because the chicken just wasn’t crispy. That is a pet peeve of mine!!! I want #CrispyChicken – end of discussion! I’ve found the secret ingredient to achieving the crispiest chicken is Argo® Corn Starch. This is the most important ingredient to any recipe if you want your #FriedChicken to be crispy! Not only is it for the best and crispiest chicken! It goes beyond chicken too. It’s often used as a thickening agent for sauces or soups and even a binding agent for baking, but again, for your […]
Ultimate Guide to Birth Photography
Learn about documenting a birth and telling a birth story through photography. Find a birth photography checklist and camera setting tips. From the moment I started my photography business I knew that one of my primary focuses would be birth photography. There is just something so awe inspiring, empowering, and captivating about being there to capture those first moments between a family and their newborn baby. I have been told that out of numerous photo sessions family’s have, birth photos are by far some of their favorites images/ memories. Birth Photography Tips Having three kiddos of my own birth photos are something that I wish I had invested in. Birth photography is not your typical photo session. Lasting anywhere between 6-18+ hours with all of the unknowns, it is sure to keep you on your toes and ready at all times. For my birth clients or those who are interested. I like to meet face to face for an initial consultation somewhere between 20-28 weeks. At this meeting I am getting to know more about my potential client, her pregnancy, any past history from previous pregnancies, and information regarding doctors/ midwives and what there birth plan might entail. (hospital, home, […]
Sweet Potato Sausage Frittata Recipe
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #TennesseePrideFlavor #CollectiveBias Do you love a good change of pace to your brunch menu or even a dinner plan? I know for me, I’m always on the hunt for a new recipe that my whole family will love and I have to say – I’ve nailed it with this one! Not only has this sweet potato sausage frittata become a new family favorite but I also love how super super duper easy it is. I know I need to plan about 20-30 minutes of prep time and then it’s ready to serve. It’s such an easy 20-30 minute prep time too! It’s kind of slow paced and simple steps to yummy-ness! This easy frittata recipe has the best ingredients and combination of flavors that make for a great comfort food recipe. It’s the perfect taste of salty with a hint of sweet from the potatoes – with a peace of mind I’ve squeezed in some veggies for my family! Tap/hoover the picture below and you can shop to snag your very own ingredients for the Frittata! Using the Odom’s Tennessee Pride sausage from […]
The Beginners Guide to a Newborn Photoshoot
Are you looking for newborn photoshoot tips for beginners or newborn photography ideas? This Beginners Guide to Newborn Photography will be your go to for tips and pose ideas. SAFETY FIRST!Always make sure your baby is safe and not in any danger of falling or getting hurt in any way. The newer the baby, the less they move which makes it easier but always make sure there is no way they can get hurt if they suddenly stretch out their arms or legs as newborns tend to do. This could be one of the most important aspects for a newborn photoshoot. You can set your settings for your dslr camera and then hand your camera to a friend or family member for them to take some newborn poses for you. Be sure to offer them some brief instructions or set your camera on a tripod and use a remote (I got my remote on Amazon for about $6) Newborn Photography Ideas CAPTURE THE DETAILSEyelashes, lips, toes, and hair are great details to document! Grab some up close shots while baby naps. Babies change so much so quickly so make sure to capture those little details before they grow and change! […]
Things to do at Joe Wheeler State Park
Family Friendly things to do at Joe Wheeler State Park and Lodge. From the marina, cabins, lodge and golf course there are plenty of fun things to do! A big big thank you to Joe Wheeler State Lodge for hosting us during our stay. We enjoyed a wonderful few days at Joe Wheeler State Park Lodge! What turned into a quick trip ended up turning into a last minute full fledge family reunion on the lake! What could have been more fun?! Not much! Nestled in the quiet of North Alabama is Joe Wheeler State Park – With 2550 acres this state owned park has so many options to explore and adventure. If you are needing a place to stay the Lodge, Cabins or Cottages are great options – as well as the campground if you have an RV or tent! No matter where you decide to sleep it’s going to be peaceful and relaxing. Joe Wheeler State Park Curious what you and your family can do while staying in the park? There is plenty to do whether you are looking to relax or stay busy! I’ll share our favorite highlights of things we did at the park: Fishing – […]
How to Vacation on a Budget
Planning a vacation? Looking to go on an affordable vacation but still feel spoiled? These tips will help you plan a vacation on a budget. Thank you to Extended Stay America by making this post possible – all opinions expressed are my own As a family we’ve traveled a lot over the years and yes traveling can be a luxury but it doesn’t have to feel like it within your budget. Many people ask me how we plan and budget for vacations, how we get to do all we do and what kind of tips for finding the best spots that are cheap and affordable. So today I’m spilling all of our tips on going on a vacation on a budget! 1- Plan First you need to take the time to plan. Plan your vacation and your trip around what location you’d like to visit and explore. Steer away from the resort and high end areas and rather look to visit big cities or places “off the beaten path”. If you want to go to a “high traffic” vacation spot you can most likely find the best prices on the off peak season in that area. It’s a sacrifice to make but […]
Camping Scavenger Hunt – Free Printable
Camping Scavenger Hunt As we head out on our next camping trip into the great outdoors, I had to create a new camping scavenger hunt printable. It’s fun for all ages that come along! On the scavenger hunt list, I included a little twist: we’ll have to find a Campbell’s canned good. This go around, I grabbed the yummy Campbell’s® Chunky® Chicken Noodle soup from Winn Dixie (in the canned good aisle). I like to hide the special item around camp so that it’s easier for the kiddos to find while hunting down other nature items. This will serve two purposes for this mama…a quick and easy meal while camping plus a fun twist to our scavenger hunt ideas to incentivize the participants! If you and your family/friends camp, you know that our world full of nature has plenty to explore and tons of adventure. Yet, there is something fun about a little challenge and friendly competition thrown into the mix. Between campfires, nature walks, hikes, bike rides, mud pies, and roasting marshmallows, a good nature scavenger hunt is in order. Get the whole family involved—we’ve split our teams into families, age groups, gender, or even just random “mix ups”—and […]