Wednesday, June 24, 2026

Our Week - The One with Summer, Week 4 (Cleaning Out, Dance Classes, Jacob in the Kitchen, a Movie, Prepping for Nashville, and Father’s Day)

 *This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Much of summer week four was spent at home because it was the calm between travels.  We kicked off the month with a week-long beach trip, then Brian promptly left for a work trip, and we have two more trips back-to-back at the end of this month, so I spent a lot of this week prepping for the trips, prepping the blog for the trips, and catching up (still) from being gone on our first trip of the month.

Monday, June 15

Monday morning, I slept until 8 AM and then I headed downstairs to have breakfast and unload the dishwasher.  I worked on my blog posts for Wednesday and the following Monday, and then mid-morning, I got showered and ready for the day.

I had to run to one of my doctor’s offices to sign some paperwork for insurance (our new insurance has been a huge pain in the butt this year), and then I swung by the liquor store to grab a gift for Brian for Father’s Day.  I ended my morning out shopping at Walmart and Publix for groceries, and then I headed home to put everything away.

While I was gone, the kids had started their summer homework and tidied the house, and it was good to have the summer homework underway.  We’re doing so much traveling this summer, so we’re using all our slow at-home days to tackle whatever we can, so it doesn’t sneak up on us at the last minute.

After the groceries were put away, Brian, the kids, and I had lunch together, and then I headed to my office to do a few things.  We had found out that Myles Smith was opening for Ed Sheeran in Nashville, and I was soooo excited because I love him so much.  I went to look up more of his music to find that there’s not much out there that I don’t already have, but that he is releasing an entire album.  By the time this post goes live, the album will have already come out, but it wasn’t available yet the day I was looking.  If you don’t know who he is, you should check him out! 

I finished my blog post for Wednesday after that, and then I read my devotional and did a Bible study before tidying my office and texting with my cousin, Shelby, to discuss our upcoming trip to Denver.

The kids made blueberry muffins late in the afternoon and I watered all our indoor plants and started on dinner, and then we all sat down to eat together… chicken stir fry, rice, and veggies.

After the kitchen was clean, Brian and the kids went outside to play basketball.  It was so rainy all last week that we didn’t get much outdoor time, but we did get out when we could!  While they played, I went for a walk, and I did my whole route.

Everyone got showered later in the evening, and then we finished Sister Act 2 before the kids went to bed.  Brian and I watched some more of Your Friends & Neighbors after that, and then I finished my book before we went to sleep.

 

Tuesday, June 16

Tuesday, I was up at 7:45 AM.  I’m not a fan of waking up that early, but I do set an alarm during the summer most days, so I don’t sleep too late.  Brian was already at work, and the kids were already up, which was a shocker.  We all had breakfast and I unloaded the dishwasher.  It rained all day Tuesday, and when I say all day, I mean ALL.DAY.LONG without ceasing.

That, of course, meant one thing – a cozy day was in order!  We turned on all the lamps and twinkle lights, I put some oils in the diffuser, and then I headed to my office to do a few things before spending some time with the kids.  On my short list Tuesday was:

 

-       Catching up on emails

-       Catching up on a few things in my planner

-       Some blog housekeeping

-       Working on my blog post for Monday a little more

-       Paying a bill

-       Contacting someone about a bill that hadn’t gone through insurance

-       Calling the allergist to get an itemized bill from earlier this year (I’m telling y’all, we have had so many issues since we got our new insurance)

 

After that, it was time to hang out with the kids.  Olivia wanted to clean out her big basket in our kitchen that holds all her art stuff, so we turned on some music and got that done.  While she worked on that, I also cleaned out and organized the table above the baskets that houses writing utensils, slime, paper, and some other random items, and within five minutes, it was looking good again.  It was such a slow, cozy morning, and we all enjoyed it even though we didn’t do anything super special.




We all had lunch together after that, and then I finally finished cleaning out the kitchen.  There wasn’t much to do, and a couple of areas didn’t really need anything, but I did finally get our bar cart organized as it had been overrun with items since I have an icon glass addiction.  Hahahaha.

After that was done, I got showered and ready for the day and then I lay down for ten minutes to rest my neck.  I was so sore last week and SO DIZZY and it was SO ANNOYING. 

I grabbed one more thing online for Brian’s Father’s Day gift after that, and then I got everything else wrapped for him and for my own dad. 

I spent the next little bit doing my devotional and doing two Bible studies while I enjoyed a cup of tea, and I also edited more pictures for Monday’s blog post.

Olivia had her first day of summer dance classes Tuesday afternoon, so we had to get out in the rain – boooo.  Haha.  And while I was gone, Jacob completed all of his ASL III Honors summer homework, so that was a check off the list!  Then, he and I went over his school supplies list for next year.  There’s quite a bit on the list, but thankfully, all his binders are still in excellent condition from last year and he has most of the other items, too, so he doesn’t need much – just some new pens, paper, highlighters, and a few other small things that we can get any time.

I did the dishes after that, and then I put some more oils in the diffuser, I turned on some jazz music, and I grabbed another cup of tea (my third for the day for anyone who is counting) before settling in with Jacob to play Scrabble.  He beat me again, but that does not surprise me.  Ha!  Meanwhile, it was still pouring rain.

Brian left to pick up Olivia from dance and then Jacob made beef and parmesan pasta with zucchini for us.  He’s learned a few things in the kitchen, but he hasn’t really ever made an entire meal from start to finish, so I thought this one would be a good place to start since it’s simple and it takes place all in one pan.  I told him what needed to be done, and he did pretty much the entire thing from start to finish.

We all ate together and then we cleaned the kitchen.  I jumped on my stair stepper after that because I couldn’t walk with all the rain.

After the kids were ready for bed, we watched the last episode of The Mandalorian as a refresher since we were taking the kids to see it Wednesday evening.  Then, we watched a little more of America’s Got Talent before the kids went to bed.  Brian and I finished the evening with some more of Your Friends & Neighbors, and then we went to bed.  I felt pretty bad all day adjusting to this new tongue posture and I could tell it was greatly affecting my neck and my balance on Tuesday, so I was happy to finally get to bed and shut it all down.

 

Wednesday, June 17

Wednesday morning, I was up at 7:45 AM and I did my usual breakfast and dishwasher unloading routine.  It was rainy most of the day again, so I knew it was going to be another day spent indoors. 

The kids slept later than I did, and they were just coming downstairs when I was going to my office.  I had a pretty long list of things to tackle since we were leaving town Friday morning, so I settled in to do those things:

 

-       Print some itemized bills that had arrived for insurance

-       Catch up on both email inboxes

-       Catch up on blog reading

-       Catch up on a couple things in my planner

-       Download some new music

-       Wash clothes that everyone needed for our trip

-       Start packing for Nashville

-       Wash the kids’ backpacks

 

I took a break and rested my neck mid-morning and then I checked on Olivia’s bedroom.  She had been cleaning all morning, and she wanted me to come and see it since it had been restored to a very tidy, organized state.

Then, I finally found a place for my vibration plate, and I cut a piece of foam board to go under it, so it’ll slide in and out of its spot easily.  It has suction cups on the bottom to stick to hard floors, making it impossible to slide across carpet, so the foam board solved that problem!

The kids and I had lunch together and then we all put the laundry away.  Then, the rain miraculously stopped long enough for us to get out and walk one mile together.  It was HOT and humid, though, since the sun was peeking through, but just after we got home, it started pouring again.


We all got showered and ready after our walk, and then the kids filmed themselves doing one of those you make the face, I’ll make the sound videos while I finished editing pictures for part two of our beach recap.  It was actually so funny.

I put the kettle on for some tea, and I put away the rest of the clean dishes that had dried while I waited.  Then I finished typing part two of our beach trip and I did my devotional for the day. 

I finished getting ready, tidied the house, and shut everything down, and then the kids and I met Brian at Chick-Fil-A for an early dinner before our movie.  When we got there, though, we saw that they were doing some kind of kids’ dress up night, so the place was PACKED.  We ended up pivoting and trying Raising Cane’s.  We hadn’t been there yet, and we ended up liking it a lot.  The décor is super cute, too.  We love a mirrorball.  And Jacob loves a silly face.  ;o)

We headed to the movie theater after that to see The Mandalorian and Grogu, and we all enjoyed it.  I am not a Star Wars fan, but I do love me some Baby Yoda (and Pedro Pascal), so I was content to see it with them.  Jacob’s friend, Graham, happened to be there with his family, so he came to sit with us. 


After it was over, I swung by CVS for something I needed, and Brian and the kids headed home.  When we got home, there was a beautiful sunset, so Olivia and I went outside to see it and look at our pretty mimosa trees in full bloom.  Then we watched a few minutes of America’s Got Talent and the kids went to bed.  Brian and I watched some more of Your Friends & Neighbors, and then we called it a night, too.





Thursday, June 18

Thursday morning, I was up at 7:45 AM again and it was yet another dreary day.  After I ate breakfast and the dishwasher was unloaded, I finished my blog post for Monday, I started and finished my blog post for Tuesday, and I started my blog post for Wednesday (this post that you’re reading now). 

The kids got themselves packed for Nashville (and I followed up to make sure that they had everything they needed) and then I packed myself.  (And my toiletry bag is on sale this week!)


We all had lunch together and then I worked on some content for social media before showering and getting ready for the day.  I had just a few minutes to work on this blog post a bit more, and then the kids and I had to head to music lessons.

Unfortunately, we had some nasty weather in the afternoon, and it started about five minutes before we had to leave (because, of course!), so it wasn’t a fun drive to music lessons, but thankfully, it’s a short drive.  At that point, we were under a tornado watch, a flood watch, and a wind advisory.

I sat with Jacob for his lesson, and he worked some more on the songs in his learning book rather than working on something fun.  Then, when the kids were done, we headed straight to Olivia’s dance studio to drop her off at dance class.  Jacob and I headed home after that, and I was so happy to be out of the yucky weather. 

I put away the dishes that had dried, and then I did my devotional and a Bible study for the day.  I also transferred photos from my phone to my computer so I would have a clean slate for the weekend since we were traveling… I always take a million pictures and videos when we travel, so I needed that clean slate.

The storm ramped up shortly after that, so I went outside to check it out.  I had just started videoing when the rain picked up so hard that our gutter started washing away.  There was a bolt of lightning and a crack of thunder at nearly the same time, so I knew it was right on top of us, and then I got a tornado warning alert, so I hightailed it inside and called Jacob downstairs to get ready to take cover. 

Brian was sitting in his car in the parking lot at Olivia’s dance studio waiting to pick her up, so he had to go inside and shelter in there, and Olivia texted me from her friend’s iPad to let me know that they were huddling in the hallway. 

Jacob came straight down and the first thing he said was, “Do you want me to grab Sheepie?”  I thought that was the sweetest thing that the first thing he thought of was to grab Olivia’s favorite stuffie, y’all.  He knows how much Sheepie means to her, and it just made my heart swell when he said that.  He’s so thoughtful and he’s always looking out for her.  When I told him how thoughtful it was, he said, “Well, I just know that if I’d had a favorite stuffie since I was born, I would want it to be safe.”  Oh, my goodness.

We got the all clear about 20 minutes later, so Brian and Olivia made a run for it, and thankfully, they made it home safely.  Jacob was going to make dinner again, but at that point, it was way later than we’d needed to start, so I just went ahead and did it so we could get it done faster.

We all sat down and ate sausage, peppers, and onions tacos for dinner when they got home, and then after everyone was showered and ready for bed, we watched some more AGT followed by Your Friends & Neighbors after the kids went to bed. 

 

Friday, June 19

Friday, we were in Nashville, so I’ll be recapping that in a separate post.

 

Saturday, June 20

Saturday, we were in Nashville, too!

 

Sunday, June 21

Sunday, we got home from Nashville a little before 5 PM and we had just enough time to unpack the car, unpack some of our bags, give Brian his Father’s Day gifts, and do one load of laundry before it was time to head to my parents’ house for Sunday dinner.  On a normal Sunday, we probably would have skipped since we were so tired and had so much to do, but it was Father’s Day, and I wanted to be able to spend some time with my Daddy!  We also hadn’t had Sunday dinner since May, so it had been a whole month!




Momma made a yummy dinner, we opened a bottle of wine, and we had brownies for dessert.  It was nice to be back over there after so many weeks off. 

We got home a little after eight, and then we watched a few minutes of AGT before the kids went to bed early.  Everybody was exhausted after our very late night Saturday.  Brian and I watched a little more of Your Friends & Neighbors after they went to bed, and then we went to bed a little earlier, too. 

And now for some current things…

 

Currently Reading

In June, I read 6 books – The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez (5 stars… I love her novels).  Then, I read Don’t Let Him In by Howard Linskey (4 stars).  I read Heart the Lover by Lily King, and I really enjoyed it (5 stars).  Forget me Not by Stacy Willingham was next (4 stars), followed by Forever, Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid (4 stars).  And finally, I read One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle, and I loved it so much.  She can do no wrong.  I have given every single one of her books 5 stars, and this one was no exception.

I’m also still reading my new devotional for the year – Called by Name: 365 Daily Devotions for Catholic Women by Kelly M. Wahlquist and I’m still reading my Bible along with The Bible in a Year with Father Mike Schmitz. 

 

Currently Watching

With B: In June, Brian and I made our way through both seasons of Your Friends & Neighbors, and that was about it, I think!

With the Kids: In June, we watched Just Go with It, Meet the Parents, My Girl, The Devil Wears Prada, Sweet Home Alabama, Edward Scissorhands, Sister Act, Sister Act 2, the last episode of The Mandalorian, The Mandalorian and Grogu, and we started the new season of America’s Got Talent.  Olivia and I watched Center Stage alone one evening and the boys finished Guardians of the Galaxy that they’d started forever ago. We also had a family home videos night where we watched old videos of Maui and the kids when they were little.

Alone: Just the occasional viewing of The Wedding Planner and How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days on Sunday afternoons while I work.

 

Currently Listening To

I’m still listening to the podcast The Swiftie and the Scholar as new episodes come out.  And we’ve been listening to a lot of Ed Sheeran since we were gearing up for our concert!  I just downloaded Myles Smith’s new album, too, so I’m sure that’ll be on repeat for a while!  Oh, and of course, I Knew It, I Knew You by Taylor Swift.  Gaaaahhhh I love that song so much!  I really hope she wins an Oscar for it.

Happy Wednesday, y’all!

Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Amazon Prime Day Starts Today!

 *This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Amazon Prime Day starts today and there are thousands and thousands of deals!  I thought I'd highlight a few of them today and I'll also be including a very long list of my favorite Amazon purchases of all time, some of which will also be included in the sale.  

Let's get started!

I wear stretchy headbands every time I work out and I love them because they keep my baby hairs in place and they prevent sweat from dripping down my face.  They have a no slip backing so they stay in place throughout the entire workout!

A good floral wreath is a necessity for the front door here in the south in the summertime.  This one is beautiful and it's highly rated.

This is totally random, but Brian loves his slim wallet that he purchased several years ago.  He never carries a big, clunky one anymore.  This slim wallet is included in the sale and it would make a great stocking stuffer.  I know it's soooo early to be thinking about Christmas, but this is actually when I start!

Side note, I cracked up when I was scrolling along and saw this item on the list.  I mean, I know what it's used for, but it does look a little crazy.

I can't believe I'm talking about jelly shoes on the blog, but here we are.  These are SO trendy right now, and while I won't be partaking, so many people are.  These are actually kind of cute, I have to admit.

This viral lip sleeping mask will be included in the sale, so it's the perfect time to buy.

We bought the kids electric toothbrushes recently and they love them so much that I put one on my list, too.  I'm considering this one...

I LOVE my Ninja blender and I use it every single day to make my smoothies.  It comes with individual blending cups so you don't have to use the big blender every day, and I just found out today that they have this version that's much less expensive and it takes up much less space in the cabinet.  If I had known this one existed, I wouldn't have purchased the big one!

This has been on my list for years, and per usual, it's included in the sale.  One of these days I'm going to pull the trigger and grab one!

Have y'all seen this lift up storage bed on social media?!  It is GENIUS.  And it's cute.  It's included in the sale, too.  I wonder if it's actually comfortable, though...

Our kids (and I) are OBSESSED with these treats.  Olivia was sad the other day because the ones she got for Easter are all gone now.  I came across this while I was looking through all the upcoming deals and I had no idea they had this many flavors.  (And yes, I know this is totally random, but it's on my radar now.  Haha.)

This Oura Ring will be on sale, too.  A lot of people I know are making the switch from the Apple Watch to the Oura Ring, but I just can't bring myself to do it... yet anyway.

Anyway, you get the gist... there are thousands and thousands of deals across all product categories, so if you're shopping for anything particular this week, let me know, and I'll be happy to try to find a deal for you!  Amazon has pretty much everything you could ever want, and more often than not, they have the best prices.

Here are some of my favorite things that I've ever purchased from Amazon...

Lymphatic Face Contour Brush

I have been using this daily for a while now, and I can tell that it has made a difference.  I’d been having issues with my left ear – I started having pain in front of it recently and I worried I was getting an ear infection, but it didn’t make sense that it was an infection because the inside of my ear didn’t actually hurt… it was just the spot right in front of my ear opening that hurt, and it only hurt to the touch.  Well, it turns out that there’s a lymph node right in front of each ear, and those nodes can get swollen if they’re not draining properly.  After just a few days of using my lymphatic drainage brush, the pain finally went away after weeks of having it.  In addition to that, when I use the brush first thing in morning, it does decrease the puffiness in my face (except my under-eye bags… I’ve had those since I was little, so they’re not going anywhere), but the best part is – IT FEELS SO GOOD.  It’s honestly my favorite part of my morning routine now because it’s so energizing – and calming at the same time – and it just feels so good.  The brush is so soft, and it feels amazing on my sensitive skin.  It doesn’t leave any marks or irritation behind and I am definitely a believer in this little brush!  This will be a part of my morning routine going forward.  It also feels good on my jaws since I clench in my sleep.  (Side note, I have done soooo much research about lymphatic drainage, and I found out that there’s a specific way that you must do it or it won’t work.  You'll want to find a tutorial to ensure you're doing it properly and there are plenty of them on YouTube.  Also, as all of you probably know, I am not a doctor, so I’m only letting you know what works for me.  Always talk to your own doctor before you start any kind of new health regimen.  <3)



Ice Molds

I bought these ice molds for Brian, and we love them so much that we bought two more packs!  We use these all the time – for every type of cocktail – and they make every drink look so fancy.  The ice also doesn’t melt quickly at all when they’re in bigger pieces, which is ideal because you can get through an entire cocktail before it gets watered down, making the last sip just as good as the first!  They’re easy to use, the ice is easy to extract (just run them under a little bit of water and then pop them right out), and they elevate every single drink!  Oh, and the molds come in lots of fancy designs – bulldogs, hearts, roses, diamonds, and a few more!



Dainty Gold Bracelets

Dainty gold bracelets are trending right now, and I found these for such a great price.  They are beautiful and well-made and they look great.  They are only 14K gold plated, so we'll see how long they hold up!  I received numerous DMs about them when I posted a photo at the beach, so I thought I'd share them here, too!  They actually look better in person than in the picture!



Leggings Organizer

This leggings organizer is amazing!!  I have so many pairs of leggings – some of which are for working out, some are for leisure, and some are for dressing up (Spanx faux leather) – and it was hard to see what was what when I was storing them in a basket.  I absolutely love this one with clear pockets so I can find what I’m looking for easily.

 


Space Saving Hangers

I bought the organizer for my leggings and I realized I had no place to hang it because all of the horizontal closet space on the side that holds my dresses and pants was completely full.  There was tons of vertical space being wasted, so I had to find a solution for those before I could do anything with the leggings organizer.

Enter these space-saving hangers!

Y’all, why I didn’t buy these years ago to give my closet some breathing room is beyond me!  These. Things. Are. Fantastic.  Each hanger holds six pairs of shorts or skirts (you could even use them for pants) and they hang vertically to utilize all of your closet space.  The clips slide back and forth on the hangers so you can space them however you need to, and the best part is… you can attach the hangers to other hangers to make them longer and, therefore, utilize every bit of vertical space to save even more horizontal space!    



Greeting Card Organizer

This greeting card organizer is spacious – larger than I thought – so I can store all of my greeting cards as well as all of my thank you cards that I use to send with my Poshmark shipments.  The bin is durable, heavy plastic, and it comes with 6 dividers that can be spaced to your liking.  

 


Stanley Tumbler Carrier

Olivia bought one of these Stanley Cup carriers with her own money a few months ago and she adores it.  If you’re like me, and you carry your water (literally) everywhere with you, this bag is pretty genius.  It holds your Stanley Cup (there’s a 30 oz. version and a 40 oz. version), and it has a pocket for your cell phone, a pocket for your ID/credit cards/money, and a hook to hang your keys.  It comes with an adjustable, removeable strap, and the strap has a pad that rests on your shoulder for maximum comfort.  This thing is perfect for all of those summer walks, hikes, and bike rides because it holds all of the essentials (including water!) and leaves you completely hands-free!

 


O-Keefe’s Working Hands Moisturizer

This is, by far, the best moisturizer I’ve ever used.  I started using it last year, and my hands look like different hands.  Where they used to look constantly dry and wrinkly, they are now much smoother and softer.  I am using this lotion the same amount that I used all other lotions, but none of the others ever made my hands look this good.  I love this cream so much that I’m considering making it my primary cream for my entire body.  It’s not greasy at all, it doesn’t leave any residue, and it doesn’t have a scent at all.  I. love. it.

 


Pillow for Back and Side Sleepers

Okay, y’all, I was on the hunt for a new pillow for years.  I talked about it way too much on the blog, I stressed about it for years, I asked for advice from y’all several times, and after all of that… I finally found the one.  YES.  This pillow is perfectly shaped for back and side sleepers, and its contouring is perfection for my weird neck issues.  It has two different sides – one is lower for smaller framed people, and one is higher for larger framed people – so you can find the perfect fit.  It also comes with a silk pillowcase that’s removeable for washing.  I’ve tried several of these orthopedic pillows, and I’ve hated every single one because they’re so hard or so oddly shaped, but this one is all rounded on the edges and it’s like laying on a cloud.  It’s pricey, but I was able to save a lot of money on Amazon Prime Day last year, and I’m so glad I grabbed it because I have had fewer neck issues since I started using it.  If you’re a back or side sleeper and you have neck and/or shoulder issues, I highly recommend this pillow.

 


What Do You Meme? Family

Olivia purchased this game with her own money and it is so much fun!  It’s VERY easy to play and it is absolutely hilarious.  Gameplay is very similar to Apples to Apples, so many people can play at once (you need at least three, but it’s more fun the more people you have), and it can be as quick or as long as you’d like depending on how many rounds you’d like to do.  This game has had our family in stitches – it is laugh out loud funny – and it is such a great game to have on hand for summer break!

 


Storage Bean Bag Chair

Oh, y’all, I love this one… this is definitely my favorite purchase that we made for the kids last year.  These giant bean bags arrive at your home empty, and then you fill them with your kids’ stuffed animals, dress-up clothes, extra blankets/sheets, etc. to turn them into bean bag chairs that your kids can use.  Both of our kids have MASSIVE stuffed animal collections (and Olivia also has a massive blanket collection) – and despite the fact that they’re getting older, they both continue to add to their collections.  They both LOVE their stuffed animals, and they use them all the time, so we needed a place to store them.  These bean bags solved a major problem in our household, and for that, I’m thrilled.  We bought the grey and white striped one for Jacob, and the pink and white striped one for Olivia, and they sit perfectly in the playroom and provide a fun spot for them to sit while they play video games!  These are highly rated at 4.8 / 5 stars with 11K+ reviews so you can't go wrong.  

 


Pilot Precise Pens

These are the only pens I have used since college – they are the GOAT.  I use them for everything, including my planner, and I love this rainbow pack because I color code my calendar in my planner – each family member has their own color.  Amazon always has the best price!

 


Belt Bag

I own this bag in three different colors and it is a dead ringer for the Lululemon bag… for half the price!  The quality is fantastic, and the size is perfect, and I couldn't love it more!  In the fall, we attend lots of events where we walk around a lot, and there’s nothing worse than having to tote around a giant, heavy bag all day.  I’ve been wanting a small, comfortable bag that holds all of my essentials, and this one fits the bill!  And it’s so stylish unlike so many other belt bags AKA fanny packs.  This bag comes in 43 colors so you can find the one that’s right for you, and the 14,000+ reviews are excellent… it has 4.7 / 5 stars, most from people who were also seeking the Lululemon bag.

 


Reusable Shopping Bags

We’re big on reducing waste and recycling and caring for the environment when we can, and one thing I started doing last year was using reusable shopping bags.  Each grocery store trip was resulting in us using 10-15 plastic shopping bags, but now I can get all of my groceries into these four reusable bags.  

These bags are awesome!!  They’re large and they hold a ton of stuff, but they’re super sturdy and even when they're filled to the brim with groceries, they never feel like they're going to give out.  They’re made of a material that’s easy to wipe down, but they’re surprisingly thin and don’t take up much room in my car when folded up.  All four filled bags fit perfectly in one shopping cart and they fit perfectly across the back of my Telluride trunk.  I love this neutral color, but they do come in other colors if you prefer.  I've been using mine for years now and they still look brand new.  I can't even tell you how many times somebody has asked me where I purchased them.

 


Hanging Toiletry Bag

I've mentioned this travel toiletry bag numerous times on the blog, and it's by far one of my favorite Amazon purchases.  It has been a GAME CHANGER.  It doesn't take up a ton of room in your suitcase, yet it holds a TON of stuff including full-sized Bath & Body Works body creams (to give you an idea of the sizing).  There are so many pockets that you can organize everything exactly as you need to, and it has a hanger that pulls out so you can hang it in your hotel room when you travel.



Battery Operated Candles

These candles are my favorite thing!!  These candlesticks are battery-operated so there is no actual fire used, and that means that you can place them anywhere without having to worry about little kids getting into them or catching something on fire.  The candles are made of real wax, though, so they look authentic, and the battery-operated flames dance just like real flames… I don’t know how on earth they made them look so realistic, but they did.  They are incredible.  The candles also come with a remote control, so you can turn them on and off with the click of a button, and you can also customize some of the settings – you can adjust how bright/dim they are, and you can also opt to have the candles flicker or provide solid steady light.  There is also a 2, 4, 6, and 8 hour timer, so you can set them to turn off automatically.  They look gorgeous with my fall décor, they look amazing at Halloween, and they are stunning at Christmas.  I love them so much I leave them up all year-long now.


 

Candlestick Holders

These black candlestick holders are excellent quality, they’re sleek, and they look fantastic with my battery-operated candlesticks.  They hold any standard taper candle, though, so you’re not limited to using them with those.


Snack Bag

Every time we travel, we bring a bag of snacks for the trip.  In the past, I’ve always used a gallon Ziploc bag because I like to be able to see everything we have in a clear bag.  After years of using Ziploc bags, I finally decided to get this cute clear pouch for future trips so we can have something a little more sturdy, and something that’s also reuseable so we don’t have to keep wasting Ziploc bags.  The pouch is just DARLING and it comes in a bunch of different colors.  It’s also very sturdy and very large, and the whole thing is excellent quality.  It has a nice, smooth zipper, and a removeable wrist strap for easy carrying as well.  We've used it numerous times already and it's just perfect every time!

Mini Car Trashcan

This mini trashcan for your car sits perfectly in a cupholder, and it holds a surprisingly large amount of trash.  Prior to this, I’d just been sticking my trash in one of the cupholders anyway, so this keeps it out of sight.  It’s very well-made and the lid flips back in place quickly to trap the trash in there before it can pop back out.  It’s the best $10 I’ve spent in a while.

 


Fleece Lined Tights

Okay y’all, WHERE OH WHERE HAVE THESE BEEN ALL MY LIFE?!  These are technically leggings, because they have a layer of fleece inside that keeps your legs soooo warm, but because they’re thin-ish and they have a layer of black pantyhose fabric over the skin-colored fleece, they give the illusion that you’re just wearing plain black tights.  I bought these for our trip to New York City and they were absolute perfection even in the coldest weather.  I was able to wear cute skirts in the middle of December, and I was toasty warm walking all around outside.  I cannot believe how warm they are.

 


Accupressure Mat

I bought this acupressure mat back in 2012 when I was having a terrible time with lower back pain after childbirth.  I had put it away for years, only to resurrect it in recent months since I started suffering from debilitating neck tension that we're thinking has been the root of my vertigo.  Y'all, this mat is just incredible.  It hurts like hell when you first start laying on it, but as your body adjusts, it starts to feel like magic instead, and it has been a source for pain relief for me for 11 years now.  I roll a towel under one end and lay my shoulders, neck, and the base of my head on it, and it just melts away the tension when nothing else works.  I've started laying on it daily as a preventative measure, and between this and the turmeric and magnesium I started taking, I have been feeling so much better in my neck and shoulders area.  I've also only had one headache in the last month, which is fantastic since I get them frequently.  You can lay any part of your body on it for pain relief, and you can even stand on it to relieve tired feet.  It increases the blood flow to the area where you lay, and that, in turn, improves circulation as well.  This thing has been a Godsend these last few months with all of the neck tension I've been having, and I can't recommend it enough if you get tension headaches and/or carry all of your stress in your neck and shoulders.



Clear Stadium Bag

Now that stadiums and other large venues are requiring clear bags, I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect one, and I found it!!  It’s this one!  It holds so much, but it’s lightweight.  It has one inside clear pocket for smaller items and one large compartment for larger items.  It has an adjustable strap so you can wear it at your side or as a crossbody, and the plastic is soooo soft.  It’s not hard like most plastic bags are.


 

TSA-Approved Toiletry Bag

I bought this TSA-approved toiletry kit to take on our trip to New York City a few years ago.  There are tons of different ones on Amazon, but I liked this one the best because of the combination of bottles.  This set has 4 bottles, 4 jars, 2 spray bottles, 2 scoopers, 1 funnel, 1 clean brush, 1 page of labels, and the bag.  I can't even tell you how much I love this little kit.  It has a container for everything, the bottles are easy to squeeze so there's no waste, it came with little scoops for the tubs, and it even came with little labels that you can stick right on each of the containers.  None of the containers leaked either!!

 


Glass Nail File

I keep a nail file in my office, my purse, and my bathroom, and as each one of my old ones is biting the dust, I’m replacing them with these glass nail files.  If you haven’t used a glass nail file, then you’re seriously missing out!  They file your nails to perfection with little effort, and since they’re made of glass, they’ll never get dull which means they can be used forever.  I ordered my first one two years ago and it has been the best thing ever… worlds better than a standard nail file!


 

Gold Bond Neck and Chest Firming Cream

This item can be purchased at most stores, but Amazon typically has the best price.  I started using this about a year ago, and it has made a huge difference in the skin around my chest and neck.  My neck and chest skin is rough and uneven compared to the rest of my body (probably from years and years of exposure to the sun), and this cream has worked wonders on smoothing it out. 


 

Toilet Bowl Pumice Cleaner

The kids’ toilet had a couple of stains that were impossible to clean.  I tried every single thing I could think of, and nothing would remove them.  I came across this Powerhouse Pumice toilet cleaner, and it has been a miracle-worker.  It removed the stains easily and completely with minimal work.  Any kind of stain that you may have in your toilet – calcium, rust, limescale, mildew, hardwater – it will remove all of them.  And this thing is chemical-free, non-toxic, and odorless.  The cleaner is a pumice stone, and the stone works similar to a sander to gently sand the stains right off.  By far, one of my favorite purchases on Amazon ever!


 

Bug Bite Thing

Jacob and I are magnets for mosquitoes, and both of us get bites constantly during the summer.  Our bites swell up huge and itch for days and it’s just misery.  I saw this Bug Bite Thing on Shark Tank a while back, and I finally decided to buy one a couple of years ago after Jacob got eaten up one evening.  Since we bought it, I have gotten bitten twice, and Y’ALL, THIS THING WORKS!!!!  Color me shocked.  I was very skeptical, but I cannot believe I’m telling y’all that it actually works.

When you get bitten, you take this little contraption and place it over the bite.  You pull up on the handle until you feel the suction, and you can adjust the suction level to your comfort based on how far you pull the handles.  Once the suction is in place, you hold it for 10 seconds and then push the handles back down.  Repeat this one more time on the same bite.  Voila.  No itching.  No swelling.  And the bug bite disappears within hours.

The suction literally pulls the mosquito’s saliva out of your skin, therefore, preventing your body from reacting to it.  And this thing works with all bug bites – ants, bees, wasps, chiggers, etc.  No chemicals.  No creams.  It’s lightweight and portable.  It’s safe to use on children.  It takes, like, 30 seconds to do the whole process.  The relief is immediate.  And it’s reusable. 

Seriously the best $9.95 I’ve ever spent.



Pineapple Slicer

We love pineapple, but we don’t love the price tag that comes with buying precut pineapple… whole pineapples are soooo much cheaper, but they’re so hard to cut!  Brian grabbed this pineapple slicer a few years ago, and it makes cutting pineapples the easiest thing!  All you have to do is cut the top off of the pineapple, and then you just sit the pineapple corer on the top and twist the handle until it gets to the bottom.  Give it a little tug, and the whole inside of the pineapple comes right out, sliced into rings.  Seriously amazing and it takes about 30 seconds.  It’s also dishwasher safe which is important because nobody has time to hand wash!



Turmeric

I adore this turmeric.  I take it daily and I cannot even tell you how amazing the benefits have been.  You can read more about it here… I love this stuff so much that I dedicated an entire blog post to it.  Crazy, right?

 


Echo Devices

If you have ever considered purchasing any of the Amazon Echo devices (they are the ones with Alexa) for your home, Prime Day is the day to do it because they discount all of them deeply.  We have three Echo devices in our home – one in the kitchen, one in our bedroom, and one in my office – and we use them every single day.  Alexa will play music of any genre from Amazon’s music collection (my personal favorite is to ask her to play 90’s pop or 90’s R&B – SO FREAKING GOOD).  You can play music from your iPhone (iTunes library, Pandora, Podcasts, etc.) by asking Alexa to connect to your iPhone (all you have to do is pair it with the Echo first).  You can play any local radio stations as there is a tuner or you can play any radio station anywhere in the country as long as they’re on iHeart Radio.  You can also create groups for all of your Echo devices to play the same music all over the house or just in specific rooms and you can also “drop in” to any room with an Echo and talk to the person in the room.

You can play trivia and other games (our kids love this), set cooking timers, ask what the weather will be in your area, order items from Amazon, add items to your shopping list or wish list, set reminders that occur daily/weekly/annually, ask Alexa to tell you a joke, and ask Alexa pretty much any random question that pops into your brain.  Our kids discovered that you can even ask Alexa to burp or fart (face palm) and she totally does all kinds of different ones.  Lol.  We get a weekly email about all the things that Alexa can do, and I learn new stuff every single week, years after having it.  We love these devices SO much and they are currently 40% off in the sale today and tomorrow!

 


Amazon Smart Plugs

If you do decide to outfit your home with Echo devices, don’t forget the smart plugs!  Y’all, these are just the best things in the world!  We have them in so many rooms of our house.  These are so easy to set up and you can plug any device into them.  I have twinkle lights in our kitchen on the bar cart, in the living room on a fake tree, in our bedroom, and hanging from the ceiling in my office, and all I have to do is walk in any room and say, “Alexa, turn on the bar cart (or whatever else)” and the lights just pop right on.  You can also group smart plugs together in rooms, so instead of telling each one to turn on individually, you can just say, “Alexa, turn on the kitchen.”  And BING, all of the items in the kitchen turn on.  Seriously, the best thing ever.  You can also control all of these from the app on your phone, so even when you’re away from your home, you can turn lamps/lights/etc. on and off as needed.  These are 48% off in the Prime Day sale!


 

Amazon Ring Home Security System

We have also outfitted our entire home with the Amazon Ring home security system.  We have cameras outside so we can see every single angle of our house anytime, right from our phones.  We love the Ring Spotlight Cameras because they sense motion (you can adjust the sensitivity levels for your needs), they have spotlights that turn on automatically when motion is sensed, they have a two-way talk system (so you can talk to someone on the camera through the app on your phone), and they have a siren alarm that can be activated right from your phone or Echo at any time.  We also have a Ring Doorbell for the front door.

Any time motion is sensed, B and I are both alerted on our phones (and my Apple Watch), and we can replay the footage at any time.  We’ve been using the Ring security system for a couple of years now, and we absolutely LOVE it.  It gives me so much peace of mind to know that I can just pop in and see what’s going on around our entire house any time I want to, even if we’re out of town.  If we see anything suspicious, we can talk to someone via the camera or sound the alarm from anywhere in the world.


 

Encyclopedia of Cocktails

I’ve mentioned this book numerous times on the blog because I love it so much.  I bought one of these for our school auction last year and the year before, and I loved it so much that I bought one for myself, too.  This book is gorgeous – it’s big and it’s sleek – the page edges are black and there are little spots on the cover that are foil, so it’s great to use as a decorative item in addition to an actual recipe book.  I also love how organized and uniform all of the recipes are inside.  It’s truly a gorgeous book and it would make a great gift for anyone who loves cocktails... it would make a great holiday gift, and it would also make a great hostess gift!


Flat Wedges

These were on super sale for Prime Day last year (and aren’t that expensive to begin with), and y’all, THESE ARE THE BEST SHOES EVER.  They are SO comfortable, they don’t rub anywhere on my feet, the quality is excellent, and the reviews are fantastic.  They also come in a ton of colors (seriously, so many!), and they are just the best shoes.  They fit true-to-size. 

 


Maxi Dress

I’ve had this maxi dress in pink with dark pink squares for years, and it’s one of my favorites.  I added a couple of the other patterns to my wish list months ago, so when this one went on a lightning deal, I couldn’t grab it fast enough.  This dress is stunning in person, y’all.  The colors are so vibrant, and the dress is so flattering and flowy.  The fabric is 100% polyester, so it’s not super high-quality, but it’s not cheap either.  I actually really love this fabric for summer, though, because it keeps you nice and cool.  And it doesn’t shrink, fade, or pill.  The dress comes in tons of other colors and patterns, too, so there are lots of options. 

 


White Ruffled Tank

You’ve seen this tank a lot because I own it in four colors.  It is so great!  It's super flattering, and the ruffles are so feminine and beautiful.  It is fitted, but it’s not too tight – there’s definitely some breathing room – and it holds up beautifully in the washer and dryer.  This is one of my favorite Amazon clothing finds ever.  You know it’s good since I now own it in four colors!  It comes in 18 colors, and it fits true-to-size.  I wear a small.

 


One Shoulder Sequin Dress with Fur Hem

Y’ALL!!!!  THIS. DRESS.  The second I put it on, it was love at first sight, and it’s the one that I ended up wearing to the ball earlier this year.  This dress is so fun, and the fur hem?  DARLING.  I have wanted to wear a dress with a fur hem ever since I saw Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion back when I was a teenager and this one is giving serious Romy & Michelle vibes.  I love that movie so much.  Anyway, this dress is perfection in every way and the quality is fantastic, especially for the price.  It is on the short side, though, so size up for a slightly longer length! 


White Ruffle Sleeve Top

Ohhhh, y’all, I LOVE this top.  By far, my favorite top I've ever purchased from Amazon.  The ruffle detail looks like something that you’d get from a boutique rather than Amazon, and it is just so cute.  I bought this to wear with my fluttery Amazon skirts that I love so much.  Fits true-to-size.  The small is perfect on me.  Just keep in mind that these are fitted, so if you prefer a little bit of extra room, size up one size.  I also have it in black.


Sheer Sleeve Top

I love this top so much I dedicated an entire blog post to it plus an Instagram Reel!!  Y’all, this top is just perfection!  It’s fitted through the bodice, and it has puffy sheer sleeves adorned with polka dots for a chic, classy look.  The quality is good, the fabric is average thickness (not too thick and not too thin), and the bodice is super soft.  The sleeves are comfortable and not itchy at all to me (although, if you have sensitive skin, I could see where they could possibly be a bit itchy on the seams at the wrists?).  It can be worn with a regular bra (no strapless bra required), and it’s true-to-size.  I’m actually wearing an XS, but I think the small would have worked just fine, too.  It’s soooo versatile and it comes in 13 colors, so there’s something for everyone!  I own it in four colors!  Haha.


Workout Tank

These are my all-time favorite workout tanks and I’ve talked about them numerous times on the blog.  They did go on sale on Prime Day last year, so I grabbed two more… one in black, and another white one since white is my favorite color to wear since it matches everything.  These tops are AWESOME, though.  They wick away sweat, they’re comfortable, they’re cool, and they have built-in shelf bras with light padding, so you don’t have to wear a sports bra with them.  They’re very supportive (keep in mind I’m small-chested, so I can’t speak for larger-chested ladies!), and they’re soooo cute!  They hit at just the right spot on my waist, and the criss-cross back adds a little something special!  I cannot recommend these enough!  They’re all I wear with my running shorts now.

 



Workout Tank

I also love these workout tanks as they are my very favorites to wear with leggings!  They are just perfect.  They have a built-in shelf bra with removeable pads, so you don’t have to wear anything underneath.  They hit my torso just above my belly button which is perfect since my leggings hit right at my belly button.  They do run small, though.  My true size is a small in tops, but I buy mediums for these.


Women’s Athletic Shorts

And speaking of athletic shorts, these are my favorite.  In case you haven’t heard me rave about these shorts yet, they are ah-mazing.  They are the perfect length, they hit at just the right spot on my torso, and they have a little zipper pocket in the back where you can store a key or whatever else you may need that’s small.  The fabric is excellent, and the overall quality is top-notch, too.

 


Workout Skirt

I bought a workout skirt to change things up from my usual shorts and this one is SO nice.  The quality is top-notch, and many of the reviews compare it to one of the Lulu brand skirts.  It has built-in shorts along with a back zipper pocket, and it comes in tons and tons of colors.  It’s comfortable and cool and it’s such a fun addition to my athletic wear since I workout so often. 



Faux Leather Skirt

These faux leather skirts are fantastic and I get compliments every time I wear them.  The material is really nice… it’s very realistic and it’s not too plastic-y or shiny, and it’s soooo soft.  It’s mid-rise, so it hits at just the right spot on my waist, and the length is perfect, too.  It’s not too short, but it’s also not long like a pencil skirt that you’d wear to work.  You could easily wear this out somewhere fun or you could even dress it up for a classy look.  It zips up in the back so it’s easy to put on, and IT HAS POCKETS!  This skirt is such a winner, y’all, and I cannot recommend it enough if you’re wanting to jump on the (faux) leather train.  I would also say that it fits true-to-size.  The small is perfect on me and I’m 5’5”.  It comes in 12 different colors/variations including brown, dark red, and dark green.  




Silver Cowboy Boots

I’ve sung the praises of these boots on the blog several times, and they are from Amazon, y’all!  I was really worried about the quality and the comfort factor when I bought these, but it turns out that they’re very well made and they’re soooo comfortable!  I wore them for 12 hours straight when we went to see Taylor Swift in Atlanta, and I was on my feet the majority of that time, and they didn’t hurt my feet at all.  I highly recommend these if you’re in the market for a pair of good boots but you don’t want to spend a ton of money on real leather ones.  They also come in lots of different colors, so you can find them for pretty much any occasion. 

 



Gold Glitter Sandals

I've bought this exact pair of gold glitter sandals for Olivia twice because she loves them so much.  They are very well made, they are comfortable, they go with everything, and the buckle isn’t real… it’s actually Velcro which we loooove, because they’re so easy to take on and off.  They also hold up beautifully over time.  If you’re looking for great quality shoes that are comfy and won’t break the bank, look no further!  These are excellent!

 


Peplum Top

This top is one of my favorite tops I’ve ever purchased on Amazon.  It is versatile because you can dress it up or down, it’s flattering for all body types, it looks fantastic with jeans or shorts, and it comes in a ton of different colors and patterns.  I love this top so much I own it in four different colors/patterns and I wear them all the time.


 

Fluttery Skirt

Chances are you’ve seen this skirt all over Instagram and influencer land because so many people have them.  The reason everyone has them is because they are SO GOOD.  Again, this is one of my all-time favorite clothing purchases from Amazon, and I love it so much that I own it in three different colors and patterns.


 

Sweater

This sweater is, hands down, my favorite sweater ever purchased from Amazon.  Y’all, this sweater is HIGH quality.  It’s thick, the fabric is soft and luxurious, the cut is gorgeous, and it’s long enough to wear with leggings.  Seriously, so SO good.  I own this one in three colors because it’s just that good!

 





One Shoulder Sequin Dress

I bought this dress for a ball that we attended some years ago.  When I first pulled it out of the bag, I thought for sure it wasn’t going to be as good as the other black one shoulder sequin dress I had decided on, but it ended up being the absolute best.  In the picture on Amazon, the dress appears to be covered in black sequins (which is what I was looking for), but when it arrived, I noticed that all of the sequins had a turquoise or purple hue.  That was a complete turnoff and I almost didn’t even try the dress on, but I’m so glad I did because I ended up LOVING it. The dress is very well-made… the bodice is actually velvet (which was also unexpected) and it was thick and luxurious and soft.  It also had a full zipper all the way up the side which made it easy to get in and out of.  When I put this dress on, Olivia literally squealed with delight, so I knew it was the winner.  It was slightly shorter than the other option I’d chosen, but it wasn’t too short that I felt uncomfortable, and I actually preferred the shorter length to the more conservative length of the other one I’d originally chosen.  Bottom line, this dress made me feel beautiful and confident, it was comfortable and easy to dance in (didn’t have to worry about wardrobe malfunctions), and I cannot even tell y’all how many compliments I received while I was wearing it.  It was a HUGE winner and I love it so much that I wore it again to the Taylor Swift Eras Tour concert.  It fits true-to-size… I’m in the small.  And it also comes in tons of different colors and cuts.


Under Armour Men’s Pants – Khaki

We bought these pants for Brian and they are awesome.  They’re made from athletic fabric that all of the guys love these days, but they look so sharp and put together!  The fabric wicks away sweat and dries really fast, so they keep guys cool during the summer, and they don’t wrinkle in the washer and dryer.  This design has a flat front and four pockets + belt loops just like any standard pair of dress pants and they truly look great on!

 


Convertible Tights

These are our favorite tights for Olivia for dance.  She can wear them regularly for ballet, tap, and jazz, and then she is able to put her feet through the holes and pull them up on her ankles for her lyrical class.  The tights are thick and stretchy and comfy (believe me, Olivia hates anything too binding), and they hold up so well.  She’s always pretty rough on everything, and these hold up for months without getting holes or runs.

 


Entryway Christmas Trees

I bought two of these entryway trees to flank our front door last year, and they are perfect.  The price of artificial trees has increased crazily these last few years, and these had the best price of any that I could find at Michaels, Target, Walmart, or any of the other standard retailers.  They’re great quality, they’re tall (4-feet), and they’re full, so they were a great deal for the price.  They look beautiful on our front porch, and I highly recommend them if you’re looking for some!

 


 

Tiered Tray

This tiered tray has been in our kitchen for years and I get asked about it constantly.  It was an Amazon purchase, and you don’t just get one in the package… you get two!  I had no idea that there were going to be two, so I was thrilled to have an extra one to put in Olivia’s bedroom to hold all of her hair accessories.  We’ve had both of these for years and years and they are both still going strong in their respective rooms.  Excellent quality and a great price since there are two in the package.  It's currently 69% off, too!!


 

Cookie Dough Scoop

I bought one of these and it has made baking a breeze.  We make a lot of muffins in our house and dividing up muffin batter is always such a pain until I bought this little scoop.  I just dip it in the batter, hold it over the muffin cup, squeeze the handle, and a perfect little plop of batter goes right into the muffin cup.  No more dripping all over the sides of the pan.  I love this thing!! 


 

Microfiber Cleaning Cloths

No cloth cleans like a microfiber cleaning cloth!!  These little powerhouses clean my countertops and mirrors soooo much better than regular cleaning cloths.  Prior to purchasing these, I couldn’t find a single cleaning cloth or paper towel that didn’t leave streaks on my mirrors.  These cleaning cloths leave ZERO streaks, and they make my mirrors and other glass items look perfect and shiny.


 

Hello Doormat

I bought this doormat five years ago, and it’s still going strong on our back porch.  It comes in lots of different colors and it’s so fun.  The price is also really great! 


 

Faux Pink Tulips

These tulips look SO real and the color is gorgeous.  I have them in a couple of different places in my house year-round and they are so good that several people have mistaken them for fresh flowers.  I highly recommend them if you love fresh flowers in the house, but you don’t like to spend money on them.


 

Fog Proof Goggles

The kids love these goggles… they’ve been using them for a couple of years now.  They are adjustable, they’re fog-proof, they’re sturdy, and they unclip in the back so they’re easy to put on and take off.  We love these and highly recommend them!


 

Yeti Rambler Jr.

We bought these for both kids and we love them.  They’re made from stainless steel, so they withstand drops, they don’t sweat, they’re dishwasher safe, and they keep drinks cold for hours upon hours.  Both of our kiddos take these to school every single day and they use them all summer when we’re on the go, and they have held up beautifully for YEARS.


 

Hair Elastics

We bought this pack of 2,000 hair elastics for Olivia, and they are perfect for braids, ponytails, and other hairstyles.  They’re ouchless, too, which is important if you have tender headed kiddos like I do.


 

Barf Bags

Unfortunately, these barf bags are a must if you have kiddos with sensitive stomachs.  I bought this pack of 12 to keep on hand in the car.  The plastic ring makes it easy for the kids to hold wide open so they don’t make a mess (yuck), and then the bag can be twisted up and tucked into a notch to keep it sealed.  I keep one of these up front in the car and in my purse at all times.

 


Bookmarks with Timers

Our kiddos have to read at least 20 minutes per day for school, and these bookmarks with timers have made reading time so easy and so much fun.  The kids are able to keep track of their time while they read, and then I don’t have to.  ;o)


 

Refills

In addition to all of these things, there are items that we order exclusively from Amazon because they always have the best prices.  I get all of my allergy medications from there – Xyzal, Flonase Sensimist, and Alaway eye drops.  Gum is also cheapest on Amazon, and so are Maui’s Denstastix treats that she loved so much, although, we don't have to purchase those anymore.  :o(  We have ordered all of these items countless times from Amazon and we’ve saved so much money as they’re significantly more expensive at Target and Walmart.






 

Gift Cards

And don’t forget that when you purchase Amazon gift cards from Amazon, you get to choose from tons and tons of different cards, boxes, and other containers to hold your gift card at no additional cost. 

We’ve purchased this cupcake tin multiple times along with the mini Amazon box (SO CUTE!).  I also love this one for Christmas, this flowery one for teacher’s gifts, this one for baby gifts, and this mermaid one for a little girl.  Oh, and who doesn’t love a rainbow?!  This one is so dang happy!


 







And that’s it for now, y’all!  I could go on and on, but I’ll stop there.  Be sure to follow along with me on Instagram this week as I will probably share a few of my favorite deals… as I said before, I use this sale to go ahead and get a jump start on my Christmas shopping... it may seem like forever away, but it's right around the corner, y'all!

Happy Tuesday!