Home Management

I grew up having pretty traditional family Thanksgiving. Visitors from out-of-town, a huge turkey and all the trimmings, what seemed like as many pies as people. My mom prepared for days, no, WEEKS, for this one giant meal. The...

Do you remember the moment you first held your newborn in your arms? You held him close, promised to protect him, and in the back of your mind wondered, “How the heck am I going to afford to send you...

When I was reading Beth’s article on Costco vs. Target, I immediately thought “I can’t live without Target!” but then my next thought was remembering all of the clean eating staples I buy at Costco. I could definitely live without...

I am the Queen of Carbs. I love to bake and I’ve been involving my kids in the process since my older son was a baby. We mostly bake cookies, muffins, bread, and cakes, and this is our favorite...

This is a great project to give your existing furniture an inexpensive update - or give a new piece your own style! Our kitchen bar stools get a lot of use and therefore quite dirty. My daughter Baylor's highchair used to connect...

It seems that I have unofficially broken up with Facebook and I’m having a full-fledged affair with Instagram.  I love Instagram. Really, I do. (Pictured from top left corner, counter clockwise, to top right corner: Kristen Forgione, Alex Evjen, Heather...

Sweet and spicy recipes to love I recently discovered this amazing honey at Fry's Grocery Store, and it is a must buy! It is called Mike's Hot Honey and it is the perfect blend of spicy heat and sweet delicious...

So, it's still hot out. (That's the jist of how I start every blog post for SMB. You're welcome.) Some of us have preschoolers who don't begin school for a few more weeks... The bigger siblings who might be marginally helpful at...

I can hardly believe it, but Easton is 11 months old now, which means that I'm in the middle of planning his FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY. How fun! In my planning I've been gathering some great local resources for putting...

If you can have an addiction to pictures - I have one. I'm always THAT person in every group setting who insists on taking a picture to document the occasion. Love me or hate me - it's just who I...

Did you recently move? Do you feel a loss of identity, uprootedness, grief, sadness, disappointment or comparing what was to what is? Then congratulations, you’re not alone. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 40 million people move across...

Boudoir. Does your heart freeze, and your stomach clench at the mere mention of that one word? With a shake of your head you say, "That was something I should've done before I had kids."  Motherhood is incredible. It will stretch...

About ten years ago, I found myself in a new apartment, in a new state, living completely by myself for the first time. I didn’t have much – since I had recently sold most of my belongings to travel....

It's been said thousands of times that "communication in marriage is key". However, it is often so difficult for us to communicate with our spouses. We might have seen how our parents communicated and never knew any different, or we might...

I spent a lot of time decorating this past weekend. Did you? While I always end up loving the finished product, the process of decorating is a bit of a roller coaster for me. Every year when it comes...

 It’s October, and while it may not feel like it here in Phoenix, the holiday season is upon us. (I know, I can’t believe it either!) Before we dive head-first into the demands of the holiday season by putting on our decorating-baking-DIYing-celebrating-crafting-photo-taking...

Poptails to the rescue! If you parent children through an Arizona summer, these three statements are big facts: It is ridiculously hot. You have a bunch of popsicles in your freezer. Everyone in the family is at a daily risk...

Trying to find your Zen place doesn’t necessarily mean you need to trek across town to a yoga studio. You can create a space in your home to practice your best yoga pose or relax with deep breathing. Here...

This year I taught four kindergarteners to read.  Really, truly read.  As a mom of six kids, I’ve been a part of this process before and marveled with gratitude at my child’s school teacher, wondering, “How do they do it?”  This year,...

January was a month of big changes for my family and for me personally. Everything changed at the start of the month and as the weeks went on, all the things that changed as 2017 began... well, they changed...

The team at SMB is so LUCKY to receive products, try new local venues, and hear about new things to do all the time. It is so much fun! But we want to share all of these fun new finds with all of you

Currently we are in the midst of a very tight budgeting season. We now have to watch every single dollar we spend. We are so incredibly blessed, though, because we know this is a very first world problem. We...

The Arizona State Fair is a tradition that over one million people enjoy each fall. With nearly 100 rides, tons of food, vendors, and booths, plus animals, competitions, and performances, there’s something for everyone. When the 2020 fair was postponed,...

It may still be 100 degrees outside, but by every Halloween I am ready for cooler temps. I know it is getting cooler outside, but it doesn't really feel Fall-like when the kids can't wear elaborate, fuzzy, well-layered Halloween costumes without...

Note: Sodee Naturals provided a generous gift card to the reviewer but any opinions expressed are purely that of the author. What a Hidden Gem!  Sodee Naturals truly is an amazing find, nestled among Old Town’s cutest shops and boutiques. Not...

Hectic work schedules. Hectic holiday shopping. Hectic school programs to attend. Where is the time these days to sit down, enjoy family time, and consume a hearty meal? It is possible. All you need is a little meal planning with a...

Is your tree overflowing with lemons?  We are revisiting a post from 2012 with five unique ideas for what to do with all that citrus! ~~~~~ Every year from December to April, we are gifted with an endless supply of lemons...

The following situations are based on my experiences. Please contact your doctor for any medical advice regarding your personal circumstance. Okay, to all the sick moms out there… We’ve talked about my journey and trying to be a good mom...

If you are like me, you have a laundry list of people to buy for, but are trying to avoid breaking the bank. Buying an awesome gift doesn't mean you have to spend a small fortune. Whether you need stocking stuffer...

I was looking online for suggestions for encouraging the kids to use good behavior. In the past I've used a reward system like reward jars which have worked for my kids and have worked for me. Since the quarantine...