Mama Loves Shopping

Categories: Lifestyle

Earn a FREE Thanksgiving Dinner with Ibotta!

Now that it is November, Thanksgiving is right around the corner! I know holidays are going to look a lot different this year due to everything going on but holidays are always a time to be with our loved ones, have a great meal and smile. So, who wants to earn a free Thanksgiving dinner from Ibotta? I am so excited to be partnering with Ibotta this year to help spread some joy with an amazing opportunity to earn 100% cash back on a Thanksgiving dinner! I’ll get into more details below but Ibotta has teamed up with both Walmart and Feeding America to make this possible and I am ecstatic to let you all know about it!

This is a sponsored post in partnership with Ibotta, but all opinions are my own!

What Is Ibotta?

Ibotta is a free cash-back rewards dinner that gives you real cash for everyday purchases! Consumers (that’s you!) can earn cash at thousands of retailers and brands. One of my favorite ways to earn cash back is on groceries. Ibotta has a new browser extension just for online grocery pick-up and delivery which makes earning cash back even easier. Just download the app or browser extension and start earning today!

How to earn a FREE Thanksgiving dinner!

Want to know how you can get that delicious bundle of food for FREE? It’s simple! Ibotta is giving 100% cash back to consumers who use the Ibotta app and the new browser extension (for online grocery pick-up and delivery orders). The bundle provides everything you need to cook a meal for a family of 5!

What’s in the bundle?

  • Butterball Boneless Turkey Roast
  • Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom Soup
  • French’s Crispy Onions
  • McCormick Gravy
  • Great Value Green Beans
  • Idahoan Mashed Potatoes
  • Great Value Cranberry Sauce
  • Great Value Stuffing
  • 2 Liter of Coke

My Favorite Thanksgiving Recipe

One of my favorite items in the bundle is the cranberry sauce. Yes, cranberry sauce. Cranberry sauce gets a bad name. Most people completely skip past it among the big name Turkey Day staples. Well, I’m here to tell you that cranberry sauce can (and will) be the star if you use this recipe! I took the Great Value cranberry sauce that is included in Ibotta’s Thanksgiving bundle and a box of strawberry Jell-O and made the easiest dessert you’ll ever make!

First, boil 2 cups of water and dissolve one small box of strawberry flavored Jell-O. Once the jello powder has dissolved, add in the can of jellied cranberries and stir is until it is completely mixed up. Refrigerated until jello firms up. You can serve it with candied nuts on top or a dollop of whipped cream! Voila, dessert is ready

Giving Back This Holiday Season

One of my favorite holiday traditions is giving back, whether to the community or to a charity. Ibotta has teamed up with Feeding America and is donating money towards the organization which is amazing. If you aren’t in need of a free Thanksgiving meal this year, I encourage you to buy the bundle for a neighbor or friend in need. Lots of people are having a rough year and could use a little holiday cheer. Another great way to give back is to donate the cash back you receive to a charity of your choice. I am so honored to be working with Ibotta for this post to help spread the word because we can all make a difference!

I hope everyone has a great holiday season this year despite the times. Let’s make the most out of 2020 and go out with a bang!

-Stacey

All offers are available starting in November, while supplies last. Check your app for details.

Categories: Lifestyle

Back To School Cash Back With Ibotta!

This is a sponsored post written by me in partnership with Ibotta. All opinions are my own.

Back to school looks a lot different this year. Some families are homeschooling or virtual learning and others are going back to school full time or even half the time. This is uncharted territory for all of us and it’s no secret that anxiety levels are high among parents and students. Regardless of the situation, we all still have to prepare for the upcoming school year and what better way than to save some money by earning cash back on some of your back to school purchases with Ibotta!

back to school

What is Ibotta?

Ibotta is a cash back and reward app that is completely free to download. It gives real cash for everyday purchases from participating retailers such as Kroger, Walmart, Target, Publix, Amazon and many more! Ibotta partners with over 1,500 different brands to provide shoppers an easy way to earn cash back. Ibotta can be used for in-store and online purchases. It is super simple to use on your phone.

ibotta app

My kids will start the school year going to school half the time and virtual learning from home the other half. We will be buying supplies for both the classroom and for home. Not only will we need all the traditional supplies but we will also be buying some “extras” (think snacks, lots and lots of snacks) for our home learning days. I don’t know about your kids but my kids go through 10,000 snacks during a single distance learning day. Luckily, Ibotta has some great offers on healthy and fun kid’s snacks to have around the house with their new Back To School promotions to earn some cash back. I have still been grocery shopping in store, but Ibotta also works for online purchases as well!

ibotta cash back

Here are just a few of the offers from the Ibotta Back To School Program that I took advantage of:

  • $1.00 cash back on Horizon Organic Cheese Sticks
  • $3.00 cash back on Horizon Organic Single Serves, 12 ct.
  • $1.00 cash back on Five Star School Supplies, Buy 2
  • $0.75 cash back on Welch’s 100% Grape Juice
  • $0.75 cash back on Flipz Chocolate Covered Pretzels
  • $1.00 cash back on Zespri SunGold Kiwifruit, 1lb.

All offers were valid as of publish date. Check your app for details, as offers change frequently and may not be available in all areas.

I love using the cash back that I earn for all those extra purchases. It goes straight to my PayPal account and then I can use that money for online purchases at tons of different retailers. The money I earn through Ibotta can go towards purchases for myself or I can buy some necessities that I will be needing for our home classroom. The cash back adds up, especially if you plan ahead and use the app consistently!

This is going to be the year of unknowns. I am focusing my energy on being prepared and making this year the best it can be. My home classroom will be ready for learning and my kitchen will be full of food to keep them happy and focused. I also plan on having lots of special treats around for my kids to have rewards for being flexible during this unprecedented time. They deserve all the rewards for being such good sports during this pandemic. Their lives will look a lot different but hopefully we can make the most out of the situation!

Here is to a happy and healthy school year and don’t forget to earn some extra cash back with Ibotta on purchases you are already making!

Want more on Ibotta? Check out my 5 ways to kick start your budgets with Ibotta post!

–Stacey

Categories: Fashion, Lifestyle

Walmart Try On!

Walmart has been killing the fashion game lately. They have consistently put out higher quality items that are more on trend than they ever had. I am loving all the new spring arrivals. I am rounding up some of my favorites and putting them all on here in this Walmart try on post. Check back often as I will continue to add new arrivals once I try them on!

Red/Navy Leopard Print Blouse & Flare Jeans

Leopard Top // Flare Jeans // Heeled Mules

First up- this leopard print blouse is my absolute favorite item from this entire Walmart haul. It fits perfect, runs true to size and such great quality. You would never know that it was from Walmart. It has the cutest puff sleeves and little ruffle detail on the arm. I would buy this top in every color if they made it! A definite win!

These flare jeans have been everywhere on Instagram lately. I was nervous to go back to the flare jean trend even though I loved it as a high schooler (ok, college too). These Sofia Vergara jeans did not disappoint. They do run a little big and long. I am 5’4″ and I had to size down 1 and get the short version. So if you are much shorter than I am you would need some serious heels for these pants but otherwise they are fantastic. The hug you in all the right places and make your legs look so long!

Floral Midi Length Wrap Dress

Floral Wrap Dress // Heels

This long sleeved floral wrap dress is amazing. The quality is great and it fits me really well. It does run true to size – I went down to an XS which is equivalent to a size 0/2. The small above was a tad big in the chest area but otherwise still fit pretty good. It has buttons and snaps everywhere so nothing will be exposed even if you bend over to pick something up! Super cute for an Easter or spring dress.

Boyfriend Tee, Distressed Shorts & Sandals

Boyfriend Tee // Distressed Shorts // Sandals

These boyfriend tees are another favorite from the try on. They are currently sold out online but my store had plenty left. Fingers crossed that they restock these bad boys because they are super comfortable and cute!

These shorts fit so well and even have a little stretch to them. The inseam is perfect at around 4 inches. I feel completely covered in these and they are super comfortable.

These sandals are selling out quickly because they are that good. Super comfortable and a throwback to those Birkenstock’s we all loved way back when!

Black Floral Blouse // Black Mules

Floral Blouse // Black Mules

This black blouse was only $11 at the time this was post went live. It is worth so much more! So flowy and comfortable with a little boho vibe to it. Runs true to size and looks great with jeans, black pants or shorts!

Also, these black mules are my all time favorite Walmart purchase. So comfortable and I wear them literally everyday. Snag these before they are gone!

Stay tuned for more Walmart items including swimsuits and spring break items coming later this week!!

Check out some of my other recent try ons!

Target

Amazon

-Stacey

Categories: Lifestyle

5 Ways To Kick Start Your Budget!

Check out 5 ways to kick start your budget this spring. I am partnering with Ibotta to help all of you save a little extra money and even earn some cash back to buy some of those purchases that don’t make it on the necessity list (yes, like that gorgeous purse you’ve been eyeing since last year). Ibotta is by far my favorite money saving app that I have used and it is so helpful when starting a budget. By following these 5 simple tasks, you can help kickstart your budget so that your wallet and significant other (we’re looking at you, frugal husbands) will be happier!

What Is Ibotta?

Ibotta is an easy tool to help you get started on your budget by saving time and money on those purchases you are already making like groceries, online shopping and more. Ibotta is a free app and super simple to use – just download the app and browse all the retailers that you can start earning cash back with. All your favorites are on there – such as Walmart, Kroger, Target, Gap, Express and about 1,500 more retailers! You can earn cash back by in store purchases, online purchases or by linking your store loyalty cards! I have been using Ibotta for a few years now and it’s always fun to see just how much you can earn off of the purchases you are already making!

Download the Ibotta app here!

Top 5 Ways to Help Kickstart That Budget

1. Meal Plan Around Sales

This first rule has saved me a ton of money in groceries. I used to plan out all my meals for the week and then check to see if there are any coupons, deals or offers on the items that I had on my list. If you check the weekly sales flyer and Ibotta first, you can choose meals based on what is on sale and save money. I also enjoy having some inspiration to plan those meals because let’s face it – planning a week’s worth of meals for an entire family is not fun. If pork chops happen to be on sale that week, I will add them to my grocery list and then research recipes online or in cookbooks that will work with my family.

Most stores rotate items that are on sale so this is also a good way to keep from getting in a meal rut and always cooking the same chicken dish every week (I can hear the grumbles and groans from my kids and husband from here). Every Sunday I sit down and scan through Ibotta first, saving all the offers that may make it on to my list and then I browse the weekly grocery ad next. Then I make my final meal plan for the week and make my grocery list. It does take a little extra time but it is worth it in the end to have a week’s worth of meal ideas and the amount of money you save by shopping the sales will pay off big time.

2. Use Ibotta Offers For All Beer & Wine Purchases

This is a place where you can really rack up the extra cash back at the grocery. As long as you are not particular to any certain brand of beer or wine, you will love seeing the savings on this trick. Every week or so, Ibotta will update the app with new beer brands and wine brands (and spirits too-but people tend to be pickier when it comes to hard alcohol) and they have awesome cash back opportunities. This week alone I saved almost $10 on just beer and wine. I used a rebate for Red Stripe beer and got $3 cash back. My husband usually stocks beer in our fridge for weekends or if we have guests over and instead of choosing a different beer I went with Red Stripe and everyone leaves happy! This also pertains to wine. There are tons of offers for wine in the Ibotta app and most have significant cash back amount. So as long as you are open to trying new wines or beer this is a great way to rack up that cash back.

3. Use the Ibotta app every time you make an online purchase or online travel reservtions

With over 1,500 retailers and brands on the Ibotta app, you are sure to find the one you are looking for. Just head to the app first and click on the retailer that you are shopping at and it will take you straight to their website. From there you would just shop and check out normally and Ibotta will automatically track your purchase and give you your cash back. Percentages differ from retailer to retailer but some have a hefty cash back percentage that you won’t want to miss out on. Cash back percentages also change from day to day so it’s a good idea to check the app first before you do any online shopping. You can also use the Ibotta app for travel too! Hotels.com is one of the retailers on Ibotta and you can earn a big percentage cash back by booking your hotel through the Ibotta app.

4. Link Your Store Loyalty/Savings Card Right To The Ibotta App

This might be the easiest way to earn cash back with Ibotta. Once you download the app check the retailers that you frequent the most and see if they offer to link your loyalty card. Target is one of the biggest retailers that offers this option. Once your card is linked you do not have to do any scanning of receipts or bar codes, Ibotta will automatically do this for you! This is super helpful for all those times that you forget to scan those receipts when you get home. We all know how crazy it gets once you enter that door with your arms full of groceries!

5. Purchase “Extras” With Your Cash Back

This is my favorite way to kick start your budget on the entire list. Once you hit $20 cash back on the Ibotta app (which doesn’t take too long as long as you are using the app frequently) you can elect to either transfer it to a paypal account or purchase gift cards to one of the many retailers they offer on their site. I use this money to purchase those “extras” that I want, but that didn’t make the cut of things that I “need”. That adorable top from Old Navy that you saw on your favorite blogger (hint hint, me) but didn’t have the extra cash to buy? No prob! Cash out your $20 for an Old Navy gift card and that top is all yours without having to tell your frugal husband! Cha-ching!

Here is a picture of my latest grocery shopping trip to Kroger. I bought only things that would normally be on our grocery list with the exception of certain brands that I may have switched to earn the cash back (beer & wine) and earned over $12 in cash back.

There you have it, my 5 ways to kick start your budget and earn a little extra cash for yourself. I am so honored to be working with Ibotta. I truly have been using the app for years and love the ease of earning cash back with their super simple app. It takes just a few extra minutes to use before those grocery trips or online shopping sprees but once you start earning you will see just how easy it is! As always, thanks for reading!

-Stacey

*This is a sponsored post written by me in partnership with Ibotta. All opinions are my own! All offers were valid as of publish date. Don’t forget to check your app for details as offers change frequently and may not be available in all areas.

Categories: Lifestyle

Men’s Holiday Gift Guide

The hardest person to shop for on everyone’s list is usually the man in their lives. Husbands, dads, father-in-laws, brothers, boyfriends…you name it and I guarantee you have no idea what to get them. Why is this? In my case its because as soon as November hits my husband goes on an online shopping spree and buys everything he needs for himself, leaving nothing for the rest of us to get him. Pretty sure all men do this to be difficult. But have no fear – I have a men’s holiday gift guide that (hopefully) will give you lots of ideas for that special man in your life!

Check out my men’s holiday gift guide down below to find my top gifts that any man would be happy to receive!

  1. Wireless Waterproof Speaker 2. New Balance Sneakers 3. Whiskey Gift Set 4. Quilted Vest 5. Flannel Shirt 6. Manly Toiletry Bag 7. Quilted Jacket 8. Leather Briefcase/Travel Bag 9. Power Washer Attachment 10. Grilling Man Crate 11. AirPods Pro 12. Fizzics Beer Dispenser 13. Sperry Duck Boots 14. Apple Watch 15. Weather Station 16. Noise Cancelling Headphones 17. Chromebook 2 in 1 18. Patagonia Pullover

Wireless Waterproof Speaker

This little speaker is fantastic to have around the house. Inside, outside – this little guy goes everywhere. It has no wires and it is also waterproof, but most importantly it puts out great sound. Comes in a few colors and under $100!

New Balance Sneakers & Duck Boots

A new pair of sneakers means you can get rid of the 5 year old, smelly ones that are sitting in your mudroom stinking up the house. Sold. These are an affordable, classic option that any man would love. Does he already own 200 sneakers like my husband? Try these Sperry duck boots. I got these for my husband last year and they were a hit for the winter. Great quality and great price!

Whiskey Gift Set

Here is a gift for the whiskey connoisseur in your family. This set comes with a personalized whiskey decanter and personalized glasses along with a few other whiskey essentials for any home bar. Just add the whiskey!

Quilted Vest & Flannel

We all want our man or dads to dress better. Always nagging them to get rid of their clothes from 15 years ago. Well, here is your chance to spruce them up a bit! This quilted vest is excellent quality and looks great on everyone. Throw in these super soft flannels and he will be all set!

Manly Toiletry Bag

Here is a travel bag that they will love. Durable and manly with no spilled shaving cream at the bottom from three years ago. Score. Throw in a shaving kit with this gift and call it a day!

Jacket & Pullover

Remember those clothes that we talked about above from 15 years ago? Yes, that includes jackets too. Treat him to a new, stylish jacket that he can wear anywhere. If he isn’t into jackets then these pullovers are another great option. Again, pair these with a flannel and he will be set for winter!

Leather Briefcase/ Travel Bag

Here is a briefcase/travel bag that is high quality, stylish and won’t break the bank. Perfect for the anyone who travels or has a computer! Comes in a black option as well.

AirPods Pro & Noise Cancelling Headphones

This is THE gift of the year. The Apple store says they run out about 24 hours after each shipment. I tried these ear buds on in the store and they are just as amazing as they say they are. Excellent sound quality and most importantly, a noise cancelling option. Bye bye screaming children, we can’t hear you.

These Bose noise cancelling headphones are very similar but in the over the ear style. The wire version is a more affordable purchase if airpods aren’t in the budget!

Apple Watch

Another gift of the year is the Apple Watch. It pretty much does everything your phone does and you have it all right on your wrist. It’s definitely a pricier gift but is worth every penny!

Power Washer Surface Attachment

Random, I know but this power washer attachment is legit so much fun to use. It can power wash your driveway or sidewalks way faster than the normal sprayer. If you have a power washer than you need this bad boy.

Grilling Man Crate

These man crates are so much fun. You literally have to open them with the enclosed crowbar. How fun is that? This grilling set has lots of essentials for that grillmaster in your life and you get good food out of it! Double win!!

Fizzics Beer Dispenser

This beer dispenser is perfect for the beer lover. It fits 64 oz. growlers or less in the tank and delivers draft beer right to your cup. Works with bottles, liters or the growler bottles. Easy to use and make the beer taste just like drafts at the bar! Would make a perfect gift with a gift card to your favorite growler/beer store!

Chromebook 2-in-1

This is a great little laptop to have around the house as it is a 2-in-1 computer. The screen can also be used as a touchpad. Super portable to take around the house or on travel trips. Everyone will love this addition to the house and it is a more affordable option then some of the fancier laptop and desktop computers.

Weather Station

Yes, we all get the weather on our phone but this little weather station is a fun little tool to have around the house. Put the sensor outside and this weather station will start to predict the weather based on barometric pressure, humidity and temperature. It also tells you the date, time and moon phase. Perfect for the guy always checking the weather, you may buy yourself a few minutes less of phone time in the mornings!

That’s all for now! Hope you enjoyed the men’s holiday gift guide. Be sure to subscribe to my blog so you don’t miss my next set of gift guides coming soon!

CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE!

-Stacey

Categories: Lifestyle

I survived one year of blogging!

Wow, it’s been one year since I started this crazy journey. No, there isn’t going to be any big gold number 1 balloons or champagne bottles or anything like that. Partly because I am too cheap and lazy to stage a photo shoot and partly because that’s not what this page is about. I started this page to share real mom life and real mom style with everyone and a staged photo shoot with perfect hair, make up and props is just not me. Instead, I’m going to dive into some important topics that I have learned through the past year, both about myself and others. Some of which no one but my husband knows, but by telling my story I hope to be able to help someone who may be on the same path. I can’t tell you that this has changed my life but I can tell you that this journey has been amazing and I have grown so much as a person. So here it goes….

Who was I?

A tired, anxious mom who was barely surviving with no time for herself.

I have barely any pictures of myself at this point because I avoided the camera at all cost. But here I am attempting to smile through all the changes that were happening last year.

A year ago I was in a tough spot. Really tough. We had our third child in January of 2018 and after having 5 miscarriages before her I was in a constant state of anxiety throughout the entire pregnancy and it didn’t go away after she was born. I was afraid at any moment she would be taken away from me like the others. It is a terrible place to be in. On top of that, we were planning our move back to our home state after being away for 13 years. I was leaving the life and friends we had built over the past decade and starting over. I had hit a breaking point and was anxious and depressed all at the same time. Call it post-partum, depression, anxiety disorder- whatever it was, it was affecting my life.

“…it wasn’t working and I made the decision for myself to get some help.”

I tried to deal with all of this on my own for awhile as I do with all my feelings. Bottle it up inside and move on. Well, it wasn’t working and I made the decision for myself to get some help. Even my husband wasn’t really on board at this point but he knew something was off. I was not pleasant to be around at home, I was having constant panic attacks and my stomach was in knots at all times of the day. So I sucked it up, put on my big girl pants and went to talk to my doctor.

It was not an easy conversation to have, no one likes to admit that they need help. But my doctor was immediately understanding without an ounce of judgement. She ultimately prescribed me an anti-anxiety medication to be taken daily. It was the lowest dose possible but she said it may take the edge off a little since I was going through such a big change in my life. Hello new baby who screams all day and packing up my entire life and leaving all my friends behind…..

“This pill changed my life and put it back to where it was.”

Within two weeks I was back. My panic attacks went away and my stomach was getting back to normal. I was happy again at home and coping better with all the changes. Amazing. (If this sounds like you- I highly, highly recommend talking to your doctor- DO NOT be afraid of medication no matter what the stigma is with it) This pill changed my life and put it back to where it was.

Fast forward a few months, a few hundred boxes and lots of tears and we were back in Ohio. We were near our families and in our dream home. Life was good again. But after the initial shock and happiness of moving wore off, I started to feel lonely. I was in a new city and had no time to meet up with old friends or time to meet new friends. Being a stay at home mom can be super lonely at times. Old feelings crept back in and I knew I need something for myself. Enter Mama Loves Shopping.

A New Chapter

I started this journey because I love social media and I have always had a love for fashion. I had started a blog in 2010 with no success other than my personal satisfaction and loved having that outlet to express myself. I thought to myself, why not try again? I had some more experience under my belt after having a brief stint in owning a children’s clothing line with my best friend. So I dove right back in not knowing what in the world I was getting myself into.

My very 1st post on September, 22 2018.

I was not confident in myself. I weighed myself every day just to see the number up one day and down the next day. I had clothes that didn’t fit me and were 10 years old. I did not take care of myself, my hair, my skin, anything. I was surviving as a mom on a day to day basis. My life revolved around my kids. I didn’t even have time or energy for my husband. And yes, I was still on my “happy” pills.

Every day I would start trying a little harder. Finding new trendier clothes that actually fit and weren’t from 2005. I put on make up in the morning AND showered AND did my hair. I would upload pictures on Instagram and the likes and follows rolled in. I started gaining more and more confidence as a mom, as a woman, and as a wife. My husband even started making comments about my appearance. Score!!

The Impact

After a few months of exploring new mom fashion and building this small community online I started receiving messages from my followers. The likes and follows are great but the messages I receive are truly the best part. Messages about how amazing my page was to them, how helpful I was, how great it was to see someone real on Instagram, how my funny comments made their day, how inspiring I was. (Ensue the tears while I type this) I couldn’t believe that people would take the time to write to me these wonderful messages. I was on cloud nine that what I was doing was impacting someone out there in social media land. I started taking it more seriously and my confidence in all areas of my life continued to grow.

Even though I was not perfect (not even close) I felt like I was in the right position to stop my meds. Every one will be different and some people need to stay on them forever and that is totally fine! I knew I didn’t need them anymore and quit cold turkey. That was 9 months ago and I still have not gone back. Yes, there are days that are crazy and I want to pull my hair out but there is a difference between one day of stress and living in a constant state of anxiety.

“Just like in life, you can’t worry about what people think of you or you will never be who you are meant to be.”

So this journey has not been about the clothes and fashion. It has been about self exploring, self care, and most importantly confidence. All of which have helped me in all aspects of my life. I understand that not everyone is cut out to be a blogger and put their life on social media. I get it. My husband isn’t completely comfortable with it either but he sees my happiness so he goes along for the ride. I get nasty messages all the time in my inbox about people who dislike what they see. But in the long run, who cares. Just like in life, you can’t worry about what people think of you or you will never be who you are meant to be. You do you, end of story.

So if you have read this post up to this point, thank you. Thank you for supporting me in this journey and thank you for being along for the ride. It’s because of all of you that I get to do this for my job and I can’t wait to see where the next year brings me. Here are my top 10 takeaways from my year of blogging. I hope they can help you in your life because every single one of these items has helped me be a better person and a better mom.

*Top 10 Takeaways From My Year of Being on Social Media*

  1. Be yourself, nobody else is you and you can’t be anyone else. Own it.
  2. Don’t worry about what people think of you or your choices, in the end does it matter what they think?
  3. Go for what you want and don’t let anyone stop you.
  4. Nobody is perfect, even if it looks that way from the outside.
  5. Take care of yourself even if that means having a screaming kid (or three) for 10 minutes while you shower and put on some make up.
  6. Dress up and put on some makeup just for yourself. Especially if you are a mama and get no time to be your “old self”.
  7. Get rid of those clothes from college and invest in some new clothes that fit and make you feel great.
  8. Cherish the small moments and always find some humor in your day, you’ll smile more.
  9. Don’t compare your life to others. Everyone is in a different season of life. We all have ups and downs in life.
  10. Have fun! You only get one life, live it to the fullest.

Who Am I Now?

I am still a mom who questions and googles every thing. I am a wife that doesn’t always do everything right. I’m not perfect and that’s ok. But most importantly, I have more confidence in who I am as a person even if that means posting a video of me taking out the trash for a few laughs.

My journey is just beginning and I can’t wait to see where the next year takes me. I have big dreams and big plans for Mama Loves Shopping and I am so glad you all are along for the ride!

-Stacey

Categories: Lifestyle

Summer Party Essentials!

What’s better than an outside party in the summer? Be prepared with my top five favorite summer party essentials to keep your guests entertained, the drinks cold and the food off the ground! What more can you ask for? I always struggle at the last minute to get everything ready for my guests so check out my list and be prepared!!

#1: Yard Pong, (Amazon $49.99)

yard games

Every party needs some action and this yard pong set is perfect. Every one can get it on the action and set up is minimal. This game is simple to play and you can play with 2 + players. We recently played with 8 people (4 on each team) and it was an absolute blast! The set also comes with a storage bag for easy storage and clean up.

#2: Camp Chairs, (Wal-Mart $40)

outdoor chairs

Camp chairs are a must for any outdoor party! These ones are affordable and sturdy with two cup holders. Triple win! I always have extra camp chairs in our garage because you can use them anywhere. The fold up nicely and come with a bag for easy storage!

#3: Table in a Bag, (Amazon $50)

camping table

This is my favorite item on the list. A table in a bag? Umm, yes please! This table comes completely apart and fits in a small narrow bag. Set up takes about three minutes and is super simple. These are so great to have to set up in the yard with camp chairs for food or drinks! They can also be used for camping or wherever you could use an extra table. Seriously, these tables are amazing. I am slightly obsessed.

#4: Bose Outdoor Waterproof Speaker, (Amazon, $99.00)

outdoor speaker

This speaker is a little pricier than my other picks but it is worth every penny. This speaker is small and mighty. Don’t let the small size fool you, it has fantastic sound. It is also waterproof which is a must for outdoor parties. This speaker can be taken to the pool, beach or on your patio! It is lightweight and portable, the battery life is great as well.

#5: YETI Rambler, (Amazon, $24.99)

drink cooler

Another item that is worth every penny. This wine tumbler keeps drinks cold for hours and is the perfect size for not just wine, but all kinds of delicious summer drinks! They also sell 2-packs for $44.99 which is a great deal, especially since you probably wont be drinking alone!

There are my top 5 summer party essentials for you! Just add some fun summer cocktails and delicious summer food and you are set! Having a pool party? Be sure to read my post on Water Safety here. Have fun this summer and be safe!

-Stacey

Categories: Lifestyle

Summer Water Safety!

We spend our entire summer at the pool. I grew up going to the pool everyday. I swam in my first swim meet at the age of 5 and continued to swim competitively until I was 18. I was also a lifeguard, swim instructor and swim team coach for years. My first child learned how to swim independently at the age of 3, swimming from one side of the pool to the other with no help. I thought I was the master of teaching kids how to swim. That is until my daughter and her stubborn self taught me otherwise. She is 4 and still can not swim, but we are working on it.

One of my biggest fear of being a mom is drowning. I have nightmares about it and can’t imagine the unbelievable pain that parents go through when it happens to their child. And it can happen to anyone, in an instant. What most people don’t know is that drowning is more often than not completely silent. You could be right next to a kid in the pool that is drowning and not know it. Again, I didn’t believe this until my daughter proved me wrong.

I like to make sure my kids know that they absolutely can not swim without a floatie. That means, I take them in the water without the floatie every time we swim to make sure they feel the difference. One of these times I let go of my daughter to see what her reaction would be to falling in the pool, thinking she would at least kick or struggle to get to the surface. She didn’t. She was as still as a board and sunk to the bottom with her big eyes just staring at me in total fear. No kicking, no screaming for help, no struggle- just straight to the bottom in complete silence. Scared me to death. I immediately grabbed her and pulled her to the surface and started teaching what to do if that ever happens again.

As a lifeguard, I had to do a few rescues on toddlers and preschoolers that had fallen in the pool. I saw them all immediately and they were all completely fine but they all were the same exact scenario. Mom comes into the pool with her multiple kids, puts sunscreen on all the kids, fix googles for all her kids, argue with a few of them about eating ten million snacks at the pool….all the things moms have to do. Meanwhile, the toddler/preschooler who usually has a floatie or floatie swimsuit wanders over to the pool and gets in thinking they can swim. And they can’t. It takes about 5 seconds of not paying attention for this to happen. Luckily, most pools have lifeguards and they are trained on these types of situations but some pools have a crazy amount of kids swimming and even the lifeguards can miss things.

There are so many other scenarios that can happen in an instant – visiting a friend’s house with a pool that’s not adequately gated or has an alarm, being on a lake without life vests, vacationing on the beach and your little one wanders to play in the waves (also happened to me). So many scary situations that can all be avoided with the right training and equipment. We need to teach our kids, even babies, about water safety and we need to be DISTRACTION FREE when we are anywhere near a body of water with kids.

7 TIPS FOR WATER SAFETY

Here are some of my tips for avoiding a tragic situation:

  1. ABSOLUTELY NO DISTRACTIONS AT THE POOL, LAKE, OCEAN when you are with small children who can’t swim or are beginning swimmers, especially if there are no lifeguards. Phone, magazine, gossiping…whatever it is, it needs to wait and is not worth your child’s life.
  2. DO NOT use swimsuits with floaties built in. This gives kids a false sense of knowing how to swim. Use a puddle jumper or something similar that is Coast Guard approved and talk to your kids every time when you put it on. Remind them that they can not swim without their floatie on and be VERY STRICT if they try to get in the pool without it on without an adult.
  3. Start teaching younger kids about what happens if they fall in the side of the pool even if they can’t do it yet. The more times you talk about it the better. (kick to the side, pull yourself out or hang on to the side)
  4. Enroll in swim lessons. Sometimes the once a week easy classes are not enough. Look into “fast track” lessons that happen every day for a couple of weeks. If you have a pool in your yard or are frequently at a place that has a pool that does not have lifeguards than you should look into survival swim lessons.
  5. Use “touch swimming” (within an arms reach) of beginning swimmers at all times.
  6. Check on bigger kids that are swimming every few minutes. I have heard of many times where even the best of swimmers drowned from getting stuck behind ladders or from horseplay.
  7. Get a pool fence and/or pool alarm if you have a pool in your backyard! Also, look into taking a portable pool alarm with you on vacation if you are staying at a house with a pool.

Obviously, there are so many more tips that I can go into but really the most important one is watching your kids, especially the young ones that can’t swim. Accidents happen, but drownings can almost ALWAYS be prevented. Check out some of my top products for staying safe in the water and learning how to swim.

Puddle Jumper (30-50 pounds)

Floatie for younger kids (below 30 pounds)

Pool alarm

Kids Band Alarm

-Stacey

Categories: Lifestyle

My Favorite Amazon Products and $400 Giveaway!

It’s no secret that Amazon is the easiest and most convenient way to shop these days. With free 2 day shipping and millions of products just waiting to find a new home, you can’t lose. Well, that’s not true. I have lost many times with sub par products that were not at all what they look like on the screen. But, I have found some FANTASTIC ones that I love! I am breaking down my top 10 Amazon products that I am loving right now (excluding clothes, shoes and accessories of course!).

Also, at the end of this post is a chance to enter to win a $400 Amazon gift card! Don’t miss out, it is super easy to enter!

1. Steamer

I could not live without my steamer. I hate ironing with a passion. This steamer heat up in 45 seconds and takes all the wrinkles out so fast! My husband has even traveled with this one because he hates hotel irons and claims they ruin his clothes. I wouldn’t know because I haven’t touched an iron in years.

2. Baby Sound Machine

I know I don’t technically have a baby anymore but this thing is amazing for $9.95. It will stay on all night if you want it to or it has a timer. It is small enough to take ANYWHERE! It isn’t the loudest sound machine on the market but it has lasted us for years and I love the fact that it is so portable.

3. Egg Cooker

Well, this is turning out to be the most random list ever and we just got started! This little egg cooker is my favorite in the kitchen. It makes 6 perfect hard-boiled eggs, every time. You can adjust the water level to make the eggs to your liking (hard, medium or soft). It is so easy and so fast, with minimal clean-up. Yes, please.

4. Tinkle Razors

If you have been around these parts for awhile, you know I love a good Tinkle razor! The perfect tool for getting rid of all that unwanted hair on your face. Easy to use and so cheap! Try them out to get baby soft skin. Your makeup will go on smoother and your skin will look a lot better.

5. Magnetic Whiteboard Calendar

Another great Amazon product that I could not live without! Nothing fancy, but it keeps all of my kids activities sorted out so that I can easily see what are plans are for the month!

6. Beauty Blenders

If you do not own beauty blenders for your makeup then you need to get these. Now. They are $9 for 5 of them and they will help blend our makeup so that you are getting the full benefits of the make up without the harsh lines!

7. Milani Retouch & Erase

I can’t say enough about this little tube. It works as well, if not better than a lot of my more expensive concealers. It works so well on my dark under eye circles. I will forever buy this stuff from now on. You will not be disappointed, especially for this price!

8. Kid’s Art Kit

This art kit has been a lifesaver with my kids. Get each of your kids one of these kits and put their names on it so there is no fighting. Even my son loves having his own kit and will sit and create for a long time. They love that it has thier very own paper and easel right in the kit.

9. Snap Circuits

Snap Circuits is another great toy for kids. This is the Jr. version but they also have a pro version that is on my son’s list already! (He is 7 and can now independently build all the Jr. ones pretty quickly) start with this one since it is only about $30 and work your way up to the pro!

10. Makeup Organizer

I just ordered this from Amazon and can not wait for it to arrive! Such a great deal for a big makeup kit. It has unbelievable reviews and if it will help organize my crap, I am sold!

There is my top 10 non-clothing products from Amazon right now! Thanks for reading and in case you scrolled all the way down to just enter the giveaway, you can stop scrolling NOW.

$400 Amazon Giveaway

Time to treat yourself to some of your Amazon favorites this Spring!

I’ve teamed up with a group of bloggers to give TWO of you
a chance to win a $400 Amazon Gift Card!

To enter: complete the steps in the rafflecopter below. The more steps you complete,
the more entries you receive, and the better your chance at winning!
This giveaway runs until Tuesday, June 18th at 12am PST

Winner will be announced here. Good Luck!
*this giveaway is in no way sponsored by Amazon.

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