Beth Grady
After growing up in The Valley, Beth Grady took a hiatus from the desert to see what life was in like in Los Angeles and New York. She and her husband moved back to her hometown of Scottsdale where she’s now a proud girl mom to her five and eight-year-old daughters, and happy puppy mom to the world’s craziest 1-year-old “super mutt”. Beth spent time in the corporate marketing world doing some fun things for Us Weekly and Peter Piper Pizza, but has since said good-bye to celebrities and pepperoni to start her own marketing consulting business where she works with local small businesses. A fan of cold brew, kombucha, barre, pilates, and impromptu dance parties, Beth can navigate through her nearest Target with her eyes closed.
Bye Bye Baby: Sending Your Youngest Off To Elementary School
Earlier this month I hung up the world's smallest uniform skort and stared at it trying not to cry. It’s a size 3 that I dug out of the used uniform bin at school...
The Head Lice Prevention Tips That Every Parent Should Know
This is my 7-year-old’s hair. It’s been like that since she was 4; super thick, super long with a slight natural wave, and the envy of many adults (myself included). So naturally I freaked...
The Polar Express vs The North Pole Experience: Which Should You Visit?
Splash pad or pool? Local pumpkin patch or buy pumpkins at Trader Joe's? The Polar Express or The North Pole Experience? All are common questions you hear as a Valley parent, yet I had...
Mom’s School Supply List
You’ve been to Target and Walmart, then went back home and filled your Amazon cart with school supplies. Backpacks bought. Pencils and pens procured. School shoes scored. The kids are all set for the...
Staycationing at The Scott Resort & Spa {sponsored post}
A thank you to The Scott Resort & Spa for providing my family with a one-night staycation. All opinions expressed are my own.
As soon as I stepped into the lush grounds of the...
Sunscreen Sanity Savers
Sunscreen. The most used AZ summer product and for me the most frustrating one. The bottles end up super greasy and leak all over my bag. They're also bulky. And I have the hardest...
Quick & Easy Father’s Day Gift Tradition: All About Dad Printable
If you’ve been searching for a handmade, Father’s Day gift that would come from your kids’ hearts, be made with love by their own tiny hands, and show dad just how much he’s loved…...
Quick, Easy, and Kid-Friendly! Valentine Pretzel Hugs and Kisses
As meticulous as I am, I love baking with my kids. It's one of the only times where a big mess doesn't freak me out and I don't feel the need for perfection. I learned...
We Are All “Bad Moms” (And That’s A Good Thing!)
I struggled to write this month’s blog post. I was having a hard time getting back into the school routine. I was forgetting things, running late, and constantly feeling one step behind. My husband...
Last-Minute Online Gift Ideas
Procrastination. Too much to do. Mom brain. Toddler turning your shopping list into “art”. Just a few of the reasons why we might forget to buy a gift. Of course, we never realize that we left...
Think Outside the Gift Box: Gifts of Experiences
It happens every year, you find yourself stuck on what to get "that person." You know, the one who already has everything? Or maybe it's someone who is working on downsizing. Or maybe you're just...
#TreatYourself: 7 Pumpkin Indulgences
Ahh... fall in Arizona! Goodbye 100 degree temps, hello 90's, maybe 80's during a cold spell. While we don't see leaves changing colors, we do see the signs at Starbucks for the Pumpkin Spice Latte. That's what...
10 Reasons Why I Love Target More Than Costco
Target. Costco.
Two words that send moms into declarations of love while conjuring up gleeful images of roaming the aisles with reckless abandon, scoring deal after deal. While both stores offer large quantities of family items,...
Inside Scoop on Fun: Six Local Memberships You Haven’t Thought Of
The Valley is brimming with kid-friendly exhibits and attractions!
There are so many great places to visit again and again, why not consider a membership? Memberships pay for themselves after just a few visits, even if...
A Reality TV Series About My Reality?
I'm probably one of the few people on the planet who doesn’t watch Dance Moms. It’s because I grew up dancing and spent time in the competition scene, and the show is nowhere close to my reality. But if it wasn't...
Kids Birthday Parties: 10 Perfect Indoor Locations
After three years of stressing over throwing DIY parties at the local park for my oldest, I was ready for a change. Especially since the Scottsdale weather loves to play tricks on us at...
Flushing Away My Fears: Post Traumatic Potty Training Stress
It’s that time. Actually, it’s been that time for awhile…
Potty Training
I hear those two words and my entire body tenses. To say that my oldest was difficult in the potty training department is an...
After the Spring Clean: Where to Donate Household Items and Other “Stuff”
My husband and I started our spring cleaning early this year and recently completed "Operation Park the Cars in the Garage." After declaring victory over the clutter, we found ourselves with FOUR carloads of items...
10 New Emojis Moms Need In 2016
One of the most anticipated tech updates of 2015 was the introduction of new emojis (tacos!) for smartphone users.
Emojis have quickly become a regular part of messaging lingo and like millions of text messaging enthusiasts I...
Before Pinterest: 6 Things We Did “Back Then”
Like millions of people, I love Pinterest. I can get lost for hours reading pin after pin from everything to how to add volume to my hair to asking my child the "right" questions...
Part 2: Look Amazing in Holiday Family Photos! The Glam Squad’s Beauty and Fashion...
'Tis the season for holiday cards! That means it's time for professional family photos, a great tradition since you know you're guaranteed to have one "normal" picture of your family every year. Let's face it...
Part 1: Look Amazing in Holiday Family Photos! Local Beauty and Fashion Resources to...
Part of my holiday countdown involves stepping up my beauty routine and finding the perfect outfits for holiday parties and the annual family photo session. What is now a holiday card staple, the family photo session...
The Kiddie Style Files: Unwritten Rules of Childhood Fashion
I'm mentally admiring the now-famous Instagram account of the little girl who, with the help of her super-creative mom, created adorable outfits out of paper that are now being made into real-life threads by J Crew…...
Say What? What Working Moms and Stay At Home Moms Don’t Want to Hear
I’m in a somewhat unique position having been both a working mom and a stay at home mom, so I'm very familiar with the stereotypes of both situations.
Although most people mean well, there are...
Mom’s Got the Kindergarten Blues: The Unexpected Emotions of a Kindergarten Parent
I never understood why parents got so emotional about their child starting school until about a week before watching my oldest walk through the door of her Kindergarten classroom. While exciting, it also made me...
Sunday Meal Planning Series {Blueberry Oatmeal Healthy Toddler Muffins}
One of my favorite toddler snacks is homemade mini muffins. Small enough to fit into tiny hands, "toddler muffins” make great finger foods for little ones. They’re portable- toss a couple in a baggie and you’ve...
Check ‘Em Out! Free Summer Library Programs for Kids
Like many Valley moms, I panicked as summer approached. How would I keep my kids occupied? I needed free, indoor activities we could attend when we (mainly, me) started to go stir crazy from being stuck...
2015 Father’s Day Gift Guide
June is here and in addition to pool parties and barbecues, it's dad's turn to be appreciated! We all know that dad's rule, but finding the perfect Father's Day gift can be a challenge....
The Unexpected: Mother’s Day in the CICU
I woke up on my first Mother's Day as a mom of two in an uncomfortable hospital recliner. Stuck in the Cardiac ICU at Phoenix Children's Hospital for four days, it would be another four...
A Mom’s Crisis: Can You Have an “I”dentity and a “Mom”dentity?
It’s been almost a year since I made a career transition from the corporate world to the SAHM world, and surprisingly, I feel like I’m just now finding my footing.
Why did it take me...