It’s 9 pm on a Tuesday night and I’m sitting in a very quiet salon, under the blowdryer, having my hair done. Usually I’m not one to enjoy being out and about on a weeknight relatively late (yes, 9 pm on a weeknight is late, thankyouverymuch) but tonight it feels pretty darn nice to savor a little peace and quiet. I’m not sure I have a cohesive post in my head right now, so I thought I would share a … Read More
The “It” List for Babies and New Moms
Lately, as I’m reflecting on Ainsley’s first year of life, I’ve been thinking about the items I wish I would have registered for and the items that would have been welcome during those first few months of Ainsley’s life. You see, there are the items that mom’s register for and the items that later on they wish they had registered for. I pulled together a list of the items that fit that bill for me in hopes that it would … Read More
Easy White Chicken Enchiladas
Now that the holidays are over, I’m really, really looking forward to getting into a bit more of a routine once again. You too? While I love the go-go-go of the holidays and all the time spent with friends and family, there is something really nice about the rhythm of everyday that makes my world go round. Joe’s, too, I think. We’re routine people through and through because we’ve found that when we don’t have a routine, things fall … Read More
Merry Christmas!
An early Merry Christmas to you, friends! Today I wanted to share a few of our holiday photos that were taken earlier this fall. It’s amazing to me how quickly Ainsley changes. She looks so different now than she did when these photos were taken less than two months ago! Tis the life of a baby, right? There are a lot of reflective, mushy and very true things to say about 2015. It was SUCH a big year for our … Read More
How to *authentically* monetize your blog
Monetizing your blog. Chances are if you have a blog, you’ve either thought about ways to make money on your site or you’re currently pursuing ways to make money. From the start I’ve been in favor of making money on my site; writing a blog and producing quality content is time consuming and sometimes expensive (especially when you’re developing recipes of posting photos of outfits, etc.) so it seems sensible to mitigate those expenses when possible. Just because you make … Read More
9 Months In + 9 Months Out :: The Post-Baby Body
I had been meaning to write this post a bit sooner, closer to when Ainsley was 9 months old. She’s now almost 10 months, but the thoughts remain the same. Before having Ainsley I was really worried about the physical transformation of pregnancy and the toll it would take on my body. Having been so outspoken about our trouble having a baby, I didn’t voice many of those concerns for fear that it would sound shallow and silly in light … Read More
Favorite Baby Items :: 6-9 Months
1. Fisher-Price Baby Grand Piano I bought one of these when Ainsley was around 4 months old and it’s been such a hit ever since! She continues to play with it at 9+ months and loves to stand, play with the keys and play music. It’s one of the least annoying music-making toys she has. 😉 2. VTech Sit to Stand Walker We don’t have this exact version (we have an older one from a garage sale…) but Ainsley has … Read More
Work + Motherhood :: During Cold + Flu Season
The Hofmeyer family has been having a rough go at it lately with illness. I have been told that the first winter with kids is ROUGH – a non-stop merry-go-round of passing around crud from church nurseries and play dates and shopping carts. (PS: I was reminded by my friend Laura not to look for someone to blame when she shared this article!) Over Thanksgiving in Florida with my family Ainsley spiked a high fever from an ear infection. After … Read More
Holiday Gift Guide (for him)
1. Nest Learning Thermostat My husband loves to save money and he loves tech-y things. The Nest combines the two! This thermostat has gotten rave reviews from all our friends who have one, and I’m dying to purchase one when our home remodel is complete. It learns how your live, and then adjusts your thermostat automatically, saving your money and keeping your home a comfy temp. 2. Cell Phone Case/Wallet This cell phone case has a pocket inside that holds credit … Read More
The Daddy-Daughter Connection
When we told people we were having a little girl, I got a lot of comments from friends and family about the daddy-daughter connection that our baby would have with her dad. I’m super close to my own dad, so I was hopeful that Ainsley would feel the same connection with Joe. Over the last 9 months, it’s been so fun to see their relationship develop and grow. Joe will be the first to tell you that the first three … Read More
Christmas Gift Guide for Her (all under $100)
1. “Wifey” T-Shirt | Ily Couture I bought the sweatshirt version of this for my sister who just got married this year and it was a hit! I own an Ily Couture product and absolutely love how soft the material is that they use and the cute, cheeky sayings. 2. The Quinn Necklace | Natalie Borton I love supporting small business owners, and I was so excited when my blog buddy Natalie decided to open up her own jewelry shop. Her … Read More
Homemade Vanilla Eggnog Latte
This week we got hammered with more snow and ice, and while I’m usually prone to complain about the winter weather, this year I’ve made it my goal to be more positive about winter, focusing on the coziness of the season, the special drinks and treats that we get to enjoy when the weather is cold and the fun snow-focused activities. Plus, is there anything more peaceful that a late-evening walk outside when the snow is falling and the streets … Read More