This year, I decided instead of THINGS for Christmas, I wanted my family to have TIME. So, instead of presents under the tree when we woke up on Christmas morning, there were plane tickets in stockings and packed bags already in the car. And I will definitely be doing it again. One of the big …
With the smart phones, tablets and laptops and available to us nowadays, you’d think the human race would have figured out a decent way to keep ourselves organized on a day-to-day basis. If your life is chaos and you feel like there’s no time to get everything done in a day, it might be time to organize your …
There are some things I forget about every single year when it comes to Christmas, but I’m determined to remember them for next year. I’m pretty sure they’re universal, too. Like that we all have someone in our family who tells inappropriate jokes around children. Or that grandma’s don’t always understand your sense of humor. …
Every year from when I was little until even now, I’ve always gotten a stocking for Christmas from my parents. It had candy, of course, and some little toy (or usually a gift card now), and an orange. When I was younger the orange would always roll away (or be nudged with a petulant toe) …
From decluttering, to choosing an agent, to packing your entire life into portable containers, there are few things in life more stressful than moving. Whether you’ve accepted a job in a new city, just finished construction on your dream home or you’re dodging eviction, no matter what way you slice it, moving bites a dirty …
When I was a kid, I knew about the big community helper jobs, the doctors, policemen, and teachers. I knew that I could grow up and have a career doing these things and that they were honorable and noble professions. I knew that my dad went into a factory that made bread and that we …
Okay, folks. We are down to the wire. Christmas is literally around the corner and if you’re starting to feel that panic of realizing you left one of the men in your life off your Christmas list, don’t worry! We’ve got your back. With Amazon Prime you’ve Still Got Time. So, take a deep breath, …
It’s Christmas time, and that means there’s an all new list of Oprah’s Favorite things for 2015. I have always loved Oprah’s Favorite Things in the past, but this year– This year I don’t really know what to think. I mean, she was the reason I tried Philosophy When Hope is Not Enough Moisturizer all …
Winter is typically the time we bundle up and wear layers upon layers. That includes covering our feet. For some of us that means we stop getting pedicures and stop taking care of our feet because who will really see them anyways, right? WRONG! You will see them, and let’s be real, cracked and dry feet …
Stocking Stuffers are something I always forget. I will have all of Christmas planned, handled, and totally ready to go– then, when I am putting out the gifts under the tree, I see them sitting there totally empty and I’ve got nothing to put in there! These stocking stuffers are awesome because there’s NO CANDY! Kids …
Anyone who’s been in a romantic relationship has experienced it–that new-love rush, when you can’t get enough of each other and think you’ll feel that way forever. But then marriage, jobs and kids come along and you forget all the things you used to love about each other in the first place. Like cooking a …
This Christmas while you’re decking the halls and planning for a visit from Ol’ Saint Nick, you should plan some time for yourself, too! I know, I know, you’re thinking there’s no way to have ‘me’ time during the holidays, but you’re wrong! In fact, this printable Christmas planner is everything you’ll need to plan …
It’s November which means it’s pretty much winter. Where I live, it went from 75 degrees one to 40 degrees the next and it’s COLD! As if battling the cold weather wasn’t enough, (I am not person that likes to be cold) now I have to worry about being itchy due to my dry skin. Well, …
Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Tiny Prints through their partnership with POPSUGAR Select. While I was compensated to write a post about Tiny Prints, all opinions are my own. So here’s the thing: it may be mid-October and you may think it’s too early to start thinking about the holidays but I am here …
Here’s the thing– I LOVE giving gifts to all my friends, but with shopping for the kids, I don’t have time to worry about finding super cool presents to get for everyone else. So, I came up with the most foolproof plan I have ever come up with. It’s How I Got All My Christmas Shopping …
When sickness calls, the first thing on your mind is getting better as quickly as possible. That my friend, is entirely normal because NONE of us like being sick and nobody has the time to sit around being sick all day. So most of us rush to the nearest drug store to purchase a bunch of medication that …
You see it every day. Snarky memes about how leggings aren’t pants. I’m here to tell you those memes are a LIE! Here are 6 Reasons Why Leggings ARE Pants. Seriously, they say it all the time. Every day. Leggings are evil. How anyone who’s ever eaten a cheeseburger shouldn’t wear leggings. Even Conan …
You’re the reason your salmon sucks. No, no, it’s true. Maybe you’ve even convinced yourself you hate salmon…a delicious meat…and that you can’t understand why anyone would want to eat it in the first place. And it’s all your fault that you feel this way. Unless you really just don’t like salmon. If you don’t, …
This post brought to you by Sports Authority . The content and opinions expressed below are that of Totally The bomb. I will never forget the first time I went to the gym after having my daughter. The only thing I owned that even remotely resembled workout clothes was a T-shirt I painted her room …
Girls just want to have fun. Whether it’s painting each other’s nails or giggling over a cute boy at school, girls need girl time which is why slumber parties are so necessary. If you have a girl that is at the age to have her good friends overnight but aren’t sure where to begin I …
I love traveling so very much, but I also love all the comforts of home. That’s why all-inclusive resorts are my favorite way to vacation. My husband and I stayed at Sandals Montego Bay this weekend and it was glorious. (And glorious is not a word I just throw around, people. This place was off …
This summer, we are all about chilling in the pool and enjoying the hot weather. Problem is, in Texas it keeps raining, and that’s making it hard to keep our pool in tip-top shape. We had a BBQ coming up, and our pool had started to grow some black algae. We can’t be having black …
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Office Depot. All opinions are 100% mine. The first year I bought school supplies, I ended up going to ten different stores over the course of three weeks. I searched high and low for all the right markers, writing tablets, folders and crayons. It …
I am one of those people who loves makeup. I have drawers and drawers of it. I can’t stop buying cosmetics, and I think they are totally fun to own! But the truth is, I don’t wear them that often, why? Because the less makeup you wear, the better your skin looks! No, seriously, try …
We’ve all been there…it’s the middle of the night, you’ve had a long day and just as you finally close your eyes the baby starts crying. Your eyes roll up to the ceiling, you give a hard stare to your snoozing spouse, and you wonder who you murdered in your previous life to bring this …
This year is my 20th high school reunion. The big 2-0. And my nephew just graduated from high school and is moving off to Austin because apparently he thinks his happiness is more important than mine. But, I digress. It dawned on me with all of this happening that as much as I want to …
This is a sponsored post written on behalf of Mom It Forward! for M-Disc. The opinions and text are all mine. Did you know flash drives don’t last forever? I didn’t. I’ve been saving pictures from vacations, stories I’d been writing, even tax information on a flash drive for a few years now. Backing it …
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of PERK. All opinions are 100% mine. I have had my Jeep for a very long time. My daughter is ten now and I brought her home from the hospital in it. (Jeeps are very bumpy when you’re bringing a newborn home for the first …
As part of my goal to see the world, I’ve been cruising. Packing for a regular vacation is tough, but packing for a cruise is extra special because you do so many different things. Well, now that I have been on two cruises, (which makes me a total pro, right?) I know all the tricks …
Here I am snapping along, taking pictures of my kid and her friends, instagramming my latest meal, making a movie of my cat playing with a yarn ball, when bam… Out of Memory. I bought the biggest phone they had, with the most storage available and still it’s not enough memory for my “must video …
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Holmes® Smart Air Purifier. All opinions are 100% mine. “What is that smell?” I hate hearing those words, and often that’s what my husband says when we walk in the front door of our house. Honestly, we have a house dog and grandkids ranging …
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CleaningUntangled #CollectiveBias I got my first vacuum when I got my first apartment. That was 14 years ago. I am still using that same vacuum. And I am so tired of cleaning that little brush, you know the …
I have found the perfect place to stay when you visit Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. Loews Portofino Bay (they invited my family to come out and spend a couple of nights to check it out.) So, this hotel has major swag. It’s clean, amazing looking, and just the right amount of people are there …
I am forever having visitors pop-in and, sometimes, they’re even invited! LOL! Friends of my daughter are frequent fliers, often without parental escort. And those little mouths?! ALWAYS HUNGRY! That means I need to be prepared for anything–boredom, snack or full-fledged lunch. Enter the Emergency Visitor Survival Kit, the way I stay sane when visitors …
It hit me a while back: we live in this big, gorgeous state and though we’ve taken a few day excursions, my daughter has no idea how much Texas has to offer. That’s why I decided to take my first ever RV road trip. I’ll be honest here: I’ve lived in Texas most of my …
When you’ve had a baby, a lot has changed. I mean, you’ve been off work for 3, 4 or even 6 weeks (LOVE the 6-weeks off!) and, hopefully, you didn’t even have to wear make-up once during that entire mini-baby-cation. But, chances are, you need to Refresh Your Look to Go Back to Work After Baby. …
Call this the mega list. The big shebang. The whole enchilada, hold the nothing. From borax to baking soda, vodka to vinegar we’re bringing you 650+ Other Uses For Household Products. Strap-on your juice box ’cause this list is about to get REAL. 650+ Other Uses For Household Products Have you been making your own laundry soap? …
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #OutshineSnacks #CollectiveBias This is it. My year. The year I embrace the F-Word and make it my own. That’s right, I’m talking about fitness and how this year I WILL become a shinier, happier version of me. One …
My husband does all the housework. All of it. Why? Well, aside from the fact that he’s perfectly awesome in every way, he does it because someone has to do it. It’s not always fun, and he would definitely rather be playing video games or something more fun, but he does it for our family. …
This year I’ll be celebrating my twenty year high school reunion in the same month that my oldest nephew is graduating from high school. Talk about an emotional double-whammy! With both of those events in mind, I decided to write up a list of ‘twenty’ perfect gifts for graduates. Part of these are from my own memories …
One of my favorite things about the Universal Orlando theme parks was the Universal CityWalk. I love how you can see a show, eat an amazingly delicious meal, and spend a whole evening without ever leaving the walk! Special thanks goes to Universal for having us visit their CityWalk. We had a blast! I think …
We spent spring break at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. We had a lot of fun checking out the attractions, fun, and rides that Universal Studios has to offer just so I could tell you what the greatest stuff to do with your family is! Awesome Stuff To Do At Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. …
Here are 25 Harry Potter snacks you can make from home! 25 Harry Potter Snacks and Treats I’ve got my witchy priorities straight–I’m starting with Witches Broomstick Candies. Golden Snitch Pops would probably do a bang-up, sell-out job on Quiddich game days! Ok, so you want some meat? No burgers here, but order some Basilisk-dogs. Do it. Hissss. These Cheese …
My family is full of hardcore Harry Potter fans, so when Universal Studios had us out to check out the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando, Florida, we jumped on it. We even found some super secret stuff that will make your trip to Universal Studios even more fun! 16 Super Cool Secrets …
Like every mom, I totally want my kids to experience everything–but in a safe, comfortable way. That’s why I feel it’s important for me to have everything I need on-the-go for my active kiddos. Especially when we’re hours from home on a weekend get-away in the woods. That’s when I make sure I have everything on this …
With warmer weather comes one of my favorite parts of–well, everything: ROAD TRIP! I love driving for hours, no goal in mind other than my ultimate destination at the end of the week. To be prepared for my road trip, I made this Free Printable Road Trip Checklist. If you have any car trouble on …
Spring means a lot of things. The clock moves forward, flowers emerge from the snow, bears lumber out of hibernation (and by bears I mean significant others who have been wearing the same ugly sweater for months, of course). But more than anything, in my house spring means cleaning. This year I’m bringing you 10 …
Cooking can be so much boring or SO MUCH FUN. It’s all about the attitude and the “toys” you choose to use. I’m always looking for new Geeky Kitchen Gadgets to keep my cooking experience fun and lively! 25 Geeky Kitchen Gadgets I Need Considering the amount of coffee I go through in a day, …
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Dollar General for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine. It was one of my lowest moments ever, and I know every new parent has been there. It’s 3am, baby’s crying, poop is everywhere and no way can you do a simple diaper change in …
Like any parent, I was so very worried about car-safety when it was time to bring home our son. Now, I’m facing the idea of bringing home baby #3 and I need a refresher on How to Kidproof Your Car. Thank goodness I have my son to help me out. Use the right safety equipment for …
Ok, so my whole family always asks each year: “what do you want for Christmas?” or “what do you want for your birthday?” or mother’s day…or…you get the drift. I will tell you now, this year, I want one of these 25 Coolest iPhone 6 Cases! (this post contains affiliate links) There’s nothing worse than …
Look, sometimes you just have to trick your kids into doing what’s best for them. And taking medicine is one of those times.
If you’ve got kids, chances are you have a family vacation coming up during a school break or summer vacation. Deciding what to do can be a daunting task. Here is a roundup of 15 great family vacation ideas tested by real families. This list covers some of the top destinations in the country. Other locations are a …
I’m jazzed about the electronic age, really I am, but an awesome sit-down on a Sunday morning with a newspaper and a wonderful, homemade breakfast is a nice change from all the screens. I love it. But then what? I have this paper that then I feel bad has only lived one life in my house–so …
So, it turns-out that baking soda has a million other uses besides just an additive into yummy cookies and cakes. These are my absolute favorite 10 Clever Uses for Baking Soda! 10 Clever Uses for Baking Soda: It’s amazing the number of things that can be done with this common and super-inexpensive household product. And …
Baby oil is cheap, available at almost every store and most people have a bottle, even if they don’t remember buying it. It’s so common, and REALLY useful–even for a number of things other than what it was intended. Whether I had a baby or not, most of my life, I’ve had baby oil on hand just …
Dish soap is a wonder-product…honestly, it doesn’t only have to be used in the kitchen to clean dishes! There are just so very many Clever Uses for Dish Soap, this list is just a few. Pet Shampoo – Dish soap is not a harsh chemical, it is often used after or during oil spills to clean oil off of birds …
I love having a clean head, so I use shampoo pretty much EVERY DAY (I know I don’t have to, but I just love that feeling). Funny thing is though, there’s way more uses for shampoo than I realized. I love these 10 Clever Uses for Shampoo. Who knew? 10 Clever Uses for Shampoo Removing stains: You can remove carpet …
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #DropShopAndOil #CollectiveBias I feel like a multitasking Maven today. For reals. Normally, I’m so easily derailed it’s not even funny. But today–in 30-Minutes, I was able to accomplish 15-Super Critical Tasks! It was a Multitasking Marathon! There I was, trying …
Every time I got the cell phone bill, I was cringing–or those stupid texts saying “such-and-such number has gone over the data limit”. I mean, really, how many times did I yell at my kid for going over her limit?! No more, I say! No more! Now, I’m Keeping the Kid’s Phone Costs Low with …
This post brought to you by Jostens. The content and opinions expressed below are that of Totally The bomb. It seems like all the best things happen in high school. First loves, driving, and (my favorite) graduation. To celebrate the most awesome of ‘releases into the wild’ for my son (though he’s a little far …
Being pregnant is tough work by itself. But regular life (and the chores that chores that come with it) does not stop upon conception. Nope. Still gotta wipe down counter tops and toilets. While making a baby. Great. Oh, and avoid chemicals and whatnot so you don’t a) puke and b) get exposed to something …
I had no idea how crazy-messy my life had gotten. Like really, why did I have like fifteen cords running around my desk and three sets of speakers in my office and kitchen? Every evening, that would stress me out…Not to even mention the fifty-four times I had to holler for my daughter to come to dinner! …
There’s nothing I hate more than cleaning before a holiday party-or just cleaning in general. And cleaning the floors can be the worst chore of them all! I’m not kidding. My floor took notes from this floor-then they shared a cry-session. That’s why I hunted the internet-verse and found these 10 Floor Cleaning Hacks I Can’t …
Diaper bag emergency! My cute little diaper bag I was given at my baby shower has broken…what am I to do?! I’m not as frugal as I once was (if I’d had my baby-girl right after college when we got married, I would have used my backpack as a diaper bag!), but I still feel …
Temperatures are dropping! My son needs a coat and I’m cheap-I need a selection of boy’s coats for under $40. My son grows so fast (apparently 12-year olds do that), I always wait until the last minute to buy him a coat. (this post contains affiliate links) Given that the temperatures here in Texas dropped to …
Finding a gift for your own child’s birthday or special event is tough…even tougher if it’s not your kiddo, but someone else’s you’ve been invited to celebrate with. OR, even worse, when you need to send a card to someone (particularly a kid), but don’t want to ship a whole big-giant gift. In comes the …
College is in full swing, and I will never forget how it felt in October. Totally tired of dorm food, out of money to buy toiletries, and just craving things from home. If you have a family member, friend, or even fiance (like me! woohoo!) who is busting it in college somewhere, here are 10 things you …
Ugh! It’s totally that time of year when I have to go winter coat shopping. The thing is, it’s not even that cold here in Texas yet, but if I don’t go shopping NOW, then all the good coats will be gone. But, it’s your lucky day because I dug into the trenches of amazon …
This Zoomer Dino is pretty much the coolest toy ever. I mean– who wouldn’t want their very own pet dinosaur?
I have been trying to grow my hair out forever. Normally, this is no easy task, but with Hairfinity, it’s so simple! All you do is take a couple of the hairfinity pills a day, and your hair starts growing thick, full, and super fast. I love when my hair grows super fast! Seriously, just …
Do you love a good Twitter Party? You know I do and we’re excited to host a party to chat about gaming and The Sims 4! On Monday, September 2nd at 1:00 pm ET, please join us for the #TheSims4 Twitter Party where we’ll be discussing all of the new aspects of The Sims 4, the “Sim Your Friend” contest, and giving you …
You guys know how much I love beauty stuff. It’s pretty much my favorite thing on the planet. Well, let me tell you that one of the coolest things I have ever used it this little Conair true glow™ Sonic Skincare Solution cleansing brush. The salon is nice and all, but I am all about …
Thank goodness for cheap wireless plans and #Phones4School. Let me tell you a little story… “When can I walk to school on my own, Mama?” She asked on her very first day of kindergarten all those years ago. “Fourth grade,” I answered her. She was tiny, and fourth grade was FOREVER away, I would be ready …
In celebration of Great Grape Boogie Wipes being sold at Walmart, I’m teaming up with Boogie Wipes to offer the Great Grape Summer Giveaway! One winner will be drawn each week for the next eight weeks and will receive a $50 Walmart gift card and a Boogie Wipes prize pack. How to Enter From following …
Summer time is the perfect time for some serious hanging out time with the kids, especially outdoors. I love getting to spend all those lazy afternoons with my girl! If you have children aged 0-5, you’ll LOVE Citrus Lane, that offers affordable boxed adventures each month so that you can spend time bonding with your little ones without …
So, I am always on the lookout for a good deal. The thing is, I don’t really want to actually go out and hunt down the deal. I want someone to just hand it to me. Even when it comes to auto insurance. Is that so wrong? The thing is this. In my mind, I …
But it sure is rewarding! We know being a mom is hard work and things don’t always go as planned. So for Mother’s Day, we’re teaming up with Boogie Wipes to offer you a chance to win an iPad Mini and a Boogie Wipes prize pack!
Lately, I have been on a makeup budget. The thing is, I love it because I can find all the awesome drugstore mascara and other stuff for a fraction of the price I would normally pay for department store brands. Oh, plus I have now officially found the best cheap mascara! Rimmel Retro Glam Scandaleyes! …
This is a sponsored post on behalf of HoneyBaked Ham. All opinions are my own. Easter is just around the corner, and if you know me at all, you know that I am no cook! This is a problem when it comes to big holiday meals, and I never know what to do about it! …
Books. I love books so much, and I love love loved Dorothy Must Die! It was totally fantastic and amazing and awesome, and I can’t say enough good things about it. What I can say is if you’re a Wizard of Oz fan (and even if you’re not) you still need to read this book. …
It’s no secret I love candy. Everyone jokes that I could pretty much eat only candy every single day and be totally fine with that. They’re probably right. (You know, except for the crazy belly ache!) Spring screams bright colors to me, and so does candy, so I figured why not make some teacher gifts …
My daughter loves an adorable girls maxi dress like these. So, when TwirlyGirl sent us The Marvelous Maxi Dress to check out, she was so excited! The thing is, as she’s gotten older, it’s hard to convince her to wear them as much. She complains that they aren’t comfortable or that they don’t fit her …
For most people, when it’s game time, that means football or some other sport, but not at my house! At my house, game time means pizza and video games! When you’re two hours into a gaming binge, the last thing you want to do is take time to cook. That’s why we love DiGiorno Pizza! …
I am forever on the quest for the perfect burger, so when I heard about the new LSA Burger Co. in Denton– I knew I had to check it out. They’re right on the square and they have a fabulous rooftop bar that overlooks downtown Denton, so I had very high hopes for the place. …
I’ve been talking a bit about going green with my daughter, and she’s in total agreement that we need to do this. They actually do a really good job covering recycling and such at school– so she’s all about making our world a better place. But, I want this lesson to be a cool one. …
My daughter needs her first mobile phone. Now that her parents aren’t together anymore, she needs a way to get in touch with me when she’s with her dad and her dad when she’s with me. The problem is, I want to save on my mobile phone bill, not add to it! So, I went …
When it comes to my daughter, I always need Christmas present ideas. Her stocking is the hardest, so that’s why this year I am all about the fragrance gift sets from Walmart. And, since she’s in love with all things Taylor Swift, the Wonderstruck Enchanted by Taylor Swift fragrance gift set was totally on the …
It’s Christmas, baby and that means I get to buy presents for the totally amazing man in my life. He loves video games, and everyone is talking about Forza Motorsport 5 for the Xbox One. It’s supposed to be the greatest thing in racing since actually getting into a car and driving it around a …
It’s time to buy cool gifts for Christmas. In my house that translates to “It’s time to buy the cool tech gifts.” I like to go to a store look around, and buy them in person. I like to hold them in my hand and actually see how electronics work before I shell out all …
Breast Cancer research is very near and dear to my heart. My G-Ma (that’s what we called her, because she considered herself way too cool to be a plain ‘ol Grandma, and she was right) was a breast cancer survivor and and one of my favorite people in the whole planet. So, when I found …
I use Grammarly to check grammar online because it’s better than having my grandma proofread my erotic novels for me. I kid, I kid! I love having my grandma proofread those. 🙂 A couple of weeks ago, I was approached by Grammarly. They asked me to try out their service and write a review. So, …
I once almost accidentally volunteered to be in charge of shirts at my kid’s elementary school. The way I originally got asked was, “Hey– do you want to design the school shirt for next year?” “Sounds like fun.” I mean, why the heck not, that’s easy enough, right? I like making pretty things, and I …
It’s banned books week, and that makes both happy and sad. It makes me happy to know that we as a society care enough about reading and free speech to devote a whole week to the books others are trying to ban, but it makes me sad to know those people trying to ban books …
I have driven a lot of cars, and I don’t always love the smaller ones… I am not a huge fan of feeling cramped in a car, but the Kia Forte isn’t like that. It’s like driving a big ‘ol SUV when you sit in the driver’s seat it’s so roomy! I also totally geeked …
I drive all sorts of cars, but I must admit that I’ve never driven a Mitsubishi before. So I was kind of nervous when they asked me to drive one. I mean what if I didn’t like it? But, I didn’t have anything to worry about because the Mitsubishi Lancer is fun to drive, and …
As many of you know… I sometimes get to drive cars and check them out. This is fun for me because my car is like a bajillion years old and when I get to drive new cars they do all sorts of fancy things like talk to me (um, seriously, the Kia Optima greets me …
Recently, I had the opportunity to drive the Mazda 3. First off let me say this isn’t just any small car. This thing has the zoom zoom. I was a little worried about the pick-up in the car. Would it really go fast, was I going to mind driving it on and off the …
See, the thing is, I drive a lot of vehicles. It’s part of the whole “being a blogger who likes to talk about super cool cars” gig. But none of them have ever actually felt like me– until I drove a Kia Sportage. The Kia Sportage is a good looking car. It’s the car …